Universe Infinite Canteen-Chapter 570: Celebrity

After picking up Sun Mei, the driver drove the three of them to the hotel.

They would be living and competing here for the next three days.

The hotel was located by the beach, with pleasing scenery. In front of the entrance stood several tall royal palms, expansive lawns, and various sized swimming pools. Additionally, there was a tropical fruit and vegetable garden.

Qiu Lele led the three to the front desk to check in. During a pause while the staff was entering information, two young girls approached.

They walked straight up to Chuan Ye Zhengming, and one of the girls, speaking in broken Japanese, nervously asked, "Excuse me... are you the head chef of the Isolated Island Restaurant, Chef Chuan?"

Chuan Ye Zhengming nodded, and the two girls immediately became excited. They raised their phones, taking photos with Chuan Ye Zhengming and asking for his autograph.

Ma Lu asked Qiu Lele, "Didn't you say the committee had booked the whole hotel, why are there other guests here?"

"They're not tourists," answered another voice.

Ma Lu turned around and saw a familiar figure.

"Ah, how come I run into you everywhere?"

"Meiping Website is the strategic partner of the World Cooking Federation and also one of the sponsors of the God of Cooking competition.

"This competition is very important to food lovers all over the world, so of course, our company has to send someone to cover it."

Yu Yitong said. She was wearing a gray-black high-waisted A-line skirt with high heels today, making her look tall and elegant, attracting the attention of many people in the lobby.

"Okay."

"This time we have a 26-person interview team. David and I are mainly responsible for filming your daily activities."

Yu Yitong waved her hand and called over a tall, skinny man carrying a camera.

The visitor shook hands enthusiastically with Ma Lu, "Boss Ma, it's good to meet you. I'm David, a huge fan of the Universe Infinite Canteen.

"You and Chef Wang had a stall back at Aerospace University where I first tried your rou jia mo, and it was just awesome! I still reminisce about it, it was a unique delicacy!

"After you opened your store, I've been there twice more. By the way, before the competition starts, do you have anything to say, Boss Ma?"

David aimed the camera on his shoulder at Ma Lu.

"Uh... good evening, everyone. Please visit Universe Infinite Canteen more often, and when you see someone bad-mouthing us online, remember to talk back. Is that good?"

Ma Lu finished and looked at David, who then asked another question.

"Why is it you in the God of Cooking competition this time, Boss Ma, and not Chef Wang?"

"Chef Wang isn't very available right now."

"Is he ill?"

"Something like that."

"But I heard it was you who registered during the enrollment phase, Boss Ma."

"Yeah, because Chef Wang is actually an alien. It wasn't convenient for him to show up, so I came on his behalf."

"Really?" David was greatly surprised.

"Stop filming," Yu Yitong said. "He's pulling your leg. Go film some other contestants; that footage might be useful later."

"Got it, Boss," David said, then left with his camera.

"How did you know I was lying?" Ma Lu asked Yu Yitong.

"Because you were looking right into David's eyes with a very sincere expression. Usually, that means you're lying," Yu Yitong replied. "I've been fooled by you several times."

"Is that so?"

The fact was, Ma Lu had evolved again. He could now lie while looking someone in the eyes or choose not to, having reached the realm of freely spouting nonsense.

Moreover, knowing that Yu Yitong could decipher his subtle gestures, he turned the tables, leading Yu Yitong to believe he was lying, using Yu Yitong's mouth to stop the interview.

So, even though it seemed like Yu Yitong had won this round, the person who had the last laugh was still him. Thinking this, Ma Lu's lips slightly curved upwards.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing. By the way, you just said they aren't tourists, so what are they?"

"The organizers indeed booked the entire hotel. But it's not just the contestants staying here. There are also professional judges, interpreters, media, and public reviewers. They are the public reviewers."

"Public reviewers?" Sun Mei raised an eyebrow. "I haven't heard about any public reviewers in the previous editions."

"This is one of the innovations by the World Cooking Federation for the competition format. They believe that the right to speak about and judge food shouldn't be held only in the hands of a few. Thus, this time they have also invited five hundred food enthusiasts to form the panel of public reviewers."

"Five hundred people?"

"That's right."

"So many people have been brought in."

As the three were talking, another person approached Chuan Ye Zhengming for an autograph. His popularity was quite high.

Probably not only because of his delicious cooking, but his appearance and demeanor also played a big role. The first time Ma Lu saw him, he thought of the Japanese celebrity Odagiri Joe - there was a melancholic, decadent handsomeness about him.

However, soon an even more attention-grabbing figure appeared.

As soon as this person alighted from the car, it caused a stir in the lobby. Reporters and fans surged towards the entrance, all kinds of camera gear ready to shoot.

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And it seemed like the organizers had anticipated this, even assigning two bodyguards to him, which managed to keep the frenzied fans at bay.

"Qi Shanzhu is here," Yu Yitong said.

"Ah, isn't it Seoul's Magician, Cui Junxian? Among the contestants this time, he must be the most famous," Sun Mei said.

"No, in terms of popularity, Qi Shanzhu, also from South Korea, ranks a bit higher. Besides running her own restaurant, she's also a model, actress, and internet celebrity, with almost ten million followers on YouTube."

As Yu Yitong finished speaking, Qi Shanzhu walked in from outside. She was tall, wearing sunglasses, an off-shoulder sweatshirt on her upper body, and low-waist shorts.

Ma Lu's gaze lingered on her long legs for a full half-minute before he commented admiringly, "Generous."

Qi Shanzhu happened to walk right past them, seemingly hearing something, and curiously looked their way.

But soon she was surrounded by enthusiastic fans. Contrary to her aloof appearance, Qi Shanzhu wasn't as cold as she seemed. While the staff helped her with check-in procedures, she took photos with many fans.

At that moment, Qiu Lele also returned the room cards and identification documents, including passports, to Ma Lu, Sun Mei, and Chuan Ye Zhengming.

"Rest well. The competition starts tomorrow morning."

After Chuan Ye Zhengming received his room card, he suddenly asked in Japanese, "Can I go see the competition site and the ingredients?"

"You probably can't see the ingredients, but visiting the competition site should be fine."

"I'll go too," declared Sun Mei, not even bothering to set her travel bag in her room.

She then looked at Ma Lu.

Ma Lu, however, shook his head. "I'll pass. I plan to chat with the contestants."

Sun Mei raised an eyebrow. "With other contestants, you mean Qi Shanzhu, right? But do you speak Korean?"

"I don't, but it doesn't matter. See, I don't speak Japanese and yet I communicate just fine with Chuan-san," said Ma Lu.