Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

Chapter 134, Chapter 132: Xiao Hui's Visit

"Tsk!"

"What an annoying brat..."

'

A strange displeasure arose in Shinomiya Kojiro's heart, but he knew that he could not refute Lin Yu's words.

"Alright, alright, I'm scared of you, okay?"

After some internal struggle, Shinomiya Kojiro sighed and finally decided to let go of his pride and stop being stubborn.

He's not so badly defeated that he can't afford to lose.

"Hey kid, I admit, your cooking is delicious!"

"I... well, anyway, you win!"

Shinomiya Kojiro looked at Lin Yu, then at Tadokoro Megumi behind Lin Yu.

"Tadokoro Megumi, according to the agreement made before the Food Wars began, I am retracting my decision to withdraw from school."

"And an apology too~"

Hinako Inui, who was watching the drama unfold, offered a reminder.

"Shut up! What's it to you?"

Kojiro Shinomiya yelled at Hinako Oki, but when he noticed Lin Yu's teasing gaze on him, he suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

"I... I can only apologize to you at most."

"Lin Yu, I'm sorry..."

'

Even though Shinomiya Kojiro was usually strong-willed, he was so ashamed at this moment that he could barely speak.

After whispering "I'm sorry," Shinomiya Kojiro was too embarrassed to even look Lin Yu in the eye. He left with the words, "I have something to do, I'll go now!" and quickly walked towards the door.

"Am I right? Shinomiya, you'll gain a lot from this food battle."

Dojima Gin leaned against the gate, smiling as he looked at the somewhat disheveled Shinomiya Kojiro.

"Really? Well then, I really have to thank you!"

"Dojima-senpai!"

Kojiro Shinomiya stared at Gin Dojima, each word deliberate and laced with rage.

"Haha! You're welcome!"

"After all, Shinomiya, you're my beloved junior, and I have high hopes for you!"

Dojima Gin let out a cheerful little pat and gave Shinomiya Kojiro a pat on the shoulder.

"Although you have reached the summit, now that you think about it, you have cleared away the clouds that obscured your view and seen a new mountain... no, a mountain range that stretches to the horizon, hasn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Shinomiya Kojiro fell silent.

"Tch! Did Dojima-senpai pull a fast one on me?"

Kojiro Shinomiya raised his hands, examining his palms meticulously, as if he didn't want to miss a single line.

"But thinking about it, it makes sense. It seems like I haven't communicated with customers or staff and listened to their opinions in a long time."

o

"A person is on high alert, focusing solely on studying cooking..."

'

"Or, how about we try a different approach?"

With that thought in mind, Shinomiya Kojiro pushed open the door.

A change in mindset is like breaking free of a cocoon that binds the body. With that first step, a completely new Kojiro Shinomiya was reborn, transformed from his cocoon!

Watching Kojiro Shinomiya's figure disappear down the corridor, Gin Dojima smiled with satisfaction and called to the other instructors...

go away.

Because we enjoyed two delicious dishes and witnessed a thrilling food battle today, everyone was still in high spirits even while walking through the dimly lit underground corridor.

Dojima Gin and Lin Yu walked at the very end of the group, a few meters away from the people in front of them, chatting idly.

"Senior Dojima, so you mean that Chef Shinomiya's stagnation... is actually due to his exceptional talent?"

"Um."

Dojima Gin nodded.

"It may be hard to believe, but it's the truth."

"I didn't say I didn't believe it!" Lin Yu argued.

Upon hearing this, Dojima Gin immediately laughed, "Haha! Lin Yu is indeed an interesting person."

Then, Dojima Gin's voice became somewhat low as he sighed, "Shinomiya only ever looked upwards. In the process of climbing to the top, he ruthlessly threw away everything he thought he didn't need."

"Before he became a head chef and achieved great success, he had already obtained the medal he had always dreamed of."

"Others may think he is exceptionally talented, but in my opinion, the victory created by this extreme pressure made Shinomiya mistakenly believe that he had reached the peak."

"But little did he know that his vision had been obscured by the clouds and mist on the mountaintop."

"The path to becoming a chef is indeed much like climbing a mountain, but in the process of cultivation, we must never lose our thirst for new knowledge, or even our desire to acquire it."

"Shinomiya once lost that yearning heart, but I suppose he will find it again after tonight."

When he said these words, Gin Dojima's voice was full of anticipation.

"When the sun rises again tomorrow, perhaps we will welcome a completely transformed, brand-new Kojiro Shinomiya!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu clapped his hands lightly.

"Today's food battle not only saved Chef Shinomiya, but also saved a promising student like Megumi from dropping out of school."

"Killing two birds with one stone!"

Lin Yu looked at Dojima Gin and smiled, "Dojima-senpai is an excellent educator!"

"Haha! Lin Yu, you flatter me!"

"If you say that, I'll become arrogant!"

Although he said that, Dojima Gin's laughter was exceptionally cheerful.

"Actually... I shouldn't have told you these things. You're too young, and it's not necessarily a good thing to be involved in these kinds of topics."

Dojima Gin abruptly changed the subject, his smile vanishing completely, replaced by a solemn expression.

"But I'm very worried!"

Dojima Gin looked at Lin Yu and put a hand on his shoulder, just like he used to do when he put his hand on Shinomiya Kojiro's shoulder.

"Lin Yu, when I first saw you, I thought you looked so much like Shinomiya!"

"They were all so exceptionally talented! They were all so full of youthful vigor!"

Dojima Gin's tone was full of worry, "I'm a little worried that when you climb to a certain height, you might encounter the same situation as Shinomiya..."

'

"Senior Dojima!"

Lin Yu interrupted Dojima Gin's words.

He looked at Dojima Gin, his expression calm and his eyes serene.

"Thank you for your concern, but I won't!"

"But..

'

"I won't!"

Before Dojima Gin could finish speaking, Lin Yu repeated his words again, his tone firm and unwavering.

Dojima Gin wasn't annoyed by being interrupted. On the contrary, looking at Lin Yu's firm and confident eyes, he felt only gratified and happy.

"It seems that Lin Yu is really confident in himself!" Dojima Gin laughed.

"But this is a good thing..."

'

"In that case, I won't say any more, lest I be considered a chatterbox and cause unnecessary annoyance."

In response to Dojima Gin's teasing, Lin Yu said helplessly, "Dojima-senpai, you know that's not what I meant."

o

"Haha! Okay, okay, I get it!"

Dojima Gin chuckled twice, then changed the subject.

"However, while I greatly admire your abilities, Lin Yu, there's one more thing..."

'

Dojima Gin gestured with his eyes to Tadokoro Megumi, who was walking ahead.

"Since Lin Yu has such high expectations for Tadokoro, you'd better take responsibility for him in your daily life."

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what Lin Yu meant by 'Tadokoro Megumi's potential'."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu raised an eyebrow and revealed a confident and flamboyant smile.

"I promise you won't be disappointed!"

Stepping out of the cramped underground kitchen and back into the brightly lit resort hotel, Lin Yu felt much more relaxed looking at the luminous scenery before him, and lazily stretched.

"What's wrong, Xiaohui?"

Lin Yu noticed that Tadokoro Megumi behind him had her head down and a worried expression on her face.

"He seemed downcast the whole time; I noticed it on the way back."

Lin Yu chuckled and joked, "Could it be that Chef Shinomiya didn't apologize to you and you're still holding a grudge?"

"Lin Yu-kun, you're teasing me again!" The shy Tadokoro Megumi blushed at Lin Yu's words. "How could I possibly think that..."

'

"Then tell me, Xiao Hui, who made our Xiao Hui unhappy?" Lin Yu pinched Tadokoro Megumi's cheek and asked with a smile.

"Nobody messed with me, I just..."

'

Tadokoro hesitated for a moment, but finally stammered, "I just feel that I have received far too much help from Lin Yu-jun."

"I heard everything my mentors said before."

"I...I know Lin Yujun is good to me, I just feel...very guilty..."

'

"Am I holding Lin Yujun back too much?"

As Tadokoro Megumi spoke, she lowered her head further and further until finally all the words she wanted to say were stuck in her throat.

But Lin Yu had already understood what Tadokoro Megumi meant.

Unexpectedly, after hearing Tadokoro Megumi's words, Lin Yu did not offer his usual gentle words of comfort. Instead, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Sometimes, Xiaohui is just adorably silly!

"Eh?"

Tadokoro Megumi was stunned.

After laughing, Lin Yu reached out and gently ruffled Tadokoro Megumi's hair.

"Xiao Hui doesn't actually think I'll help you indefinitely, does she?"

Lin Yu took two steps to stand in front of Tadokoro Megumi.

At this moment, the two were very close together, their eyes meeting.

Tadokoro Megumi could even feel Lin Yu's warm breath on her face. This made her so nervous that her mind went blank, her body tensed, and she stood there at a loss.

Seeing Tadokoro Megumi's embarrassed expression, Lin Yu's lips curled into a smile, but he quickly suppressed it, and his expression and voice became serious.

"In fact, even if you, Xiaohui, were to beg me to help you without limit, I wouldn't agree!"

"Because it won't benefit your growth!"

"Short-term, unlimited help will only harm you in the long run! Do you understand?"

Megumi Tadokoro nodded, seemingly confused.

Lin Yu could tell at a glance that the other party was too nervous.

Lin Yu raised his hand and gently combed through Tadokoro Megumi's hair, which had just been ruffled.

Lin Yu's movements were very gentle. With each gentle stroke, Tadokoro Megumi's mood relaxed and her body became less tense.

Seeing that Tadokoro Megumi's condition had improved, Lin Yu continued to explain, "Megumi, I went against my mentor to help you today, not only because I consider you a good friend, but also because I felt that Megumi shouldn't collapse here."

"But I must make one thing clear: Xiaohui, you cannot become dependent on me in this regard."

Lin Yu looked at the girl in front of him with pity, his tone becoming increasingly gentle, yet revealing a firm sense of encouragement.

"I can't protect you on this path of becoming a chef forever."

"Xiao Hui said before that she wanted to always follow behind me, so you have to keep up with my pace!"

"I can teach Xiaohui. I can pass on my knowledge and skills to Xiaohui without reservation."

"But Xiaohui must never place her hopes on the idea that 'I'll stop and wait for you,' understand?"

"Yes!" Tadokoro Megumi nodded, her expression more resolute this time.

Lin Yu smiled and said, "Xiao Hui is a very talented girl. I will teach you, and I believe that Xiao Hui will definitely be able to keep up with me!"

"Xiaohui understands what I'm saying, right?"

"Yes, Lin Yujun, I understand!"

Feeling Lin Yu's encouraging gaze and firm yet gentle tone, Tadokoro Megumi also planted a seed in her heart.

"Xiao Hui is such a good girl!"

Lin Yu gently nudged Tadokoro Megumi. "Go take a shower, you've had a tiring day!"

"Okay, Lin Yujun, go wash up too. You're more tired than me today."

Tadokoro waved her hand and obediently went to wash up.

Lin Yu returned to his room, intending to take a shower.

Although Yoshino Yuuki had recommended it to everyone at the Polar Star Dormitory on several occasions, saying that the large bathroom at the Far Moon Resort was filled with natural hot spring water.

However, Lin Yu still hasn't gotten used to Japanese hot spring culture; at the very least, he can't accept soaking in a pool with a lot of other people.

Just thinking about it makes me feel disgusted...

Fortunately, as a five-star hotel, the Far Moon Resort has bathtubs in all the rooms, and they are very spacious, enough to accommodate even Lin Yu's height without feeling cramped.

After a quick rinse, Lin Yu submerged himself in a tub full of hot water.

Some of the hot water rose to the surface and was pushed out.

Listening to the "splashing" sound in his ears and feeling his body enveloped in warm hot water, Lin Yu immediately felt a sense of relaxation from the bottom of his soul.

"call"

Lin Yu let out a long, comfortable sigh and submerged his head in the hot water.

"Ding-dong!"

Lin Yu, whose entire body was completely immersed in hot water, vaguely heard a doorbell ring.

"Ding-dong!"

The doorbell rang again. Lin Yu stood up from the bathtub, and without having time to dry himself properly, hurriedly put on a hotel bathrobe and walked out of the bathroom.

Looking out through the peephole in the door, Lin Yu was immediately startled.

"Xiao Hui?"

Lin Yu opened the door, and outside stood Tadokoro Megumi, who looked very nervous.

Especially after seeing that Lin Yu was only wearing a bathrobe, Tadokoro Megumi blushed instantly.

Lin Yu awkwardly straightened his bathrobe and asked, "Is there something you need, Xiao Hui?"

"Lin Yujun, can I go in first?"

"Okay, come in first."

Lin Yu made way for her, and Tadokoro Megumi, clutching a towel, fled into Lin Yu's room.

"Can you tell me now? Is there anything urgent?" Lin Yu asked.

"Um... um."

'

Tadokoro Megumi clutched the towel in her hand somewhat awkwardly, and stammered, "My family runs a hot spring inn in my hometown... Lin Yu-kun must be very tired today..."

'

Tadokoro Megumi lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment, and her voice was barely audible.

"I came here to give Lin Yujun a back rub... I hope to help Lin Yujun relax a bit..."

'

Faced with Tadokoro Megumi, who was almost crying from nervousness, Lin Yu didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"Xiao Hui, you don't need to..."

'

"Lin Yujun!"

Tadokoro Megumi mustered all her courage to interrupt Lin Yu.

She looked up at Lin Yu, her eyes glistening with tears, her tone almost pleading.

"I'm very good at cooking; even my mom has praised me."

'

Please, don't refuse...

'