I've been possessed by a culinary genius, and I've turned Shaxian snacks into a rip-off!

Su Su couldn't help but start imagining that scene.

At the tasting event, a group of culinary bigwigs dressed in suits and tuxedos elegantly sampled the dishes at her restaurant, and then her mentor swaggered in wearing a T-shirt covered with the words "Shaxian GG".

Just imagining that scene sends chills down your spine.

What's even more terrifying is that, based on her understanding of her master, he not only doesn't feel embarrassed, but instead proudly greets everyone around him.

"Hello everyone, I'm the owner of Shaxian Snacks, No. 88 Jiangdong South Road. Come have a meal sometime!"

"No, absolutely not!" Su Su shook her head, banishing the horrifying image from her mind, and said resolutely to Li Zhibai, "Master, if you dare wear this, I... I won't pay my tuition next month!"

This was the first time she had threatened her master; she had no choice, she really didn't want to die.

"No, Sister Su, let's talk this out." Li Zhibai then glanced at the T-shirt again, still somewhat reluctant: "Actually... I don't think it's that bad-looking."

"Master, I'm begging you, can we dress more normally? How about I buy you a suit?" Su Su quickly added.

"Suits," Li Zhibai said with some disdain, "those things are too tight and uncomfortable to wear."

"Just wear it for one day, can't you just give me some face? Otherwise, I won't even be able to tell people you're my master. I have my pride too, Master." Su Su was almost crying with anxiety.

Li Zhibai thought about it and felt that this deal wasn't a bad one. He got a suit for free, and he could wear it when visiting relatives during the New Year.

"Alright, I'll have to make do with wearing a suit then, but it's a deal, the suit is mine now, you can't take it back."

Su Su breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, saying, "Don't go back. I'll go to the store now and pick out a suit for you."

After saying that, she didn't even eat and went out to buy clothes.

...........

The next morning, the weather was fine.

Su Su drove to pick up Li Zhibai early in the morning, and her eyes lit up when she saw him walk out of the store.

She specially chose a dark gray suit for Li Zhibai. It fit him perfectly, making him look broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, and with a neat and upright figure. His temperament was several levels higher than usual. As long as he didn't grin wildly or talk nonsense and kept his silent appearance, he would definitely look like a noble, calm, and abstinent male god.

"Master, you know what, you actually look quite handsome dressed like this."

"That's right. Your master could have made a living based on his looks, but I chose to rely on my skills instead. This proves that I'm a person with ambition." Li Zhibai said proudly and narcissistically, "Excellent men are all well-rounded."

Upon hearing this, Su Su stuck out her tongue and muttered under her breath, "Master is so narcissistic!"

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of the [Chrysanthemum Flavor] restaurant.

The restaurant was decorated more exquisitely than usual today, and the hostesses all had beautiful and sweet smiles.

Su Su led Li Zhibai inside, nodding and greeting the staff along the way.

As soon as they entered the hall, they bumped into a very elegant woman.

She wore a beige fitted business suit, her long hair was pulled back, revealing her slender neck and delicate collarbone, her face was lightly made up, and she wore gold-rimmed glasses, exuding a cool and aloof temperament.

Li Zhibai and the other person happened to meet face to face, their eyes locked.

The woman stiffened upon seeing Li Zhibai, instinctively trying to pretend she hadn't seen him and turn away.

Li Zhibai's eyes widened in surprise, and he immediately reached out to stop her: "Oh! It's you! Qingyuan isn't Yuan!"

The woman who called to report him on the first day of business and gave him the first bad review.

Lin Qingyuan never expected to run into the owner of Shaxian snack shop at Su Su's shop, and she never expected that after so long, he would not only remember her, but also know her online name.

It's probably that little girl Su Su who told on me.

As a senior executive of a large company, she lost her composure for less than a second before regaining her cool and composed demeanor, and said calmly, "Sir, you have mistaken me for someone else."

"Impossible! You are Qing Yuan, not Yuan! I'm the kind of person who holds grudges... no, I have an exceptionally good memory!"

Li Zhibai immediately took out his phone, scrolled to the screenshot of the negative review, and held it up in front of her, saying, "Look, Qingyuan isn't Yuan. Did you write this negative review?"

Lin Qingyuan: "......."

No way, you actually took a screenshot of a negative review and saved it! How vengeful are you?!

Seeing that the two might get into a conflict, Su Su quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Um, Master, Sister Qingyuan, it's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding."

"Sister Qingyuan, this is the master I mentioned to you, Li Zhibai."

"Master, Sister Qingyuan is my best friend."

"She's your best friend?" Li Zhibai was surprised.

"Yes, Master. Sister Qingyuan is my best friend. We've known each other for many years. She regretted it after reporting you. She was too embarrassed to go to your shop for soup."

Su Su winked at Lin Qingyuan, "Sister Qingyuan, just apologize to my master. He's actually a very nice person, he just cares a lot about what others think of him."

Although Lin Qingyuan really wanted to pinch Su Su's arm a few times, she still accepted the offer, extended her hand, and said politely, "Lin Qingyuan, I was too impulsive before and gave you a bad review without understanding the situation. I apologize to you."

Since the other party has already apologized, Li Zhibai isn't the type to hold a grudge.

"Oh, Sister Lin, you're being too polite. Forget about apologizing. My greatest virtue is that I don't hold grudges. Come to my restaurant for a meal sometime, and I'll arrange some special perks for you."

He says he doesn't hold grudges, but he's already considering raising the spending threshold for people on the blacklist; 2000 is still too low.

Lin Qingyuan was surprised that the owner of Shaxian County would be so generous as to offer her a perk. She thought it might be worth a try.

"Okay, I'll definitely go another time when I'm free." Then she made an excuse and left.

Su Su breathed a sigh of relief and asked Li Zhibai in a low voice, "Master, you really don't hold grudges, do you?"

"Of course I don't hold grudges. Do you think I'm the kind of person who holds grudges?"

"What were you whispering about when Qingyuan left?"

"I'm calculating how much it will cost her to have a meal at my restaurant. After all, she's your best friend, so I have to treat her well!"

Su Su: "..."

She suddenly had a premonition that if Lin Qingyuan really went to her master's shop for a meal, she might break off all ties with her when she came back.

..............

The tasting event is scheduled for noon.

Su Su went to the kitchen to prepare, while Li Zhibai was led by a waiter to a private room upstairs.

The private room was spacious, with a large round table covered with a snow-white tablecloth, adorned with exquisite tableware and fresh flowers. The decor maintained the light luxury style of modern Chinese design, with beige walls and several abstract paintings that were difficult to decipher. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a small garden in the courtyard, which was quite stylish.

Li Zhibai found a seat at the round table according to the nameplate and sat down. Then he picked up the tasting process sheet on the table and flipped through it.

The above details the process of the tasting event, including the order of serving each dish, the time intervals, wine pairing suggestions, and so on.

Finally, there is a tasting sheet specifically for food critics to score, with six dimensions including color, aroma, taste, shape, creativity, and overall impression, each dimension being out of 10.

"It's pretty professional." Li Zhibai glanced at the list of invited guests again.

The list contains ten people, each with a title following their name, such as former executive chef of a Michelin-starred restaurant, Black Pearl restaurant judge, food columnist, and company executive who loves food.

Each of their titles sounds impressive.

Only one person did not have a specific title written down; his name was Shen Heting.

Li Zhibai couldn't help but become curious.

Who is this guy? He doesn't even have a title, but he seems really arrogant!

After a while.

Various greetings came from the entrance as the invited food critics gradually arrived.

The first to enter were two middle-aged men in suits: one was the former executive chef of a Michelin-starred restaurant, and the other was a senior judge of a Black Pearl restaurant.

Then there was a woman wearing black-rimmed glasses, a food columnist, and several stylish young people, who looked like food bloggers.

The last person to enter was an elderly gentleman with gray hair and a sprightly spirit.

Su Su personally went to greet him and respectfully said, "Old Shen, you've arrived!"

The others also politely stood up and greeted them.

"Old Shen!"

"Old Shen..."

Shen Heting exchanged pleasantries with them with a smile, then said to Su Su, "Little Su, long time no see. Your restaurant is getting more and more stylish."

"Mr. Shen, you flatter me. Please have a seat."

After everyone was seated, Li Zhibai activated his skill.

[Choose your dish based on the plate] Initiation!

Gold, purple, gold, purple, purple, purple, gold, purple...

The room was full of people, all of whom started with purple, and there were several others with gold.

Li Zhibai looked at everyone and suddenly felt a real itch in his hands!