Chapter 422: Chapter 422: "Are you under some misunderstanding?

The more Shen Lu thought about it, the more anxious she became.

She wished she could fly to the Military Hospital that very instant to see for herself.

Inside the competition hall, the Eldest Prince greeted the crowd and took his seat on the special judges’ panel. The moment he sat down, as if guided by some unseen force, his eyes fell upon the girl at the very end of the row.

With eyes like clear springs, she peeked out with half her head, curiously sizing him up. When she saw his gaze sweep over her, she playfully stuck out her tongue.

It was a small, playful gesture, yet it inexplicably stirred something in his heart.

The Eldest Prince lowered his gaze. As the host announced the start, he pushed aside the fleeting, strange feeling.

Sang Yue, whose skills as a Baker were maxed out, had very average knife skills—just that of an ordinary person. She naturally had no idea how to perform advanced techniques like slicing tofu.

But the contestant next to her was a master of knife work, picking up the tofu and beginning to chop with a steady rhythm. CHOP CHOP CHOP.

Sang Yue copied what she saw, and the results were surprisingly not bad.

Perhaps she truly did have a protagonist’s halo protecting her, because despite stumbling through it, Sang Yue also managed to advance.

The path to the contestants’ lounge led past the Eldest Prince. Sang Yue didn’t notice a data cable that had suddenly appeared on the floor and tripped, nearly face-planting.

The Eldest Prince reached out and grabbed her, saving her from falling to the ground.

"Th-thank you." Sang Yue, still shaken, steadied herself with the Eldest Prince’s hand.

Just as the Eldest Prince was about to say it was nothing, a subtle fragrance reached his nose.

It was sweet, and it did much to soothe his constantly tense mind.

Sang Yue didn’t notice the Eldest Prince’s daze, nor did she have any intention of taking advantage of the situation. After confirming she had only tripped and wasn’t hurt, she pulled her hand back, nodded at the Eldest Prince, and headed for the contestants’ lounge.

Only when the young woman’s silhouette vanished behind the closing doors did the Eldest Prince snap back to his senses.

He wanted to chase after her, but then he remembered the competition was being broadcast live. He forced himself to stop and returned to his seat.

The mind that had just been soothed was now tense once more.

The Eldest Prince fell into deep thought.

The discomfort in his head was not due to his Spiritual Sea. He had undergone countless examinations and treatments, but no doctor could offer a reasonable explanation, let alone alleviate his discomfort.

Only just now, when he had steadied the young woman and smelled a scent he had never encountered before, had his tense mind suddenly relaxed.

But the moment she left, the scent disappeared, and the discomfort returned.

’That girl has a secret.’

The Eldest Prince was certain of it. He decided he would have someone investigate her after the competition ended.

Meanwhile, the moment Sang Yue entered the contestants’ lounge, she was enveloped by all sorts of angry and disdainful gazes.

Sang Yue froze for a second, a little confused. She tilted her head, found Shen Lu, and happily ran over.

"Boss Shen, I actually advanced!" Sang Yue joyfully shared her excitement. "When I found out this round was about knife skills, I really thought I was doomed. You know my knife skills are pretty average!"

Shen Lu teased, "It seems you’re not just talented at baking. You could be good at Chinese cuisine, too."

"Really? Really?" Sang Yue’s eyes lit up. "Then how about you take me as your apprentice? I’ll learn from you, okay?"

"No." Shen Lu refused without hesitation. "A person’s energy is limited. It’s more important for you to focus on mastering baking."

Shen Lu could offer some help when appropriate, but she didn’t want to get entangled with Sang Yue.

"You’re right." Sang Yue nodded as if she had received a profound lesson. "I can’t get distracted by new things. I’d be biting off more than I can chew."

Not far away, Shen Lan rolled her eyes in annoyance. She couldn’t stand this scheming woman who pretended to fall just so the Eldest Prince would catch her. Seeing her getting friendly with Shen Lu only led her to label them both as bitches in her mind.

’Bitches are so dramatic, and they always flock together.’

’Ptooey, may they all die a horrible death!’

The host entered the contestants’ lounge, first congratulating everyone who had successfully advanced, then announcing the content of the next day’s competition.

The competition would run for three consecutive days, followed by a three-day break, then another three days of competition. This cycle would repeat, taking two months to conclude.

During this period, the organizers provided dormitories for the contestants to live in for free. Of course, you didn’t have to stay there; you just had to inform the staff.

After today’s live broadcast ended, everyone left the studio one by one. Sang Yue let out a small gasp. "Boss Shen, it’s snowing outside!"

Shen Lu looked up and indeed saw fine grains of snow mixed in with the sand and dust. You had to look very closely to see them.

Shen Lu’s expression faltered for a moment. Snow meant that winter was coming.

The good news was that there would be no more winds above Level 8. But there was also bad news: the blanket of white snow would make transportation just as difficult, and the supply of ingredients would become even tighter.

Retrieving her Light Brain, Shen Lu found it flooded with messages.

Most were from Bai Wanwan, filled with all sorts of over-the-top praise, as well as outrage at some of the unfriendly comments in the live chat.

Fu Cheng had sent one too. His message was simple: "Congratulations."

Shen Lu’s tongue darted over her teeth as she replied to Fu Cheng.

Shen Lu: Is that all? Just "Congratulations"?

Fu Cheng: I can tell you haven’t even really tried yet. I look forward to your future performances.

Shen Lu: Hmph.

Xue Can was waiting in the main lobby, with Jiang Gong beside him. The two were discussing something; Xue Can looked a bit impatient, while Jiang Gong had an excited expression on his face.

Xue Can had been watching the exit. He spotted Shen Lu almost the instant she came out and strode over.

"Boss Shen, congratulations on successfully advancing."

He had been watching the live broadcast of the competition and was well aware of everything Shen Lu had done.

Jiang Gong followed him over and offered his congratulations as well, but his attention was mostly on Sang Yue.

"Sang Yue, you were amazing." Jiang Gong could hardly contain his joy. "You’ll definitely get a great ranking."

"Thanks! I’ll take that as a good omen, then."

"You won’t be in the Lower City District for the next few days. Does that mean your shop will be closed?"

"Yeah, it can’t be helped. For now, I’m the only Baker. If I’m not there, no one can make the cakes."

"You..."

Just as Jiang Gong was about to speak, a harsh voice interrupted him.

"What are you doing here instead of staying home where you belong? Running around again, aren’t you afraid Uncle will beat you?!"

The tone was anything but friendly, laced with extreme aggression.

The four of them turned to look. It was Gao Manting, with a delicate-looking, oval-faced young woman on her arm.

The young woman bit her lip apologetically and gently tugged on Gao Manting’s arm.

"Man Ting, don’t talk to Jiang Gong like that."

"Sister Xiao He, you’re just too much of a pushover! Jiang Gong takes advantage of your good nature, running around and flirting with everyone. You two are getting engaged in half a month, and instead of helping with the engagement party, he’s here chasing after some other woman. He’s utterly shameless!"

Gao Manting declared, righteously indignant.

"Gao Manting, shut your mouth!" Jiang Gong’s face turned ashen as he snapped. "When are you going to stop this terrible habit of spreading rumors and exaggerating everything?!"

"I’m spreading rumors? I’m exaggerating? We caught you red-handed, and you still won’t admit it. I can’t even imagine how much worse you are in private!"

"W-wait a minute!" Sang Yue weakly raised her hand. "I think there might be some kind of misunderstanding?"

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