The critical moment to verify Qin Hao's culinary prowess arrived. His gaze fell upon the bubbling oil in the wok, unwavering, and his ears twitched faintly, attuned to the subtle shifts in the sizzling fish slices.
Suddenly! Qin Hao's eyes snapped open. With lightning precision, he grabbed the slotted spoon and lifted the fish from the oil in one swift motion.
Splash! The shimmering golden glow on the fish slices caught everyone's breath.
"That's it!" Zixi gasped.
"He nailed it—perfection. Could he really be a culinary genius?" Wei Tianlin's voice trembled.
The pair froze in place, staring at each other in stunned silence. They replayed Qin Hao's cooking video repeatedly, their faces growing more grim with every detail they uncovered. Particularly his knife skills—an artistry so dreamlike, it left them speechless.
"Master, have you noticed? His knife technique—it's not ordinary," Zixi pointed out sharply.
Wei Tianlin's expression darkened, his mind drawn back to a memory from years ago. He recalled the arrival of a prodigious chef who had swept through Huaxia's culinary world, a star illuminating the scene with unparalleled brilliance. Awards, titles, acclaim—all were his. Many believed he would become the greatest chef in Huaxia's history.
But a mysterious incident had forced his retreat from the public eye, and over time, his name faded from the collective memory of the culinary world.
Now, Wei Tianlin couldn't ignore the striking resemblance between Qin Hao's skills and those of the legendary chef who had vanished.
"Investigate him. I must know who this man is," Wei Tianlin commanded, his voice resolute.
Zixi, unwilling to delay, picked up the phone and contacted the Culinary Association.
"Hello, this is Zixi. Can you check a record for me?" she asked.
"Of course. Whose record?" the voice replied.
"A man named Qin Hao, in his twenties. See if the association has any information on him," Zixi specified.
Half an hour later, the call returned. The association reported no records on Qin Hao, leaving Zixi perplexed. Could those certificates he claimed be fraudulent? How could someone with such extraordinary skill remain completely unknown within the culinary circles?
While Zixi pondered, Wei Tianlin's demeanor shifted to excitement. The lack of records confirmed his suspicions—Qin Hao had been expelled from the association years ago.
"Bring me my phone. I won't stop until I uncover the truth about this man," Wei Tianlin declared.
Rushing to retrieve the phone, Zixi handed it to him. After searching through his contacts, Wei Tianlin landed on a number labeled 'Meng Yixiang.' Meng, an esteemed military official and an old friend, often visited Wei for meals, during which Wei personally cooked. Meng's influence within the military made him an ideal candidate to investigate Qin Hao further.
As Wei prepared to dial, Zixi hesitated. "Grandfather, are you truly using military connections to investigate Qin Hao?" she questioned.
"Absolutely. The Culinary Association cannot provide answers, but the military certainly can," Wei asserted.
"But isn't this overkill? Using military resources to investigate one person?" Zixi pressed.
Wei Tianlin sighed, his gaze growing distant. "You're still young. There are things you cannot understand. I must confirm something—no matter the cost."
The call was made. After a few rings, a commanding voice answered.
"Old Wei, what's this? Have you come up with a new dish for me to try?" Meng asked, his tone jovial.
"Old Meng, I need you to investigate someone for me," Wei responded directly.
Wei Tianlin got straight to the point.
"Investigate someone?"
"Yes!"
"What's the name?"
"Qin Hao."
"Alright, leave it to me," Meng Yixiang replied curtly before hanging up.
For a high-ranking military officer, such tasks were nothing more than routine. Investigating someone was as effortless as lifting a finger. The military's powerful intelligence network spanned every corner of Huaxia, leaving no thread or detail unnoticed. If someone lived within Huaxia's borders, they couldn't escape the eyes of the military's intelligence division.
Once the call ended, Wei Tianlin began pacing the room incessantly, back and forth, his uneasiness palpable. Watching him, Zixi grew more and more anxious, unable to understand why her usually composed and seasoned master was so unsettled by Qin Hao's case.
An hour later, Meng Yixiang called back.
"Old Meng, how did it go? If you found anything, just send the records to my phone," Wei Tianlin asked eagerly.
There was a brief silence before a chillingly cold voice responded, "Old Wei, tell me first—why are you investigating this man?"
Taken aback, Wei Tianlin quickly explained, "Old Meng, you've misunderstood. I'm simply curious about him and want to know more about his background."
"If that's the case, let me give you some advice—stop investigating. I won't share anything about this man, and I strongly advise you to stay as far away from him as possible. If something happens, don't say I didn't warn you."
Due to slight hearing loss, Wei Tianlin had the phone on speaker, allowing Zixi to hear Meng's words clearly. Both froze in shock. In all their years of friendship, Meng Yixiang had never spoken to Wei Tianlin with such an icy tone. They were lifelong friends, yet his words now resembled those of a distant stranger.
"Old Meng... what's going on? What do you mean by this? Is there something wrong with this man, Qin Hao?" Wei Tianlin pressed further, both incredulous and unwilling to give up.
"Have I not made myself clear, Old Wei? Whatever history or grievances you have with him, let it end here," Meng replied, his tone unwaveringly cold.
"But... Old Meng, if I must step back, at least let me step back in understanding!" Wei Tianlin implored.
"I'll tell you one thing only—his records are beyond my clearance level," Meng Yixiang said flatly.
Boom!
The words landed like a thunderclap. Both Wei Tianlin and Zixi stood rooted to the spot, their faces etched with shock and disbelief.
Even Meng Yixiang couldn't access Qin Hao's information? It was an unthinkable revelation. Meng held a venerable position within the military, practically at the elder statesman level. If someone of his stature was denied access, what level of authority could possibly unlock Qin Hao's past?
"I won't say more. Sharing this much already breaches protocol," Meng concluded, his voice firm yet final.
"Understood. Thank you, Old Meng. Let me know when you're free for a meal," Wei Tianlin replied before hanging up, his expression hollow.
Watching the livestream showing Qin Hao, Zixi's gaze underwent a profound transformation—filled with incredulity, she stared in silence, her thoughts spinning wildly.
"Zixi, call your second uncle to come here," Wei Tianlin demanded, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Huh?" Zixi hesitated.