Meanwhile, Qin Hao had already plated the Peony Fish Fillet.
The slices of fish were arranged in a perfect circle on the plate, accented with sprigs of celery leaves for decoration. From the camera's perspective, the dish resembled a blossoming peony in full bloom. Each petal radiated brilliance, lifelike and breathtakingly detailed.
It was hard to believe that this masterpiece was crafted from a single grass carp.
"Peony Fish Fillet… He actually pulled it off. I thought it was just a joke at first."
"I'm impressed. This level of craftsmanship is far beyond the reach of most chefs."
"To be honest, I've been cooking for ten years, and I couldn't create this dish. Even if I somehow managed, it wouldn't reach this level of perfection."
"Twenty years in the kitchen speaking here—Qin Hao's skills have far surpassed what any ordinary master chef can achieve."
The livestream erupted in celebration as Qin Hao completed the dish, sending viewers into a frenzy. Bullet comments flooded the chat like snowflakes, expressing awe and admiration. Gifts and tokens of appreciation poured in from fans, illuminating the stream with their support.
Even ChuChu Baby, staring at her phone and watching the screen, was left utterly speechless, unable to process the breathtaking image before her.
She rubbed her eyes, then looked again at the intricate peony flower on the plate. Everything felt surreal, as if she were dreaming.
The provocative comments in Su Wuyao's livestream vanished in an instant, leaving ChuChu Baby's fans watching in awkward silence. Their faces burned with embarrassment as reality set in.
Initially, they had hoped Qin Hao would stumble while attempting such a challenging dish, leading to the ultimate moment of failure. But to their disbelief, Qin Hao's stunning success shattered all their expectations, turning their laughter into stunned admiration.
Retreating to their fan group chat, conversations began to shift.
"Did we misjudge him?"
"Maybe... Qin Hao really is a top-tier chef."
"This doesn't feel scripted at all."
Reading these sudden changes in tone, ChuChu Baby felt her heart sink. Something was clearly amiss.
"Hoist by her own petard, slapped squarely by her own arrogance."
ChuChu Baby could already feel the looming threat of chaos brewing behind her. Her fanbase, unsettled by the recent turn of events, was growing increasingly restless.
In an effort to salvage the situation, she quickly rolled out a wave of perks and rewards, temporarily soothing the agitation among her more zealous fans, convincing them—at least for now—of her narrative.
"It's impossible. There's no way he's a National Special-Grade Chef," ChuChu Baby muttered, her eyes glued to the livestream.
But how could she explain the Peony Fish Fillet? Could it all be part of Su Wuyao's script? Yes, that must be it. There was no way ChuChu Baby would believe that someone of such caliber could remain hidden in domestic life for three years.
Determined to prevent the situation from spiraling further and protect her title as the reigning queen of the platform's culinary and lifestyle section, ChuChu Baby decided to seek help from her company.
She picked up the phone and dialed the company's manager, hoping for intervention. On the Live platform, most streamers operated under the management of companies responsible for crafting their public image and marketing strategies, while sharing a cut of their profits.
ChuChu Baby's status as the number one lifestyle and culinary streamer was largely attributed to the company's meticulous efforts behind the scenes. If Su Wuyao's popularity continued to rise, threatening ChuChu Baby's position, it would inevitably impact the company's revenue. There was no chance the company would sit idly by.
Furthermore, with so many streamers under their wing, why was ChuChu Baby singled out and elevated to the top? It was the deliberate result of planning, investment, and strategy. Streamers like Su Wuyao, who operated without company backing, were an extreme rarity in the industry. Typically, those who lacked professional management seldom found fame.
However, Su Wuyao wasn't a traditional streamer—her main career lay elsewhere, making her choice to remain unaffiliated entirely reasonable.
"Mr. Lin, someone's bullying me. Are you going to help me or not?" ChuChu Baby pouted, her voice dripping with feigned grievance as she spoke into the phone.
"What happened? Who's giving you trouble?" a male voice responded from the other end.
"A new streamer has started in our section. From the moment she went live, she's been stealing my audience. You have to help me!" ChuChu Baby pleaded.
"A new streamer? Which company is she with?"
"She's not part of any company. Her name is Su Wuyao—a small-time streamer who does culinary shows with her husband," ChuChu Baby explained.
"Oh, just a small streamer, is it? Cooking shows, you say? Coincidentally, I know a friend who's a food critic. I can help you out… but—"
"Oh, stop teasing! I'll be waiting at home tonight, so call me when you arrive," ChuChu Baby interrupted, her tone playful and suggestive.
"Ha ha ha, then it's settled," the man laughed before hanging up.
Feeling victorious, ChuChu Baby grinned from ear to ear, her excitement barely contained.
Soon enough, the company responded with a clear plan: suppress Su Wuyao and employ strategies to redirect her growing popularity back to ChuChu Baby. After all, making just two dishes and expecting to dominate the Live platform's culinary section was naïve.
Su Wuyao clearly underestimated the competitive nature of the livestreaming world. ChuChu Baby, confident in the backing of her company, wasn't worried in the slightest. With her support system in place, she believed it was only a matter of time before Su Wuyao faded into obscurity.
Meanwhile, Qin Hao placed the two dishes he had prepared onto the dining table, nodding with satisfaction.
Years had passed, yet his skills remained sharp. Both dishes could only be described with one word: perfection. The flavors, the presentation—everything was flawless.
Presentation!
A sudden realization struck Qin Hao. There's no way a takeout delivery would come with intricate plating.
Panicking, he grabbed his chopsticks and deliberately scattered the beautifully arranged Peony Fish Fillet. The delicate peony, once a stunning masterpiece, was now reduced to a chaotic, disordered mess.
"He's doing this on purpose—absolutely intentional."
"Ha ha ha, destroying the evidence of his crime!"
"No kidding. Such exquisite plating would obviously never come with takeout."
Even Su Wuyao couldn't help but laugh in frustration at the sight.
His ability to keep secrets was truly remarkable. They had been married for three full years. Did he have any idea what she had endured during this time? If it weren't for stumbling upon his certificates by chance, who knows how much longer Qin Hao could have kept this under wraps—three more years, perhaps?
She simply couldn't understand why he insisted on hiding this from her. It wasn't as though it was something shameful.
There had been a time when Su Wuyao believed she knew Qin Hao better than anyone else. To her, he had no secrets, standing before her as if entirely transparent.
But now...
Now she realized how little she truly understood about him. The seemingly ordinary Qin Hao suddenly exuded an air of mystery.
"No, I have to confront him and get the truth," Su Wuyao resolved. She couldn't let this go unresolved; it was a hurdle she couldn't overcome otherwise.
Imagine discovering that the man who shares your bed and showers you with love has been keeping such a significant secret for so long. How would anyone feel?
"I need answers," she muttered, packing up her belongings and heading home.
The livestream remained active, and the viewers, always eager for drama, erupted in excitement.
"Oh no, it's over."
"This is serious—if the streamer's husband doesn't explain himself properly, kneeling on a keyboard might not even cut it."
"Does anyone have the husband's number? Let's warn him: denial gets you punished, honesty gives you leniency. He won't be able to keep this hidden anymore."
At that moment, Qin Hao had just finished tidying up the kitchen, erasing any evidence of his "crime." He was about to relax when he heard a knock at the door.
Opening it, he saw Su Wuyao standing there, her lips pursed in a pout. She looked just like a little wife who had been thoroughly wronged.