The feminists, upon hearing the defense of Qin Hao, were far from willing to back down.
Their "iron fists" were not to be underestimated.
"For a man like Qin Hao, why should we even bother reasoning with him? Are you people out of your minds?"
"Setting that aside, isn't it a fact that Qin Hao stole Chu Chu Baby's audience?"
"If he can't rely on genuine talent, he resorts to these petty tricks to target our sister. Does he have no shame?"
"And you people defending Qin Hao—are you all supporting male privilege? Foolish defenders of male privilege actually think they can take us on? Ridiculous!"
A storm of criticism rained down, and the feminists' verbal punches were relentless, shaking the very ground.
Those who spoke up for Qin Hao and Su Wuyao found themselves under heavy fire.
One by one, they quietly turned off their phones, fearing further attacks.
And so it went.
Caught in a pincer attack, Qin Hao and Su Wuyao were completely ostracized by the public.
A "fake identity."
A "man enslaving his wife."
These two labels were pinned on them, and they were mercilessly flogged online.
In Beijing, within a grand building's conference room, a group of individuals sat with solemn expressions, their gazes fixed intently on the large screen before them.
Displayed on the screen was an image—Su Wuyao's livestream had shown the legendary Dragon Head Knife.
The knife glowed with a faint blue light, its brilliance reflected across their faces through the screen.
Their eyes betrayed a mix of emotions, but none of them spoke a word.
The room was enveloped in an eerie silence, the kind where even a pin drop would resound.
The screen flickered, and a second image appeared—Qin Hao cooking during the livestream.
The moment Qin Hao appeared, the atmosphere in the room shifted sharply.
A strange tension spread among them.
"The Dragon Head Knife has resurfaced, which already proves that the person in the livestream is the mysterious chef who vanished years ago. What are your thoughts?" Wei Tiande stood up and spoke slowly.
Before him sat twelve core members of the China Culinary Association, each one a top chef in the nation.
"Hmph. What thoughts can there be? Obviously, we need to retrieve the Dragon Head Knife. It belongs to the Culinary Association," said the youngest chef among them, standing up with a heavy tone.
"Retrieve it?" Wei Tianlin sneered. "It was us who gifted that knife years ago. On what grounds should we take it back now?"
The young chef glanced at Wei Tianlin.
"Do we need grounds? He abandoned us when it mattered most. From that moment, he lost all qualifications to possess the Dragon Head Knife. Don't forget—he hasn't been part of the Culinary Association for years."
"But he is still the rightful owner of the Dragon Head Knife. Don't forget the rules established by the Culinary Association: Only someone whose culinary skills surpass his may claim the knife," Wei Tianlin replied.
He then turned to the young chef, coldly asking, "Do you believe your skills are superior to his?"
The young chef scoffed, a hint of disdain flickering on his face.
"What genius chef of China? He was hyped up back then, sure. But what came of it?"
"You all have grown old—not just physically but in your mindset and ambition."
"Mark my words: I will claim the Dragon Head Knife, and I, Chu Qing, am destined to be its next owner."
At these words, all eyes turned to Chu Qing.
Wei Tiande, the association's president, rested his chin in his hands as he examined the bold young man before him.
Chu Qing was a rising star, his talent in culinary arts nothing short of extraordinary.
He had begun learning to cook at ten years old. By fifteen, he had won first prize in the China Youth Chef Competition. At sixteen, he had secured the gold medal in an international chef competition.
By eighteen, he was promoted to National Special Grade Chef. At twenty, he joined the Culinary Association.
In just one year, he had ascended to the position of vice president in the association.
He was heralded as the one most likely to surpass the man of legend.
His journey had been paved with flowers and glory.
Naturally, he felt contempt for the chef of yesteryear.
"I think Chu Qing is right. The Dragon Head Knife should no longer be in his hands."
"Perhaps we overestimated him back then; otherwise, it wouldn't have ended the way it did."
"He is a disgrace to China's culinary world. Keeping the Dragon Head Knife in his possession only tarnishes its legacy—it's nothing but a waste."
Nine others voiced their agreement, making their positions clear.
Wei Tianlin wanted to retort but ultimately chose not to.
The incident from years ago remained a sore point, a wound they all wished to avoid revisiting.
Wei Tiande's gaze grew profound, yet he withheld his opinion.
"Do you not have confidence in me, President?" Chu Qing asked, a trace of dissatisfaction in his voice. "Do you underestimate me, or overestimate Qin Hao?"
Bang!
Wei Tianlin slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Chu Qing, watch your attitude!"
"What attitude? Isn't my stance clear enough? I will claim the Dragon Head Knife!"
"I don't care about Qin Hao. I admit his culinary skills are exceptional, but he is a relic of the past. I am the new genius chef of China."
"One day, I will achieve everything he has—and more. Mark my words."
Chu Qing's face remained indifferent as he waved dismissively, his confidence palpable.
"What makes you so confident?" Wei Tianlin demanded.
"This!" Chu Qing declared, producing a small knife and a pear.
He placed the pear in his palm and swiftly sliced through it.
The blade passed through without leaving a mark, and the pear remained intact.
Everyone watched with puzzled expressions, unsure of his intent.
Suddenly, Chu Qing smirked, tossing the knife aside.
He displayed the pear to the room and gently pressed it with his fingers.
Crack!
The pear blossomed like a flower, each petal translucent and glimmering.
Hiss!
The room filled with gasps. Even the most seasoned chefs couldn't help but marvel at his technique.
No one had expected Chu Qing's skills to have advanced to such heights.
Even Wei Tianlin was momentarily stunned; Chu Qing's knife work had reached an extraordinary level.
"President, rest assured—I won't disgrace the Culinary Association."
As Chu Qing finished speaking, Wei Tiande broke his silence.
"I agree with sending you."
"President!" Wei Tianlin began to object, but Wei Tiande stopped him with a raised hand.
He slowly stood, turning his back to the room, his gaze fixed on the screen displaying Qin Hao.
After a long pause, he said quietly, "The news of the Dragon Head Knife has already reached Japan. It won't be long before they come for it."
"The Dragon Head Knife is more than just a tool—it's the pride of China's culinary world. There are certain things we must reclaim."
"Since Chu Qing is qualified, why not let him retrieve the Dragon Head Knife?"
Chu Qing's lips curled into a triumphant smile.
With Wei Tiande's approval, the matter was settled.
He would challenge Qin Hao as the new prodigy of the Culinary Association and reclaim the Dragon Head Knife—the symbol of China's culinary supremacy.
By defeating Qin Hao, Chu Qing would usher in a new era for China's culinary world, one that belonged to him.
This was destined to be a showdown of epic proportions, a battle representing the pinnacle of culinary artistry.
Without delay, Chu Qing prepared to confront Qin Hao today.
His impatience to claim the Dragon Head Knife burned brightly.