The stout man's face paled in alarm.
What did that mean? Did the Little Prince know that bumpkin from Xingfu Star?
Soon, he calmed down and tried to comfort himself.
How could someone from a trash planet possibly produce food superior to the A-grade exam hall?
Lu Mingming, hearing the Little Prince's words, was utterly confused. She didn't understand what "finally found her" meant.
Despite her confusion, she spoke using the official language taught by the instructors: "Hello, esteemed judges. This is the roasted meat I prepared. I hope you will enjoy it."
The aroma of the roasted meat was irresistible. If not for the presence of numerous contestants, the Little Prince would have eagerly pounced on it.
The Little Knight glanced at him dismissively, snorting with disdain, "Don't let a competent streamer be accused of collusion because of your thoughtless words."
"Mind your own business."
Despite the bickering, the two youngsters harmoniously picked up skewers and popped the meat into their mouths.
The roasted meat retained none of the special odor characteristic of spiral sheep meat. Tiny bits of seasoning powder were mixed into the roasted skin, and the spicy scent tickled the nostrils with every breath.
The meat was a bit hot. The surface was roasted to a golden-brown brilliance. The crispy outer layer burst with a savory, delicious flavor upon the first bite, satisfying the taste buds with its crispiness and deliciousness.
The Little Prince took a small bite and savored the delicacy with happy grunts.
At the cut, the meat was tender, white, and smooth, with a soft, chewy texture. The abundance of seasoning, coupled with the tender meat that had absorbed all the oil, brought a sense of fulfillment from within, lingering with the smoky roasted flavor even after swallowing.
The roasted meat was numbing yet not spicy. Combined with the lettuce, it effectively counteracted the greasiness of the fatty parts, offering a wonderfully sweet and tender taste that filled the Little Prince's empty stomach.
"Try this."
Lu Mingming handed each of the two young cubs a serving of sour plum drink.
The icy sour plum drink was not boiling like hot soup, and it effectively quenched thirst and cleared heat.
The cool liquid flowed down the throat into the stomach, its pure sweet and sour taste lingering on the taste buds. The crisp, sweet, and slightly sour liquid filled the mouth, refreshing the spirit and alleviating the strong seasoning taste left in the mouth after eating the roasted meat.
The two cubs were too engrossed in eating to speak, their heads bowed.
Skewer after skewer piled up in the trash can, visibly demonstrating the two cubs' enjoyment of the roasted meat.
If they liked it, the bet was as good as won.
Lu Mingming flashed a subtle smile.
Meanwhile, the stout man inwardly cried out that things were not going well.
With the last skewer remaining, the cubs eyed it intently, neither willing to let go. The shorter man squeezed forward with a grin, changing the subject:
"May I ask what kind of score you two will give our contestant?"
He had seen the two cubs finish all the spiral sheep meat dishes for the first time, indicating their immense satisfaction.
Thinking of this, the shorter man suppressed his schadenfreude.
Would someone really have to eat a table today?
"No need for further discussion. I award you a 4.3."
The Little Knight used the skewer as a pointer, contemplating for a long time before delivering the verdict.
"I'm docking 0.7 points for ingredients, fearing you might get arrogant with a higher score. It would be even better if you could create food with a milder flavor that younger cubs can eat."
"Such demanding taste."
The Little Prince consoled.
"I'll give you a 4.6. You're the best I've tasted so far, truly excellent. Which planet are you from? I forgot."
The Little Prince was determined to have his older brother invest in this planet.
Lu Mingming smiled, "It's Xingfu Star."
The Little Prince was too embarrassed to respond, as he had never heard of this planet.
"Ignorant fellow. The Wu Clan once invaded Xingfu Star; it has only recently regained its vitality," the Little Knight explained, wiping his mouth.
Until the end of the exam, the Little Prince stood on stage and announced the final scores:
"In this Junior保育师 (Bǎoyùshī - Childcare Specialist) assessment, the first place goes to streamer Lu Mingming from Xingfu Star, with a final score of 4.45. The second place is An Wei from the main planet..."
Lu Mingming's average score was the highest among all contestants in the Junior exam hall, even surpassing two popular contestants from the A-grade exam hall.
The entire venue erupted in shock, disbelief that a contestant from a Junior exam hall could outscore those from a Senior exam hall.
The stout man's face darkened, his fists clenched at his sides.
He absolutely would not eat a table; he had to salvage his reputation!
The girl with the exceptionally delicate features and the most beautiful orange curly wool in the A-grade exam hall was An Gelina's cousin, An Wei.
An Wei looked at Lu Mingming with guarded eyes.
Sister had never mentioned anyone named Lu Mingming. Where did this new rival come from?
Beside her was William, the younger brother of the Elven Star Prince.
With his short green hair, the boy quietly stared at Lu Mingming's face on the big screen, thinking to himself:
"My brother was right. There's always someone better. There's so much to learn..."
The shorter man interrupted the discussion, whispering a reminder, "As for the one who has to eat the table, will they fulfill their promise?"
Having suffered under the other's oppression for years, he finally had a chance to vent his frustrations.
The stout man's face flushed and paled: "Nonsense! How could a streamer from a small planet produce food far superior to that of the A-grade exam hall!"
As if realizing something, his face contorted with shock and rage. He pointed at Lu Mingming and spat,
"Did you collude with the invigilator?! A streamer from a trash planet and an invigilator who always stays in the trash planet exam hall, what do they do together needs no further explanation, right?"
The Little Knight narrowed his eyes, "Are you implying that someone has falsified the results?"
The stout man dared not offend the two young nobles, trembling so much he almost collapsed.
"Don't you two esteemed judges doubt this? I've worked in the invigilation hall for so many years. With so many excellent streamers, who would be outscored by someone from the C exam hall!"
Unknowingly, his words had offended the streamers from the A and B grade exam halls.
If there was no fakery, wouldn't that imply their own skills were inferior?
Lu Mingming said, "If you dislike me, you can try my food and then make your judgment."
"Fine, I'll eat it."
The stout man shoved the last skewer of roasted spiral sheep meat into his mouth.
The deliciousness lingered on his tongue, and he almost blurted out that it was good, but he managed to restrain himself.
The stout man chewed the meat thoroughly, unwilling to let go of its flavor, then spat it out onto the ground. The precious roasted meat, cherished by the cubs, was now covered in dirt, rendering it inedible.
The two young cubs' faces instantly darkened, their anger surging like a conflagration.
The other streamers empathy flared with the anger of seeing their hard work ruined. Some clutched their chests, muttering curses.
Having offended the nobles, the stout man, like a barefoot person unafraid of shoes, defiantly boasted,
"It's extremely unpalatable, disgustingly so. I request a retrial. Do you have anything else to say in the end?"
With the last portion wasted, there was no opportunity for a retrial; it would have to wait for the second examination.
"I have a way to prove my innocence."
Lu Mingming, having anticipated that the other party would not give up easily, had deliberately lured him into an action that would enrage the crowd. She hadn't expected the stout man to fall into the trap without suspicion.
Truly foolish and unaware.
"You suspect I obtained this result through cheating. I can immediately proceed to take the Intermediate保育师 (Bǎoyùshī) exam."
The surrounding crowd could hardly believe their ears. They collectively gasped, as if electrocuted, losing their voices.
The stout man stared blankly at Lu Mingming's face, speechless and powerless.
The Intermediate保育师 (Bǎoyùshī) exam was almost exclusively for those who ranked in the top 64 of the main planet competition, with bonus points from the competition for a sure pass.
Even An Gelina, currently ranked first, had chosen to take the Intermediate保育师 (Bǎoyùshī) certification exam after entering the top 64.
Furthermore, there had never been a case of taking two certification exams on the same day.
"What's wrong? Is it not allowed?"
Lu Mingming looked at everyone's shocked expressions, her words revealing genuine curiosity, as if she truly didn't know.
"H-how could it not be? If you wish to, you naturally can."
The shorter man's voice trembled. He gestured to a staff member nearby, reminding them.
"Quick, sign her up. Otherwise, the quota for the afternoon will close."
The shorter man's heart pounded wildly. The entire world seemed to be filled with this intense and heavy heartbeat.
He hoped he hadn't misjudged her.
If she succeeded, Lu Mingming would not only be his hope for promotion and salary increase but also a new hope for the lower-tier planets.