A significant portion of the braised pork and shrimp pot was cleared, and Sasha, in particular, finished two whole bowls of rice. She hadn't eaten so heartily in a long time!
Lu Mingming had initially thought Sasha would be difficult to please, worrying if the seasonings might not suit a beast-person's palate. Seeing Sasha's bowl clean brought her a sigh of relief.
"I can confidently say this is the most satisfying meal I've had all year."
Sasha elegantly wiped her mouth with a napkin, preserving her image as a beautiful host. Her round, almond-shaped eyes were filled with sincerity.
While Sasha was savoring the food, the photographers, with their hawk-like gazes fixed on people, found themselves swallowing repeatedly, wishing they could rush forward and snatch the bowls and chopsticks. Especially the two sturdy men carrying equipment, Zhang Da and Wang Er, whose stomachs were already tied in knots from hunger. They had intentionally skipped lunch, having heard they were interviewing a very impressive conservationist, and now their stomachs rumbled, their mouths watering profusely.
"You two should come and try too."
Lu Mingming warmly invited them, taking two clean, washed bowls from the kitchen and handing them out. The burly men exchanged glances, hesitated for a few seconds, then accepted the bowls with a nod of thanks at Sasha's glance.
Sasha, after using her makeup mirror to confirm her ears had retracted, felt at ease and playfully addressed the two men, "The interview link doesn't have a taste test, nor does it have holography. You quickly taste them on behalf of the fans, one dish each to rate. It can't just be me saying it."
Since Sasha was a carnivore, she hadn't eaten much of the remaining silken tofu and cabbage soup. She had devoted almost all her energy to the two meat dishes. Holding the thought that Lu Mingming shouldn't have cooked for nothing, Sasha wanted the herbivorous photographers to try, a precedent that had never been set before.
The screen instantly exploded, with streams of comments expressing their "outraged" opinions:
【Jasmine: Ahhh, those words have stabbed me to the heart!!】
【Everyone's Favorite Little Rabbit: I'm calling the police. I haven't had a decent meal in days, tt】
【143: ...We will consider adding holographic functions to StarNet interviews in the future.】
【General Fatty Tiger: Huh?? What's the above???】
Zhang Da licked his lips and was the first to reach for the remaining cabbage soup, scooping up three generous spoonfuls of clear broth. He had smelled its delicate fragrance while the dish was being prepared, a scent that wafted directly into his nostrils. He had never eaten soup made from stewed cabbage in his life!
Under the collective gaze of the livestream, Zhang Da picked up a piece of tender cabbage with his chopsticks, his hands trembling as he placed it on his tongue. The white cabbage didn't possess the fiery aroma of the shrimp pot or braised pork, but it was pure, sweet, and refreshing. Especially the softened heart of the cabbage, which was coated in rich broth and moisture, leaving a lingering, unforgettable taste in his mouth. One bite wasn't enough.
Zhang Da slurped down the cabbage leaves and, before he could stop himself to offer his opinion, gulped down the remaining cabbage soup in his bowl. The savory broth flowed into his mouth, a faint layer of oil clinging to his lips along with the soup. The bland clear soup, infused with the sweetness of the cabbage, was perfectly seasoned and tasted like the most exquisite delicacy.
Wang Er on the other side was similar. He filled his bowl with half a portion of rice, piling the silken tofu into a small hill, with savory and sweet sauces occupying half each. He then bashfully scratched his head, his face red, and took his food to a corner, sitting on a small stool to savor it.
With a gentle nudge, the silken tofu was as tender as a child's smooth, soft cheek. Wang Er considered himself a simple man with no connoisseur's pretensions, so he scooped up large portions with his rice and ate them together.
So mellow! So fragrant!
The silken tofu itself was smooth and tender, and after adding the various dipping sauces, it was like a beauty adorned in new clothes, revealing its inherent deliciousness to the taste buds, all blending into the full-bodied rice. Wang Er finished the last piece of tofu mixed with rice, completely clearing his bowl. After finishing his meal hastily, Wang Er realized and impatiently refilled his bowl with rice, his eyes fixed on the silken tofu, ready to dig in again.
Sasha covered her mouth and laughed, "Tell us what you think, don't just eat."
Without hesitation, the two burly men replied in unison and loudly, "Delicious!"
"I swear, I'm not a top professional in this field, but this taste is very special... I can't quite describe it, my education is too low."
Zhang Da raised four fingers to guarantee his sincerity, his face beaming.
Wang Er's mind suddenly sparked, and he immediately chimed in, "It tastes like home, a warm feeling!"
He then chuckled, a little embarrassed under everyone's gaze, like a student caught by the teacher during class, standing up straight but with a very honest and righteous expression. His comical yet eager demeanor made everyone burst into laughter.
【Happy Orange Cat: Hahahaha, I understand. That's how I felt the first time I 'ate'.】
【Looking Up at the White Clouds: I want to try too. I'm a vegetarian, and the soup and the white paste look good.】
【Sheep Don't Like Grass: Mingming's cooking has magic. I suspect a big shot is secretly using a different account, hehe.】
"Oh? Is that so?"
Sasha read through the comments and, upon noticing this one, immediately turned to Lu Mingming for confirmation.
"Don't, I've been considering whether to get a conservationist certificate lately."
Lu Mingming, who was feeding the little white tiger its last two bites of silken tofu, shook her head helplessly and denied it. She was just a gene-sick frozen person who had only woken up less than a month ago; where would she have any unique golden fingers?
As for the conservationist certificate, Lu Mingming had indeed been contemplating it recently.
From the "battle" with the restaurant chef, Lu Mingming suddenly realized that there were many things to pay attention to in the "nursery area." If she had proven her strength to be at the level of a junior conservationist, she wouldn't have been so easily framed for buying fake views during a livestream by someone hiding in the shadows back then.
If the Nine-tailed Fox knew that Lu Mingming hadn't lost her confidence but instead was spurred to aim higher, it would have made it furious enough to lose sleep for another night.
"All in all, everyone can look forward to Mingming's future development."
Sasha winked playfully at the camera and continued, "Speaking of which, our main task today is not just to be guests at Mingming's home, but also to share more news about Mingming with the livestream audience~"
Hearing Sasha's slightly official remark, Lu Mingming immediately understood that the interview had officially begun. She took a deep breath, calmed her mind, and prepared to answer every question diligently.
Just as the little white tiger finished the last of the food in its bowl, it subtly glanced at Sasha. When the latter looked back, not understanding, it retracted its gaze, hopped off the soft stool, and returned to its usual spot on the sofa, lying listlessly. It continued to hide in the blind spot of the camera, secretly watching Lu Mingming during the interview with its smart computer.
Sasha was a little perplexed, her slightly furrowed brow slowly relaxing. Why did it always feel like the streamer's little tiger had an issue with her? Was it an illusion? kuAiδugg
She coughed lightly, shaking off the杂绪 from her mind, and skillfully began her opening remarks:
"I can share some good news with everyone. Tianhe Live Streaming has confirmed that streamer Mingming has successfully entered the top ten of the newcomer rankings, giving her a chance to participate in Xingfu Star's only competition spot. Please remember to support Mingming! What are Mingming's thoughts on this..."
...
The interview questions were not particularly tricky. Most of them were as Lu Mingming had expected. She guessed that this interview was mainly for Tianhe Group to advertise the streamer and increase her visibility. Therefore, Lu Mingming answered several questions flawlessly, as if joking, and her high emotional intelligence earned cheers from the livestream.
Until the last question, Sasha glanced at her script and her tone became serious: "Everyone knows that Mingming was previously slandered and unable to stream. Does Mingming have anything she wants to say herself? Or has it had any impact on her?"
Sasha held a bead of sweat in her hand. She was here partly because Tianhe Live Streaming had asked her to help Lu Mingming clarify things. Sasha didn't know the higher-ups' intentions, but completing the task as soon as possible was always the right thing to do. She was just afraid that Lu Mingming might impulsively say something wrong.
"First, I am very grateful for everyone's supervision, which has allowed me to recognize the problems I have."
It was clear that Lu Mingming was not at all provoked. Instead, she looked towards the camera, as if making eye contact with each viewer, her words filled with sincerity. Just as Sasha was about to breathe a sigh of relief and end the interview with a perfunctory round of applause, Lu Mingming's next sentence made her heart leap into her throat.
"Secondly, I want to say that my abilities are far beyond this. If you look down on me, please defeat me with your strength in a fair and square manner."
This implied that she was aware of those who had tried to sabotage her and was also warning those who had spread rumors behind the scenes not to play dirty tricks sneakily.
What was meant to be a slightly arrogant statement, when uttered by the usually gentle Lu Mingming, whose disposition made people want to get close to her, created a huge ripple effect due to the stark contrast.
【Jasmine: Hmph, those people shouldn't be too pleased. Today's Mingming is the queen in my heart!!!】
— Jasmine gifted you ten fireworks.
【Taotao Likes to Eat: I admire you for that statement!】
— Taotao Likes to Eat gifted you five hundred and twenty roses.
...
Even though there were occasional curses and doubts from new viewers, they were quickly drowned out by Lu Mingming's loyal old fans. Seeing the battlefield instantly turn peaceful with the barrage of gifts, Sasha secretly sighed: How did Lu Mingming attract so many wealthy and devoted fans!
"Thank you all for your support for such a long time."
With so much support, Lu Mingming bowed gratefully. She was able to steadily advance towards her ideal future thanks to the support of all the kind viewers.
Lu Mingming pushed aside a strand of her long hair and looked up. The corners of her lips curved into a smile, her lustrous, dark eyes filled with genuine sincerity, like the warm sunshine in winter, soft and warm: "To reciprocate your support, the giveaway today has been increased to ten prizes. They are my handmade dishes and other small gifts. Thank you all again."
As soon as Lu Mingming said this, the livestream fell silent.
The fans in front of the screen held their breath, anxiously awaiting the announcement of the giveaway's commencement—the real battle had only just begun.