Chapter 18: I, Lu Li, Am Never Involved in Any Underhanded Deals!

Chapter 18: I, Lu Li, Never Play Dirty!

"Alright! The inaugural ‘Fantasia Cup’ Culinary Competition is about to begin! Let’s welcome our two contestants!"

In the living room of the Lu family, an enthusiastic Lu Li, alongside Xing Tian and Akagi—both outwardly grieving but inwardly equally distressed—applauded. Among the three, only one clapped with genuine sincerity.

Standing a few meters apart in the center of the room were Bai Muli, dressed in a black suit, and Luo Qianying, clad in a two-toned dress.

“Okay, the kitchen is now yours,” Lu Li said solemnly. “If anyone lays a hand on the other, it’s an immediate loss. We demand a civilized competition and must eliminate any violence!”

The two young ladies exchanged worried glances but entered the kitchen without another word.

At that moment, Lu Li’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at it, a realization dawning on him.

It was a message from Fang Yuebai.

The DNA of Xing Tian, Akagi, and the already deceased Hawk had been checked against the database, and none of them had any criminal records.

Then came the household registration information.

There was no record of these three anywhere.

It was as if they didn’t exist.

Or rather, they didn’t belong to this world.

This confirmed Lu Li’s suspicions.

These six individuals were indeed “Reincarnators,” just like in the novels.

Well then, this was the perfect opportunity to eliminate them all at once.

Unfortunately, he was just an ordinary person.

Lu Li had no time to chat with them, nor any desire to delve into the so-called “Reincarnation Space.”

In truth, he was quite curious.

But he restrained his curiosity and firmly avoided close contact with them.

One good thing about Lu Li was that he understood himself.

He knew he was ordinary, and ordinary people tend to empathize easily.

Therefore, he didn’t want to know their pasts or get involved in their affairs, so that when it came time to deal with them, he wouldn’t hesitate.

Why did he want them gone?

Simply put, judging by their first encounter—almost shooting it out with the police—these people were no good.

More precisely, they utterly disregarded the law.

The fact that they escaped from the police station without being wanted suggested that whatever protected them had a profound influence on people’s minds in this world.

These were no ordinary criminals; they required a heavy hand.

Soon, both ladies had finished preparing their dishes.

First up was Bai Muli.

She presented ordinary home-cooked meals:

Braised pork ribs, peony jellyfish salad, stir-fried chives with eggs, oil-braised prawns, Mapo tofu, and hot and sour shredded potatoes.

The steamed rice was soft and tender.

At least, that was her claim.

In reality, these dishes looked nothing like food.

They were better described as indescribable substances.

Without pixelation, they probably couldn’t appear on TV or pass censorship on video platforms.

Lu Li’s face darkened.

Looking into Bai Muli’s eager, expectant eyes, he was at a loss for words.

What was this? Shooting oneself in the foot?

Beside him, Xing Tian and Akagi looked even more ashen—so pale they seemed almost blackened.

Their instincts told them the food must be delicious.

Yet their eyes rejected that notion.

Still, instinct eventually triumphed over sight—perhaps that was the power of a sixth sense.

They picked up their chopsticks and began to taste.

The verdict was clear: sometimes, trusting your eyes isn’t a mistake.

These dishes—how to put it—

Maybe salt was free?

Yet Lu Li ate with relish.

This was the taste of home.

Indeed, Bai Muli’s cooking perfectly replicated the signature dishes of Lu Li’s mother—dishes he had eaten for over ten years.

This was the flavor of family.

Salty?

Just drink more water, eat more rice!

He would give Bai Muli’s dishes a nine out of ten.

The one-point deduction was entirely due to presentation.

Next was Luo Qianying’s turn.

“Mr. Lu, please enjoy,” she said.

Her dishes were all things Lu Li had never tasted but had heard of:

Sauced abalone, dry-fried shark fin, steamed king crab, steamed giant lobster, A5-grade Wagyu beef barbecue, and buttered crab, sea cucumber, and black truffle rice!

He had heard of every single dish, but never tasted any.

Now, tasting them for the first time, how could something be so fresh and sweet?

He used to watch those wealthy food bloggers’ videos and mock their limited vocabulary, always repeating “fresh” and “sweet.”

Today, tasting for himself, he realized there was no better way to describe it.

He had been narrow-minded.

In terms of sheer skill, there was no doubt: Luo Qianying was the winner.

But that was not the outcome Lu Li desired.

As the judge, he naturally held a scale in his heart.

It was normal for the balance to tip slightly one way or the other.

“All are good, but I think the dishes must align with the theme of ‘home,’” Lu Li said, folding his fingers beneath his chin. “Now, contestants, please present your statements.”

Bai Muli’s unfocused golden eyes never left Lu Li’s handsome face.

“Home cooking best fits the theme of family, and I chose your favorite dishes, Mr. Lu,” she said. “I also tried to emulate your mother’s flavors, so I believe my dishes have no problems.”

Lu Li nodded in agreement.

Honestly, she was right.

Bai Muli’s dishes almost perfectly replicated his mother’s cooking, including the slight saltiness.

His parents favored strong flavors.

His mother’s cooking was not bad, just a bit salty.

His father was worse—heavy on oil and salt, and he loved using dark soy sauce, often in large amounts.

That said, despite Bai Muli’s adherence to the theme, Lu Li still deducted one point for presentation.

That indescribable, pixelation-worthy appearance might as well be a potion from a dark fantasy novel.

But of course, Lu Li wouldn’t say that aloud.

He turned to Luo Qianying.

She smiled slightly.

“Now it’s my turn.”

“I won’t mention the obvious issues like overly salty taste and poor appearance.”

“The key lies in the concept of ‘home.’”

“I believe life isn’t just monotonous and unchanging. Life needs occasional surprises. My approach is to bring ‘surprises to everyday life.’ Although these home dishes are your favorites, Mr. Lu, eating the same things for ten years must get boring.”

Lu Li nodded instinctively.

Indeed.

For example, he used to love dumplings with chive and pork filling, but no longer.

Now he preferred fennel and pork dumplings.

What to eat each day troubled him; he had tried every nearby takeout, and his mother’s daily question of ‘what do you want to eat’ became a problem.

After moving out, he even delayed dinner decisions until midnight.

Often, he resorted to instant noodles.

Thinking this way, Luo Qianying’s point was valid.

Moreover, her dishes were genuinely delicious—probably due to the quality ingredients.

So, could Lu Li let her win?

Obviously not.

But he couldn’t take the fall himself.

He turned to Xing Tian and Akagi with an unprecedentedly gentle expression.

“Judges, what do you think?”

Xing Tian and Akagi shuddered inexplicably.

This was a death sentence!

Stick to the matchmaking theme!

Please vote!

(End of chapter)