Volume One, Chapter 77: Immersive Kitchen Variety Show

Yu Mo was about to refuse, but Tang Xinyan continued.

“Ten days of filming, one million as the appearance fee.”

Yu Mo’s mouth, which had just opened, closed again. She pondered silently for a moment, then spoke.

“All right, I’ll participate.”

“That’s wonderful. I’ll take you to the TV station in a bit. Once you’ve signed the contract, you just wait for further notice.”

Mu Shaozhou ate a few mouthfuls, then got up and went to the restroom, where he stayed for a while, vomiting.

When he emerged again, Tang Xinyan quickly supported him.

“Brother Mu, why did you drink so much alone?”

Still receiving no answer, she helped him back to the room to lie down.

“Sister Yu, let’s head to the TV station.”

Tang Xinyan and Yu Mo went to the TV station.

The director seemed to have already seen Yu Mo’s photos and was very satisfied with her in person, smiling as he spoke.

“Miss Yu, this show is immersive. You don’t need to worry about social anxiety, just focus on cooking.”

Yu Mo nodded. She was not someone prone to social anxiety; she had considered this point herself, which was why she agreed so readily.

The director continued.

“We’ll also invite guest judges to taste the dishes. The winner this round will get a two-week vacation in Paris as a reward.”

Country F.

The first impression that flashed through Yu Mo’s mind was that country; her father might be there.

She clenched her teeth. She truly wanted to win this championship—then she could go to Country F with a legitimate reason and wouldn’t have to fret about explaining to her mother why she was suddenly traveling abroad.

“Alright.”

Yu Mo carefully reviewed the contract twice before finally signing her name.

Suddenly, something occurred to her and she asked, “Who are the guest judges?”

The director smiled. “That hasn’t been decided yet.”

Yu Mo nodded and left the station with Tang Xinyan.

As they stepped outside, they saw a man standing in front of Tang Xinyan’s car.

He was writing something on paper with a pen. When he saw Tang Xinyan, he quickly bowed in apology.

“I’m sorry, I rode my scooter too fast and scraped your car. I was just leaving my phone number, so you can contact me about compensation.”

The man’s expression was troubled but he was very polite. He wore a yellow delivery uniform and a matching helmet with a little bamboo dragonfly on top.

A deliveryman had scraped a Mercedes G300, yet instead of fleeing, he was leaving his phone number.

Yu Mo couldn’t help but regard the young man before her in a new light. She glanced at Tang Xinyan, curious how she would handle the matter.

Tang Xinyan looked at the spot where her car had been scratched.

The mark was quite obvious, but she glanced at her parking position.

“No need, I parked quite poorly and took up a lot of the scooter lane. You should hurry and deliver your orders. I’ll handle the scratch myself.”

The deliveryman gave Tang Xinyan a deep, grateful bow.

“Thank you so much. Here’s my phone number—if you ever need errands, just call me. Rain or shine, I’ll deliver!”

He respectfully handed her a slip of paper.

Tang Xinyan took it and waved him off.

“Go on now.”

The deliveryman turned and hurried off.

Yu Mo’s impression of Tang Xinyan grew even fonder. Such magnanimity and kindness—she truly was worthy of Mu Shaozhou.

Suppressing a surge of bitterness in her heart, Yu Mo spoke lightly.

“Tang Xinyan, Mu Shaozhou is lucky to marry you.”

“Sister Yu, thank you. Being able to marry Brother Mu is a blessing earned over several lifetimes.”

Tang Xinyan blushed and lowered her head, somehow feeling deeply grateful and happy to receive Yu Mo’s blessing.

Yu Mo bid Tang Xinyan farewell and went to the hospital.

Outside her mother’s ward stood Qi Yancheng. Yu Mo hurried over, her expression grave.

“Yancheng, why are you here?”

“I was worried about Mom, so I came to see her. She just fell asleep—I’ve already checked on her.”

Yu Mo let out a long sigh of relief.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her. Be careful with your own affairs.”

They chatted outside the ward.

Suddenly, a black shadow appeared on the door.

A voice sounded.

“Yancheng? Is that you? Did you come to see me?”

Xiao Lin’s voice trembled, and the door handle wobbled.

Qi Yancheng reacted quickly, pressing down the handle.

Qi Yancheng: “…”

He didn’t know how to answer.

He dared not acknowledge his mother, yet worried that her anxiety would worsen her condition.

Yu Mo answered for him.

“Mom, he… he already left.”

Inside, Xiao Ping released her grip on the handle.

She had seen the two shadows outside—one was her daughter, the other, she guessed, was Qi Yancheng.

She had heard everything he said earlier at her bedside.

Qi Yancheng must have his reasons for not meeting her.

She could understand.

As long as he was well, she was at ease.

She suppressed her tears, nodded firmly, and tried to sound calm.

“I understand. I’m tired, I’ll lie down and rest.”

With that, Xiao Ping returned to bed and lay down slowly.

Outside the ward, Yu Mo and Qi Yancheng both breathed a sigh of relief.

Qi Yancheng released the door handle, his thick brows tightly knit.

“I feel like Mom already knows.”

Yu Mo glanced at her brother.

“You should head back. I’ll take care of Mom, and you take care of yourself.”

Qi Yancheng nodded, cast a long look at the ward, then turned and left.

Yu Mo stayed with her mother in the hospital for several days; by the next day, she could be discharged.

Xiao Lin’s complexion had improved greatly, at last putting Yu Mo’s mind at ease.

Leaving the ward, Yu Mo looked up to find Mu Shaozhou waiting for her.

She frowned, tried to walk past him, but he blocked her way with long strides.

His deep voice sounded.

“Auntie is being discharged. I came to help.”

“No need.”

Yu Mo replied coldly.

Her hand was gripped tightly by a pale, cold hand; Mu Shaozhou’s other hand pressed to his chest.

They stood locked in a standoff for a moment before he spoke slowly.

“Yu Mo, let’s reconcile.”

Yu Mo lifted her eyes coldly. Seeing the bandage on his head, a pang of sorrow flashed in her heart, but she quickly regained composure.

“Mu Shaozhou, stop bothering me.”

With that, she turned to handle the discharge procedures, only to be told someone had already taken care of it.

A trace of displeasure flickered in Yu Mo’s eyes. She silently returned to the ward and escorted her mother out.

Mu Shaozhou drove Yu Mo and her mother home.

On the way, Yu Mo and Mu Shaozhou exchanged not a word. Yu Mo’s mother saw everything and sighed inwardly.

Once at home, Yu Mo settled her mother inside, then led Mu Shaozhou to the door.

“You should go.”

She spoke coldly.

Mu Shaozhou’s eyes were bloodshot, dark circles under his eyes—clearly, he hadn’t rested well these days.

He lowered his gaze for a moment, his voice deep and rough.

“I’ll go now.”

Yu Mo didn’t spare him a glance, shutting the door and returning inside.

Mu Shaozhou sat in his car for a while, silent.

He took out his phone and called his assistant, Dai Ming.

“Dai Ming, call Director Zhang at the TV station. I want to join his cooking show—tell him to reserve a spot for me.”

Dai Ming quickly returned the call.

“Mr. Mu, Director Zhang says the guest slots are full, but there’s a judge’s seat available. Would that work?”

Mu Shaozhou pursed his lips, thought for a few seconds, and replied coldly.

“That will do.”