There was praise, but there was also some criticism. "Although the soup was made to be refreshing and sweet, in terms of taste, the impact of the flavor was slightly underwhelming. In other words, the first sip is very good, but after the second sip and the third sip, the taste will be diluted. Therefore, it is not a perfect product, but it is still considered a top-notch delicacy!"
Jin Lingling was indeed a little shocked by that comment, but nobody was perfect. She believed that her soup was definitely better than Lin Qi's.
After the manager finished commenting on Jin Lingling, she turned around and went to Lin Qi's side. At that moment, the applause stopped, and the entire hotel lobby was silent.
Everyone hushed their cheering, which also meant that they were looking down on Lin Qi.
However, the manager still greeted Lin Qi politely.
"Young Master Lin, before I taste your soup, I want to ask you, why do you want to be a chef?"
"Well..."
"The Lin family of New Moon City is the most distinguished family in that city. Both the nobles and the commoners hold your family in high regard. Even if you don't learn magic or swordsmanship, you are still respected. However, why do you choose to be a chef?"
Many people knew that being a chef was a lowly profession. In the Mill continent, only those who were born without magic would choose such a profession.
Of course, a normal chef and a top-tier chef were two different concepts. Just like Jin Lingling, although she was a chef, she was more popular than an archmage.
However, how many Jin Linglings could there be in the world?
With that in mind, Lin Qi hesitated for a moment. He slowly raised his head and said, "Rather than giving a logical reason, it's better to say what I want!"
"People have different ambitions. Some yearn for magic and strength, while others yearn for money and power. As for me, I don't aspire to be anything but myself."
Hearing that, everyone was stunned. Although there were many retorts, no one had anything to say.
After the manager heard that, she raised her brow slightly and revealed an interesting smile.
"Are you being ridiculous or are you just that pathetic?"
Lin Qi was calm. He knew that he did not know magic or swordsmanship, and he could not do anything grand. Of course, he had not wanted to do anything grand.
"You chose to cook because you don't know any magic and you don't want to practice swordsmanship. Am I right?" The manager's words were laced with venom and she spoke as if she was provoking Lin Qi.
However, no one knew that Lin Qi was calmer than anyone else at that moment. He pushed the bowl of Night Light's Billow over to her. "To talk about the good and the bad of others, you have to first understand who they really are!"
His words completely refuted the manager, and everyone present was amazed.
The manager was also shocked by his words. She had not expected that the kid's mental endurance was so great.
If those words were uttered to any noble young master or young mistress, they would instantly blow a fuse.
However, Lin Qi acted extremely neutral and even laughed at himself.
'This child…'
The manager obviously could not understand him. She looked at the bowl of clear soup and took a deep breath. "This soup... You call it Night Light's Billow?"
"Isn't that just ordinary night light soup?"
"Yeah, but he calls it Night Light's Billow. Does he think that the soup will taste better if the name is fancier?"
Many people began to make fun of him, and the manager laughed as well. "You... Don't tell me that you only use one bowl of soup to do the talking for you."
"Oh? Your chef can use cabbage soup as her winning dish, but my bowl of clear soup can't?"
"Very well."
The manager was satisfied with Lin Qi's response, but that did not mean that she approved of Lin Qi. She just approved of his temperament.
The only thing that could change her opinion was that bowl of soup.
The manager picked up the spoon and scooped up some soup, then gently pursed her lips.
She had very little expectations when she took the bowl, but the moment she swallowed the soup, her eyes suddenly widened.
"What?"
In an instant, there was complete silence. The manager stared at the bowl of clear soup in disbelief.
"This... This is completely different from the usual night light soup. What is this flavor? No, no, no! What texture is this?"
"What? This..."
Everyone was stunned. The manager's brows furrowed and her expression was getting increasingly unsettled. She scooped another spoonful and stuffed it into her mouth.
She was particularly rough that time and forgoed the elegance she had before.
"So good. What a unique taste. Is this really the clear soup of the night light grass?"
Seeing the manager so surprised, Jin Lingling was also in disbelief. She hurried over and took a sip.
The taste was amazing!
Jin Lingling had never tasted such a delicious clear soup before. It was as if her whole body had fallen into the clear water, and she felt comfortable all over.
Seeing their enjoyment, Lin Qi smiled and said, "Actually, there is something special about the Night Light's Billow!"
"What's special about it?"
Lin Qi shouted to the hotel staff, "Turn off the lights!"
The fire was extinguished in an instant. In the pitch-black hall, the bowl of clear soup was emitting blue light in the darkness.
"This..."
Everyone was surprised. After all, if the night light grass was plucked, it would not have the night light effect. However, that bowl of soup seemed to have given the night light grass new life, allowing the bowl of soup to emit a faint light in the darkness.
"It's so beautiful!"
Jin Lingling said in amazement but she could not hide the disappointment she felt toward herself.
Then, the fire lit up again, and the soup completely lost its light, leaving only a confident smile on Lin Qi's face.
"What do you think? Madam manager, what do you think of my Night Light's Billow?"
The manager was a particularly picky person. Although she wanted to find fault in it, her mind was filled with the memory of what had happened just now, and she could not think of anything to be dissatisfied about.
After hesitating for a while, she looked troubled.
"This? I can't comment on it!"
"Oh? What do you mean by you can't comment on it?"
In the end, the manager shook her head helplessly and announced to the crowd, "I declare Lin Qi the winner of this competition!"
After the result of the competition was announced, no one could accept that result一it was beyond their imaginations. The applause that should have sounded was replaced by countless gasps of surprise.
"How is this possible? Lingling would never lose!"
"That's right. That soup must have been filled with magic potions to have tasted so good, right?"
Even though no one believed that result, Jin Lingling stood up and said to everyone, "Everyone, don't argue. I lost this competition fair and square. I always thought that Young Master Lin was just a newbie who had just learned to cook, but I didn't expect..."