Food war begins
As the contestants dashed around, some nearly tripping in their haste, they quickly realized that the vegetables were organized alphabetically with clear labels above each section, making their search easier.
The first round involved dividing the contestants into sixty groups of five. Each group was tasked with preparing a dish that was either very underrated or rarely served in restaurants. The more difficult the dish, the higher the score. They had only 45 minutes to cook, which added pressure to their teamwork and efficiency. Only the top 40 groups would advance, meaning 100 contestants or 20 groups would be eliminated immediately.
Eight cameramen were present, with two assigned to Max and the others focusing on groups without their own cameras.
"Cut," he said to Anton, pausing the video. "Film me here," he ordered. He positioned himself in front of Zane, who was sitting beside Mr. Zheng. The two stopped their activities to look at Max.
"Make sure the background is blurred but still recognizable as having people in it," he instructed. Anton nodded, adjusted the camera, and resumed filming once Max gave the go-ahead.
"THE FOOD WAR HAD JUST FINISHED IT'S FIRST CHAPTER AND I AM—NO, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO SEE AND TASTE THE RESULT OF THEIR HARDWORK"
"ANY COMMENTS ON THE CONTESTANTS? ARE THERE ANY PARTICIPANTS YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT?"
"PLEASE COMMENT DOWN BELOW AND LET US SEE WHO GAINS THE MOST POPULARITY IN THIS FIRST EPISODE!"
"CUT—"
"Okay, that's the outro. It's meant to build suspense about the judges. We'll taste the dishes in the next episode. We've gathered plenty of footage, including contestant POVs, it's hard to pick footage ," he said.
"That's a smart move, young master! Only you would think of that. I wouldn't have come up with such a strategy," Anton praised, even though it was a common technique in cooking shows to create suspense about judges.
"Dorky, I didn't know you had a YouTube channel! When did you start publishing videos?" his mother asked, settling down next to him after filming the outro. Her tone was both curious and a little proud, but it was clear she was expecting something more substantial than what she was about to hear.
"What are you talking about, Mom? I'll be uploading my first video next year. Anton still needs to edit it and shorten it to less than an hour," Max replied, shaking his head in disbelief as he adjusted the camera settings. He could sense the confusion radiating from those around him, especially Zane and Mr. Zheng, who were within earshot.
"Wait, what do you mean? I thought you already had a huge fanbase!" May questioned, her brow furrowing with concern.
"I do, on Instagram! YouTube is different," Max said, chuckling lightly to ease his mother's worries. "I only have five followers there."
"FIVE FOLLOWERS!?" Mr. Lu couldn't help but exclaim, his voice rising with disbelief. The tension was evident as he ran a hand through his hair, his eyes wide as if he were trying to comprehend the gravity of what he had just heard. Meanwhile, Zane nearly burst out laughing, but he quickly covered his mouth, struggling to contain the laughter that bubbled just beneath the surface. A small chuckle escaped him, though, which he quickly stifled with a cough.
'Is he joking?' Zane thought, unable to fathom how someone like Max could have so few followers, especially with all the charisma he exuded.
"Yeah, just five," Max confirmed, nodding his head as he pretended to be serious.
"I have two other accounts on YouTube, so I followed my main account, and then I forced Anton and Wei—Anton's boyfriend—to follow it too. So, if you count, I actually have only one real follower." He laughed while meticulously cleaning the camera lens in preparation for interviewing participants.
Zane couldn't help but laugh openly now, shaking his head in disbelief at Max's antics. "You're telling me that you forced your friends to follow you? That's one way to build a fanbase!"
"Hey, it's all about strategic growth!" Max replied, a mock-seriousness in his tone.
"Every great influencer has to start somewhere. Besides, what better way to boost your ego than to have your closest friends follow you? If I can convince them, then the world is next!"
"It's okay, Zheng, Zane. Trust Evander; he knows what he's doing. Right, son?" May reassured the assistant, although she was unsure if Max's plan would succeed or go viral.
"I honestly don't—"
"Right. He knows what he's doing. And he has plenty of time to think. It's not that he'll gonna upload it soon," Mrs. MacGregor interrupted, covering her son's mouth to stop him from saying more while nervously chuckling. Her son wasn't trying to lie anymore since he would just get caught, no matter how hard he tried.
____
"What are you cooking, Mr. Fox?" the young master inquired, glancing at the name tag of the man diligently washing tomatoes at his designated station. The aromas in the air were intoxicating, with fresh vegetables being chopped and pots simmering in the background.
"Panzanella," Mr. Fox replied, his hands deftly rinsing the tomatoes and preparing them for the vibrant salad.
"Wow, I've never heard of that before! Well, I'll be looking forward to eat—I mean, I'll be looking forward to it," Max said, a bright smile lighting up his face. He had a knack for making every conversation feel lively, bringing a certain energy to the space.
Max took the opportunity to interview Mr. Fox for a while, engaging him in light banter that showcased his charm and presence. The camaraderie was palpable as they shared laughs and culinary insights. After wrapping up the conversation, Max moved down the row to another contestant—a woman with a neat ponytail who was frying something in a pan, the sound of sizzling filling the air.
"How's the preparation going?" he asked, genuinely interested.
"Good, I think," she replied, glancing at the frying pan before returning her attention to him.
"Why only 'good'? It should be the best!" Max exclaimed, his enthusiasm unyielding.
She sighed lightly, considering her words. "It's only good because there are parts where we're off balance. Sometimes, what we want to happen doesn't align, and we end up chopping too many ingredients. Teamwork isn't perfect, but it's still good in my opinion," she explained, her tone reflecting both determination and realism.
"That's a great mindset, Ms. Lou," Max encouraged, nodding appreciatively. "Seeing the positive side despite the challenges. Good luck!" With a friendly grin, he moved on to the next contestant, buoyed by the interactions.
The heir continued his rounds, interviewing several more contestants, each with their own unique approaches and dishes, before the 45 minutes began to dwindle. He was in high spirits, energetically observing and tasting bits of the dishes, even though many were still in various stages of completion.
As the clock approached the end of the time limit, Max was still brimming with energy, bouncing around the competition area like a pinball. In contrast, Zane, May, Zheng, and Anton, who had been quietly observing the chaos unfold, seemed utterly drained. It was as if all their energy had been siphoned off by the hyperactive heir, leaving them looking slightly overwhelmed.
"TIME'S UP!" Max announced with a flourish. The contestants halted their work abruptly, some looking proud of their creations, while others were filled with trepidation. The kitchen buzzed with contrasting emotions; a mix of excitement and anxiety filled the air. While a few groups exuded confidence in their dishes, others appeared uncertain, fretting about whether their choices would impress the judges. Some contestants, having struggled with poor team chemistry and a lack of leadership, had all but given up on finishing.
"Ohoo~ I can see different emotions on your faces~" Max teased, directing his playful jab, especially at those who looked dejected. Then, as if a switch had flipped, he became serious.
"It's okay. Don't lose heart. You might still make it to the top 40 groups," he began, making eye contact with the crowd. His tone turned earnest as he addressed their worries directly.
"I always tell myself, as long as your candle still burns, even if it's dark and far away, even if it's tight and scary—keep going until you reach your destination. Don't surrender when there's still hope, even if it's small." The contestants listened intently, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
"Remember, it's hard but not impossible!" he concluded, and for the first time, his words resonated deeply within the group. The atmosphere shifted as their spirits lifted; smiles began to appear, and they whispered encouragement to one another, telling themselves, 'I can do it. WE can do it.'
With renewed vigor, beautiful dishes were displayed on each of their tables, styled according to the preferences of the participants to enhance their presentation for the judges. Max, Zane, and Zheng began tasting each dish one by one, providing careful critique. They pointed out what was lacking in each dish, suggesting ways to elevate the flavors and presentation further. Overall, the food was delicious, but the competition would boil down to different criteria—plating, the introduction of their creations, and the overall impression they made.
Zane and Zheng evaluated the dishes with an analytical eye, providing constructive feedback, while Max acted as a curious observer, sampling the dishes as if they were a meal, merely playing the role of an extra.
The first round of the contest flew by, and soon, the applicants started to head home, their faces a tapestry of emotions. Some beamed with pride over their dishes, while others wore expressions of disappointment. However, even those who faced elimination didn't feel too disheartened, knowing they had enjoyed the experience. Each contestant received a consolation prize of $750, along with the opportunity to pick free fruits and vegetables, as long as they had something to carry them in.
After seeing all the applicants off, those who remained returned to the MacGregor house to tackle the unfinished tasks waiting for them.