TYMRHBDES Chapter 166

While the staff were bringing in the seafood, Fang Yan quietly removed his microphone and slipped over to the assistant director.

He whispered something in the assistant director’s ear, and after listening, the assistant director glanced at Jiang Luoluo in the center of the set.

According to the live stream data, Pei Yu and Jiang Luoluo were the most popular participants so far.

They didn’t dare stir up trouble with Pei Yu, but they felt emboldened to target a vulnerable, independent streamer like Jiang Luoluo.

After all, the show needed buzz, and Jiang Luoluo was generating plenty of it. Why not exploit it?

The assistant director nodded, signaling Fang Yan to return to his place.

Fang Yan sauntered back, feeling smug. The other four had already started selecting seafood.

He sidled up, intending to cozy up to Zhou Jing and Pei Yu. He reached out to tease the leopard coral grouper in the tank when Zhou Jing suddenly looked up at him.

Out of the camera’s view, Zhou Jing’s scholarly demeanor vanished. His long brows relaxed, but his eyes turned icy.

After staring at Fang Yan for two seconds, Zhou Jing’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp:

“Keep your petty schemes to yourself.”

“If you dare harm him, I won’t let you off the hook either.”

Fang Yan froze, the secret delight in his heart turning to stone.

Before he could process Zhou Jing’s words, Zhou Jing’s expression had already returned to normal. He turned to Jiang Luoluo, who was approaching, his gaze warm and gentle. “Luo Luo, are you planning to make seafood salad with savory sauce?” he asked softly.

Fang Yan didn’t bother listening to Jiang Luoluo’s reply, his anger only intensifying. His hands trembled with rage.

* Why ?*

* What kind of Little Fox Spirit is Jiang Luoluo, reincarnated? How has he bewitched Zhou Jing too?*

*He won’t let me off the hook?*

*He’s just a nobody who climbed the ladder through favoritism. He even got beaten up a few days ago for his arrogance. And now he dares to threaten me?*

Fang Yan’s gaze darted between Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jing.

* Fine, I’ll do it anyway!*

*Let’s see what Zhou Jing can actually do!*

Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jing stood side-by-side before two neatly arranged rows of fresh seafood boxes.

There was none of the tense atmosphere of a team competition between them. Jiang Luoluo looked relaxed, his eyes flitting between the various seafood options.

Zhou Jing stood beside Jiang Luoluo, offering gentle advice and generously sharing the secret sauce that gave his seafood dishes their soul.

Jiang Luoluo nodded occasionally, scooping up a palm-sized oyster and tilting his head to look at Zhou Jing. The two seemed to be deep in discussion.

Jiang Wei, standing nearby, could follow their conversation perfectly.

Pei Yu, however, couldn’t understand a word. His handsome face darkened as he glared at the trio, finding their closeness particularly irritating.

Especially Zhou Jing, who looked like he was up to no good, scheming God knew what.

And Jiang Wei, with his earnest expression, pretending to be a decent person while secretly fixating on Pei Yu’s wife.

Pei Yu’s handsome face soured, his expression growing increasingly grim.

As Zhou Jing scooped up a crab and leaned closer to Little Fox, their heads nearly touching as they whispered, Pei Yu finally snapped. He strode over and forcefully separated them.

Jiang Luoluo looked utterly bewildered.

The smile slowly faded from Zhou Jing’s eyes.

Unexpectedly, before Pei Yu could speak, Jiang Wei stepped in first:

“It’s about time. Shall we begin, esteemed gourmets?”

Jiang Wei smiled, colluding with Pei Yu to completely separate the two who had been chatting so enthusiastically.

“Teacher Pei and I are both eagerly anticipating your culinary skills!”

Jiang Luoluo was astonished.

Pei Yu and Jiang Wei were notoriously incompatible, clashing like two roosters at first sight. Yet here they were, acting completely out of character, almost as if they had formed an alliance.

As if to confirm his suspicions, Pei Yu glanced at Jiang Wei, briefly uniting their fronts, and followed up on Jiang Wei’s words:

“How do you make that ‘Lao Zhi’ seafood dish? I’d like to learn too.”

“Hahahaha, Pei Yu, what are you up to? Do you even realize your acting is nowhere near ‘Emperor of the Silver Screen’ material? It’s downright clumsy!”

“Tsk tsk tsk, what’s with all this nonsense about learning to cook seafood? You clearly just want to keep an eye on my wife! You can’t stand the thought of him interacting with other men.”

“This shameful possessiveness… tsk tsk tsk…”

“ What’s with these three guys? Why are they giving my wife such strange looks?”

“Waaah! Brother Jing’s eyes are so gentle when he looks at Precious Lolo! I want to ship them so bad!”

“Wake up, people! Brother Pei had his eyes on Jiang Luoluo first!”

“What’s with this ‘first come, first served’ nonsense? What’s wrong with all of them going for him at once?!”

“Waaah! They’re so evil! They want to gang up on my wife!”

***

Jiang Luoluo, carrying a small basket, diligently went to select the seafood they would use later.

The remaining three men stood frozen in place, locked in a tense standoff.

Pei Yu tilted his chin slightly, looking down at Zhou Jing with condescension. “What do you mean by that?”

Zhou Jing met Pei Yu’s gaze, neither humble nor arrogant. “Exactly what you see.”

Jiang Wei stood between them, torn between his conflicting desires. As a romantic rival, he desperately wanted the two men to come to blows, preferably making a complete spectacle of themselves to lower their standing in Luo Luo’s eyes.

But this was a live broadcast. Mindful of the cameras, his best course of action was to play peacemaker and defuse their anger.

Jiang Wei sighed inwardly and forced himself to say, “Luo Luo’s preparing the ingredients. You two should get your teams ready too.”

“I won’t disturb you any further. I’m going to help.”

His words only made things worse.

As soon as he finished speaking, both men turned their gazes on him simultaneously.

Zhou Jing’s expression remained calm, but a dark current swirled in his eyes.

Pei Yu didn’t even bother to feign politeness. His sharp brows furrowed slightly as he glared at Jiang Wei with undisguised displeasure.

Jiang Wei: “……”

Damn it!

This peacemaker role was more trouble than it was worth!

While Jiang Luoluo was selecting prawns, Fang Yan stood nearby, pretending to browse while actually observing him intently.

Moments later, Pei Yu appeared before Jiang Luoluo, his hands in his pockets. He leaned down and whispered something in Jiang Luoluo’s ear, causing Jiang Luoluo to suppress a smile and glance up at him.

Immediately afterward, Jiang Wei approached as well.

As Jiang Luoluo’s teammate for the day, he had the most legitimate reason to stay close, since he would be assisting with the cooking.

Zhou Jing was the last to approach, his expression serious as he asked Jiang Luoluo about the key considerations for preparing a salt-baked seafood feast.

Fang Yan secretly rolled his eyes.

How annoying.

Everyone was crowding around him.

He felt utterly invisible.

The cooking area was set up outdoors, right by the sea, adding a unique charm to the scene.

Zhou Jing rolled up his sleeves and deftly flipped his wrist, sending the rich aroma of seafood sizzling in hot oil wafting through the air.

Across from Zhou Jing, Jiang Luoluo was busy cooking seafood while preparing a dipping sauce.

Jiang Wei assisted him, deveining shrimp.

Pei Yu leaned against Jiang Luoluo, watching intently. Despite being on the opposing team, he kept asking if he needed help peeling garlic or chopping cilantro.

The live stream chat exploded with laughter.

Only after repeated reminders from the production crew did Pei Yu reluctantly leave Jiang Luoluo’s side. With his hands in his pockets, he stood motionless like a deity, his gaze fixed on the tirelessly working Zhou Jing.

Jiang Luoluo’s chilled seafood with dipping sauce and Zhou Jing’s salt-baked seafood platter were finished almost simultaneously, one cold, one hot, and presented to the invited food critics.

As all the cameras focused on the row of local fishermen, Fang Yan finally seized his chance. He subtly shifted the position of the seasoning jars, muttering under his breath, “Is the burner still on?”

His voice was perfectly calibrated, just loud enough for Jiang Luoluo, standing closest to him, to hear.

The food critics picked up their chopsticks, ready to bring the dishes to their mouths.

Jiang Luoluo approached, concerned. “Where’s the burner that’s still on?”

Fang Yan pointed. “Is this one off?”

Jiang Luoluo bent down to check. Fang Yan pretended to point while secretly stepping on an oyster shell on the floor. With perfect precision, he lunged forward onto the table.

The table rocked violently, scattering condiments everywhere. The lidless chili powder was swept into the air, filling the entire space.

A hand clamped over Jiang Luoluo’s face from behind, turning him around and pulling him into a protective embrace.

Simultaneously, Zhou Jing and Jiang Wei shouted, “Watch out!”

“What’s happening?!”

A muffled thud followed. Jiang Luoluo’s ears perked up, and he tried to turn his head to see what had happened.

But the hand pressing against his head remained firm. Pei Yu’s deep voice came from above: “Don’t move.”

Then came a series of violent coughs.

A staff member called out, “Teacher Fang Yan! Are you alright?”

The coughing persisted. Fang Yan forced himself to swallow the discomfort. “I’m fine.”

The gourmet tasting session was abruptly interrupted. Footsteps approached, and two pairs of eyes landed on Jiang Luoluo, confirming he was unharmed before shifting to Fang Yan across the room.

Zhou Jing wore a faint smile, but the warmth didn’t reach his eyes.

Jiang Wei’s gaze lingered on Fang Yan, his expression shifting slightly as if struck by a sudden thought.

Pei Yu’s sharp profile was framed by a cold smirk, his dark eyes unreadable.

Jiang Luoluo pricked up his ears, listened for a moment, then wriggled free from Pei Yu’s embrace. He turned to look at Fang Yan.

The man across the room was choking, his face flushed crimson. Tears streamed down his face, as if something had gotten into his eyes. His nose was excessively red, and clear mucus dripped from his nostrils.

A layer of red powder coated the floor, and the pungent aroma of chili powder still hung in the air.

“Did chili powder get in your eyes?” Jiang Luoluo asked, tilting his head to peer closer, his face etched with concern. “You should rinse them with running water right away! It could be dangerous if you don’t!”

Pei Yu let out a cold snort.

Jiang Wei seemed to receive a signal, instantly understanding. He stepped forward, volunteering, “I’ll take you.”

But before he could reach Fang Yan, Zhou Jing blocked his path.

Zhou Jing’s slender fingers gently rested on Fang Yan’s arm, his refined profile framed by a perfectly measured smile. He exuded an air of genuine concern, leaving no room for criticism.

His grip on Fang Yan’s arm was surprisingly firm, even the sound of their contact carrying an unusual gentleness.

“Let me handle this,” Zhou Jing said, his voice smooth as jade striking stone. “I have experience with these situations.”

“Come on, Fang Yan.”