Reborn in Japan as a Chef God

After the Sapporo event ended, things seemed to blur past, and before we knew it, it was the end of December, just a few days away from Christmas on the 25th.

With Ichise Hui managing Xia's Farm, and in the retail district preparing to welcome Christmas, many restaurant managers, apart from pondering over the Christmas couples' meal deals and preparing special gift packages for couples, were busy directing their staff to decorate inside and outside the restaurants, either setting up Christmas trees or sticking a pair of golden deer taking flight on the glass windows.

Or, the restaurants would play that well-known Christmas holiday song.

On the morning of the 22nd, Xia Yu and another key member of her team, Rui Shan Zhi Jin Ye, patrolled the retail district.

"The Christmas Food Festival lasts for three days, starting from the day before Christmas Eve until the 26th. I've discussed with the shop owners, on Christmas Eve, the 24th, every store will present exclusive Christmas-themed foods as a big thank you to create a richer atmosphere and attract more customers, maintaining our popularity and reputation..."

Rui Shan explained as they walked along.

Previously, there had been plans for a food festival, but now coinciding with the annual Christmas, this Western holiday had become a rare big promotional and money-making day in Neon, so naturally, the festival was scheduled for this time period.

Unknowingly, they arrived at Qian Rixiangzi's 'Fog House Branch,' and just as Xia Yu was about to speak, ding ding, the golden bells hanging from the glass door of the Fog House Restaurant jangled, and the restaurant manager and head chef Qian Rixiangzi came over with a smile.

"Oh, Chairman Xia, you're really free today!" she greeted with a playful, childlike mischief, holding a bag of 'persimmon seed' snacks in her hand.

This title of 'Chairman' caused Xia Yu's mouth to twitch subtly, "Ahem, hello, Chef Qian!"

Qian Rixiangzi was indeed a busy person, having just stepped out of the shop when there were calls full of complaints from the other end, "Chef Qian, Chef Qian, hurry up and check the kitchen decor..."

A hint of embarrassment appeared on her face, "Wait for me, okay?"

She dashed back into the store and emerged again, handing a finely made gift box, which seemed newly prepared, to Xia Yu, then turned and waved, "A little Christmas snack, it's one of the ones Fog House has prepared for the Food Festival. Give it a try."

As she spoke, she suddenly stomped her feet, turning back with a face full of mischief.

"Oh, I forgot, Chef Xia is so popular with girls. Things like Christmas snacks, especially chocolates, will probably fill your house on Christmas Eve, right? If you get troubled, come to me, I'll help you eat them!"

Watching Qian Rixiangzi enter the shop, Xia Yu inexplicably broke into a sweat on his forehead.

Tsk!

He internally exclaimed, realizing that indeed, Christmas resonated with chocolates. It seemed to be truly the case...

As the wind grew sharp, he wondered if he should escape to the countryside for a while.

"Ahem!"

Beside him, Rui Shan Zhi Jin Ye coughed to signal a reminder, pushing up the frame of his glasses. Under the reflective lenses, his eyes showed a barely detectable hint of envy.

"Let's continue our earlier conversation..."

Xia Yu steered the conversation back on track.

After the inspection, Xia Yu could truly say he experienced the Christmas atmosphere in advance. When he returned to his own store, he also casually brought back a box of gift candy.

"Um, Instructor, about that 'Seven-Colored Snow Woman' advertisement campaign, Ichise is in charge of that, right?" Rui Shan asked with a serious expression before leaving.

"Yeah, have you heard about it?" Xia Yu looked up while unwrapping Qian Rixiangzi's candy gift box.

"Mmm, it's caused quite a stir, everyone on the outside is talking about it..."

Rui Shan hesitated for a moment, as if wanting to say something more, yet also afraid that his doubts about Ichise's work might cast him as a sneaky villain spreading rumors behind his Instructor's back.

"Speak!" Xia Yu frowned.

"Actually, the situation is roughly like this, let me explain..."

Rui Shan relayed the public's reaction to the recent promotional activities of Xia's Farm to Xia Yu.

...

Although Lei Zhe had been defeated and forced to leave Japan according to the Food Duel agreement, this did not mean that the Gourmet Association's influence had vanished from Japan.

At the Food Review Conference Headquarters.

The editor in chief, Baishi Jianyilang, was humbly speaking to some bigwig overseas.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Baishi Jianyilang said, "Based on the current promotion, the products from Xia's Farm are indeed stirring enough interest to warrant a substantial investment in advertising. You see..."

"Hmph!" A cold snort from the other end caused this notoriously resilient figure, known for his survival abilities in the Japanese Food Industry, to shudder with fear.

The Gourmet Association had eight giants, eight factions, including the Academic, Research, and Breeding factions.

These factions correspond to the departments within the IGO organization, one of which boasted the title of "Main Faction," in charge of the Gourmet Association's propaganda and intelligence resources, and acted as the most direct vocal champion for the leader of the Gourmet Association.

In simple terms, this giant speaking with Baishi Jianyilang, his hostility and tone, represented the will of the entire Gourmet Association to a significant extent.

What Xia Yu, who personally defeated Lei Zhe, didn't know was the extent of the earthquake that had hit the inner workings of the Gourmet Association in just a few short days.

However, the hostility of this giant made it clear that Xia Yu's metaphorical slap had infuriated the entire association.

At the Gourmet Association Headquarters.

A small, frail man, just over 1.5 meters tall, put down the phone on his desk, hopped off his high chair, and landed with a thud before striding up to Lei Zhe.

"Useless!"

One of the Lin Giants, 'Ghost Shadow' Bas, scornfully chided Lei Zhe, who was sitting with his head down, "Although the leader only ordered you to face the wall and grounded you to cleanse your shame, your defeat has brought disgrace to all of us, tarnishing our reputation. Don't think just because it was a private Food Duel there will be no consequences!"

Lei Zhe's face remained stoic.

"Moreover, while you cleanse your shame, which could take who knows how long, the leader may have forbidden us from challenging that kid to another Food Duel, but that doesn't mean we can't do anything!"

Bas began to laugh, a smug grin spreading across his face: "Control the media and public opinion, and you wield another kind of invisible power to kill!"

Huh!

Kill invisibly?

Lei Zhe sneered inwardly at his colleague's smug expression, thinking, don't underestimate that young man!

Shaking his head as he stood up, watching his fellow giants rush into another kind of war without fully understanding the situation, Lei Zhe felt pessimistic—afraid of being sabotaged by an inept team.

"Bas, you're very likely to lose, this isn't the United States," Lei Zhe left with those words.

Back in Tokyo.

At the main branch, Xia Yu furrowed his brows as he scrolled through an article on his phone.

An article titled "Some Famous Chef Hastily Making Money After Gaining Fame, Unashamed of Looking Ugly Eating?" had become one of the top trending posts, and its author was none other than that same ignoble pen, Baishi Jianyilang, who had once disgusted him.

Reading a passage from the article:

"...Chefs encountering the spotlight, gaining fame, and being adored are unquestionable, for they have earned this respect with their culinary skills. However, in recent years, a perverse and evil trend has been growing in the culinary world. Overnight celebrities among chefs are not settling down to further perfect their cooking skills, but rather are too eager to partner with certain food companies, becoming culinary consultants, or even outright accepting huge endorsement fees to promote junk food that exploits the public. For the sake of money, they repeatedly trample on the dignity of chefs and tarnish this sacred profession!"