Si Yi couldn’t help but be afraid that his gaze would give something away. Clearly, while he tried to suppress his feelings for Si Qi, they were still there. And it was in moments like this where he had the most trouble keeping them hidden.

He lowered his gaze again, but there was still a faint smile on his lips when he looked back up at Fan Mei. “As for why he did what he did, I can’t speak for him. But maybe he would like to answer that himself.”

The other contestants couldn’t help but become noisy. Even though among those other forty-four people, not everybody was an avid reader, the name Shi Ru Qiu was one that was fairly well-known so, of course, there would at least be one or two people who recognized it.

Unsurprisingly, one of the people in question was actually Ye Ping. Hearing Si Yi say that, she couldn’t help but reach over to the person at the cooking station next to her, grabbing his arm. “Oh, did I just understand this right? One of the other contestants is actually Shi Ru Qiu, that author?”

The man in question looked back at her, not having any idea what she was talking about. Clearly, he was not the kind of person that was interested in reading novels in his spare time. Shi Ru Qiu, the name didn’t tell him anything.

Well, Ye Ping was able to be excited for two, and seeing that this person was uneducated, she immediately started to detail to him just what kind of awesome stories Mister Shi was able to write.

At cooking station number fifty-five, Si Qi was actually embarrassed. When it came to writing, his best works were inspired by his own feelings and life. That main series of his, wasn’t most of it influenced by his yearning for the person he admired?

Hearing somebody gush about this work, it always gave him a complicated feeling. It was even worse if the recipient of his affection was there to hear those praises and he simply couldn’t take it when he had to hear about who that novel’s hero should end up with.

He faintly cleared his throat, but Ye Ping’s excited chattering on the other side of the studio really made it difficult to be heard by anyone but the people closest to him.

Thankfully, at this point, Fan Mei didn’t have the patience to listen to Ye Ping’s nonsense. She knew very well who Shi Ru Qiu was. As a reporter, it wasn’t wrong to say that she was interested in writing quite a bit.

When it came to somebody like Shi Ru Qiu, she had at least read a couple of his works. In her opinion, he wasn’t bad. She couldn’t be called a loyal fan, but she would also keep an eye on his new publications, thinking about buying if the plot sounded interesting. Needless to say, she had felt betrayed when this person stepped out to help out Bright Yellow Water.

Yes, she had read his article, feeling that it was really moving. But by the time she realized just who this was about, she had gotten angry. In fact, she had thrown away her phone, not bothering to read the rest.

Why would Shi Ru Qiu get involved? That was something she really couldn’t understand.

Her brother, yes, she had a faint guess in her heart just why he was doing this. Even that had seemed a little excessive since she had never seen him do something like that for one of his other customers after all. Thus, she had felt that something had to be wrong and started to look into Bright Yellow Water.

Seeing Ai Gui Jin suddenly emerge to talk about this channel in particular, had moved her to finally write that article for real. Originally, she hadn’t even been sure if she should because this channel didn’t seem all that interesting. But with not just her brother’s wife but also that chef crawling out of the woodwork to help, her suspicions had just seemed to be confirmed. Especially after she finally figured out who that Si Jin was.

And then, it had just been one thing after the other: Her brother’s response, her father calling her to scold her, and then that article countering hers. And when she had still been indignant about the latter, suddenly, there was Shi Ru Qiu speaking up for Bright Yellow Water’s Xiao Ming as well. She couldn’t help but feel that everyone was on his side. There had to be something wrong!

Hearing Si Yi’s words at this moment sounded like a provocation in her mind. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Si Yi gave her a lazy look and then motioned over to cooking station number fifty-five before hurriedly retracting his gaze after seeing Si Qi’s embarrassed look. To see the person you loved like this, it really wasn’t easy to bear. “Ms. Fan must not have looked at the list of participants very closely. Isn’t he the person over there at cooking station number fifty-five?”

When he said this, Ye Ping finally let go of the young man next to her, her head immediately swiveling around and her eyes growing wide. Even though she was a loyal fan, she also wouldn’t have recognized him. Actually, she wanted to storm right over and ask for his signature but it didn’t seem to be the best time. She should wait until after today’s filming was over! Yes, by then, she could go and ask him and then also ask Mister Yu.

Ah, this was simply too wonderful! Who knew she’d have this kind of opportunity? Even if she didn’t make it into the second episode, it had already been worth it just for the opportunity to meet her idols.

Si Qi looked even more embarrassed with everyone staring at him and could only give a faint smile. “Well, it is me. I’m not sure what to say though. This matter, I believe I’ve already explained it online.”

What did people believe an author was like? Most of them likely had the idea that there were two types of them: the one that was thriving in the limelight and would actively seek out opportunities like going to a show and talking at length about not just their works but even their private lives and the type that was quiet and introverted where you could count yourself lucky if they agreed to sign some books behind closed doors or appeared once every five to ten years.

As somebody who couldn’t speak about the bigger part of his life because the Si clan needed to be kept secret, Si Qi had naturally chosen to stylize himself as the latter type of author and usually avoided the eyes of the public. Thus, even though his photo was online, it had been the same for years and he never publicized a new one, never appearing in the media if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. Even interviews were usually done in writing or maybe on a telephone call where his face wasn’t visible. Calling him low-key might already be exaggerating, he was basically invisible.

Well, to be honest, this suited his personality quite well. If he could make this decision just based on his own preferences and didn’t have to take the clan into consideration, he would do the same. He was the kind of person who liked to stay at home all day.

Yes, as long as there was the person he liked around, as long as he could do the one thing that he actually liked doing, it was alright. Maybe he could cultivate a hobby or two at the side but this alone was already a good life.

Why would he go out and show his face in front of the camera, and send further trouble to himself? He didn’t want to have that kind of life where he went out and was instantly recognized. In fact, he really hoped that his identity wouldn’t be made too public by taking part in ‘Golden Spoon’.

But then, if he really went through with what he had thought of the other day and left the Si clan after the show was over and their master had finally succeeded in getting with young master Xiao, then it wouldn’t matter anymore, would it? No, he would leave the country. So what if people were able to recognize him here? Abroad, he would be an unknown face again.

Thinking of that, Si Qi smiled faintly and looked at the person up front, once again feeling a pang in his heart. For once, he could actually play a small role in what the Si clan was doing. Even though his ranking wasn’t that bad and he was in the upper half, that was not often the case. Of course, he would do his part well. He always did. After all, this was the only way to maybe impress Si Yi and if this was indeed one of or maybe the last thing he was able to do for him and the clan, then he wanted to leave an impression. For once, he wanted to shine in his eyes.

Si Yi naturally noticed his gaze but he was afraid to look over. He clenched his hand where he believed nobody was able to see and finally forced himself to turn his head.

This gaze … he didn’t know why but it seemed even more intense than he was used to. It made his heart skip a beat and he had to consciously remind himself of his current task. The words he had wanted to say still only came slowly to him. “I … do know that. Please do me the favor and say it again though. Not everybody will be … aware.”

Si Qi watched as Si Yi retracted his gaze again, and finally stopped looking at him as well, instead turning to Fan Mei. Either way, Si Yi wouldn’t look back. So what was he looking at him for?

He smiled faintly, looking embarrassed by the situation. “I understand why Ms. Fan would be surprised at my involvement. I have never been known to be involved in cooking or the streaming circle. In fact, regarding the latter, it isn’t a secret that I do not like to show my face in public and would rather keep a low profile. So really, it isn’t surprising to find this weird.”

Si Qi made a small pause and his gaze slipped to Si Yi once more. This time, it was deliberate. This Fan Mei, she wasn’t somebody who gave up easily. If she was, they wouldn’t have so much trouble dealing with her. Then Si Shi Qi and his immediate family alone would have been enough to find a solution to this threat. But since they weren’t, they needed to be especially careful. They couldn’t expose a single flaw.

In his case, his feelings for Si Yi were obvious. Just casually look at the recordings for the show, and you would likely find more than a dozen times that he had looked at him, his gaze probably different from when he looked at others. He wasn’t like Si Yi after all who could just repress his true thoughts and feelings at the drop of a hat.

No, in this case, he could be easily seen through so he could not make a secret out of it. Anyway, he had also admitted at the casting and today that he was doing this for a special person. When Fan Mei went to look for the truth in everything, she would find one part of the actual truth: That he loved Si Yi, Si Jin’s assistant, and that he had done everything he did just because of that.

Yes, this explanation, even though it might seem embarrassing, it was so full of truth that even she wouldn’t be able to deny it. It wasn’t carefully calculated, it was a matter of raw feelings. Even somebody as distrustful as Fan Mei would need to believe it in the end.

Si Qi took a deep breath and then sighed. “This matter, I don’t know how much I should say. If you saw my article, then you know some of the background: That I paid some attention to the channel and derived some inspiration from it or rather from the interaction between Mister Xiao and the viewers. One specific viewer, actually.”

At this point, his expression turned a little lighter, showing a hint of the romantic that he was deep down. “I wrote a story and for that, I usually like to dive deeper because I feel it gives more flavor even if the information I find isn’t actively used in the story itself.

“What I came across … it saddened me.” His brows drew together and he couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Ming. “There are things that happened in Mister Xiao’s life that I don’t wish any person to have to go through. It struck a chord with me out of … personal reasons.” He paused at that and lowered his head as if wondering if more should be said. In the end, he didn’t and instead turned back to Fan Mei.

“When you posted your article, it hadn’t been long since I posted the story I was inspired to, merely a few weeks. I was still dwelling on this matter so I happened upon this rather fast. And when I saw what you wrote …” His expression turned complicated at that and he once again paused as if unsure how to continue.

The studio had already fallen silent, even more so than when the judges or Si Yi had talked. Whether it was the staff members or contestants, they all looked at Si Qi, clearly waiting for his next words.

Si Yi’s eyelids had been lowered halfway. Si Qi’s voice, he had always liked to listen to it. Even when they were children, it had been pleasant to hear. When Si Qi grew up, it had only become better to listen to. The way he put his words was more careful, the tone more deliberate, his intonation clearly used for the most impact.

When reading, this voice had a certain magic to it, to the point where he could close his eyes for hours and just listen to him. When he talked, it was similar, but there was a difference between this moment and the times at home.

Si Yi wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. He knew that this was the way Si Qi usually behaved in front of the camera. It was more subdued than the Si Qi he knew, although Si Qi had always been obedient in front of him, never stepping out of line. In these moments, while his voice still had the same soothing quality, the tone was a bit different. It lacked the intimacy that made him feel especially comfortable. And somehow, hearing this would always make him feel a bout of anxiety, not that he would ever dare to admit that out loud.

Right now, the same feeling was assaulting his heart and he had to take a conscious breath to try and calm himself. It didn’t work immediately but after focusing on his breath and his heartbeat for a moment, not consciously listening to that voice any longer, it got better.

Si Qi was busy with his act so he didn’t notice Si Yi’s state right now. He kept quiet for a moment longer before he looked back up at Fan Mei. “I have to say it saddened me even more. I know, we all have our biases. I think there are many out there who believe that success in the entertainment industry and maybe even in the streaming business is often ill-gained. Those are beliefs that have been shaped maybe not by our own experiences but by what we have heard from others. And with many of those stories out there, it is easy to believe that it is true for everyone if there is even the slightest hint of it happening.

“As a reporter, I believe that you looked at what was in front of you and followed those leads, and arrived at this conclusion. You probably genuinely believe everything you wrote and you might not have done it maliciously but because you felt that people deserved the truth.

“It is just … what the truth is and what we might believe the truth to be can be two separate things. In fact, we might be biased more than we would like to admit because we only have limited information and it seems to point in a certain direction. When we realize this, then it can happen quite fast that we look at the next clue through a lens of this being the truth and we will weigh the new information in regard to that and fail to take other possibilities into consideration.

“I know that such things have definitely happened to me before. In fact, I don’t think there is anyone who has never fallen prey to this. But I think it is important that we sometimes take a step back and try to be open-minded when taking a second look. At that time, maybe things will seem different.” He looked at her for a moment and then shook his head.

“Either way, that day, I felt it wasn’t right to watch on as Bright Yellow Water was scolded online. After all, I wrote such a story, my fans were happy, and I would have felt guilty not stepping up to defend them despite what I knew.” His gaze was apologetic at that, making the people around believe him instantly.

Si Qi took a shallow breath, still seeming uncomfortable, but then turned back to Fan Mei, his expression complicated. “Ms. Fan, you are clearly somebody who is very thorough in what she does.

“The fact that you have brought up so many points today that were suspicious to you shows that. I believe that after everything you were told today, you will think about this and come to your own conclusions. Most likely, you will even look further for the truth.

“Most likely, at that time, you will feel that there is more I haven’t said. At that time, I don’t mind having a private talk and explaining more. It is just … I am a private person and talking in front of so many people, it also isn’t easy. So please understand if, at this time, I won’t say more. You are welcome to reach out though.” He inclined his head toward her and then fell silent, lowering his head to show that he indeed did not want to engage any further.

Si Yi waited for a few heartbeats after his voice had faded before finally opening his eyes and clearing his throat, trying to get himself back under control. “Well, I hope that this is enough for Ms. Fan for the time being. Personally, I also don’t have more to add. There are a few screenshots left that I could show you, but I believe those things have already been covered and this has been going on for far too long already.

“Today, there is still the second task left to do and I doubt it would be convenient to reschedule. The production team will have planned this for good reason, after all. Thus, everyone will still need to stay here for several hours, the crew will have to work overtime, and then everyone still needs to go home afterward. So really, if there isn’t anything urgent that you would like to have cleared up, then I would suggest we leave it at this for now.

“The production team can gather everything we have provided so far, as well as the statements that still need to be made, and you can submit any further doubts you might have so they can be solved at a later date. What do you think about that?”

Fan Mei, of course, didn’t want to let this go but with Si Yi trying to persuade her like this, and seeing how Yang Shu Na, the contestants, and also the staff members were looking at her, she finally had to take a step back. “Ah, if you’re already saying it like this, then I would be the bad guy if I said no. Let’s just get to the second task.” She still crossed her arms in front of her chest, clearly not done with this matter.

Si Yi gave her a lazy look and then pulled out the USB from the laptop, walking up to Yang Shu Na. “Ms. Yang, I guess the production team will want to review everything. I will leave this with you. This is only a copy of the data so you can keep it. I’m really sorry for causing such a fuss over our previous actions. If you need any further statements or proof from us, we will naturally cooperate. Please just say the word.” He inclined his head and then went back to his cooking station, leaving Yang Shu Na standing in front in a daze.

She didn’t know how to deal with this but since it seemed that everything had been cleared up, she finally motioned for Si Jin to also return to his cooking station and then motioned at the judges. “Well, since this has been cleared up, let’s get to the second task fast. Mister Xiao, please begin.”

Saying so, she hurriedly grabbed Qian Huang, and the two of them retreated while the staff members went back to their usual positions, turning the cameras back on before everyone focused their attention on Xiao Ming.

He opened his mouth but not a single sound came out. With everyone staring at him like this, suddenly, his heart raced and his hands turned sweaty, and he couldn’t remember how he had intended to introduce his task. All the words seemed to have flown away over the course of the argument.