Chapter 4: Mirror Copy
Xia Yu shook his head, clearing the clutter of unnecessary thoughts. With a
quiet breath, he tapped the shimmering [Start] option on the retina interface.
Ding!
The roulette's crystal pointer sprang to life, spinning wildly like a storm.
Xia Yu's gaze followed the needle with bated breath. After a few seconds, the
frenzied spin began to slow—gradually, noticeably.
His heart thumped like a war drum.
The pointer slipped into the Special Talent category. His eyes narrowed.
That was where the rare, dark golden icons shimmered like divine
treasures—'God's Tongue', shaped like an elegant swirl; 'God's Hand', marked by
a glowing, muscular arm. He could almost feel the cheat-code energy radiating
from them.
"Holy crap…" His breathing hitched.
Was this it? Was today the turning point of his life?
He couldn't help but think of Shokugeki no Soma. If Erina Nakiri
could dominate Totsuki with her 'God's Tongue', what could he do with
the same skill?
Xia Yu's entire body trembled with excitement.
This was life. This was destiny. This was the cheat that would take him to
the top!
But just as the pointer crawled toward one of the golden grids...
"Stop!" Xia Yu screamed inwardly, his soul nearly leaping out of his body.
"STOP! STAY RIGHT THERE!"
The pointer twitched.
Then it rolled past the final golden tile without mercy—like the hand of
fate flipping him off.
Click.
It landed squarely in the consumables category.
Xia Yu stood frozen with the expression of someone who just watched a
million-dollar lottery ticket catch fire.
The draw is over!
System Notification:
Item has been added to your inventory.
He sighed and opened the interface. A cool breeze seemed to waft out from
within as his fingers brushed against the newly acquired item.
A transparent, diamond-shaped crystal—smooth, cool to the touch. His system
instantly identified it:
[Mirror
Crystal]
Description: A one-time-use item. After activation, it allows the user to
recall a dish they've eaten that day, replicate its taste exactly, and
potentially unlock the recipe.
"…Copy?"
His heart skipped a beat. The rhythm in his chest became thunderous.
No talent, no recipe—just a one-use item?
He wanted to curse the heavens. The first spin of his new life, and it gave
him this?
If I gain, it's luck. If I lose, it's fate.
That's what he told himself. Over and over. Anything to keep the disappointment
from swallowing him whole.
"How do I use it?" he asked aloud, still hoping there was more to it.
System:Touch the item and silently say 'Use'.
He glanced at the old man behind him, towering like a statue. The man hadn't
moved or noticed a thing.
Xia Yu exhaled. "Use."
His fingers closed around the crystal.
Crack.
The sound of glass breaking—only he could hear it.
His vision blanked. The world faded to gray, as if he were a camera
rewinding footage at hyperspeed. One by one, every meal he had that day rewound
on his tongue—the greasy fried noodles and bread from breakfast, the piping hot
beef lafeng just hours ago.
It was surreal.
Flavors disassembled like puzzles: too much salt, not enough heat, perfect
oil content… And then came something else.
Knowledge.
Cooking techniques, movements, timings—all of it, crammed into his head like
a flash download. The sudden rush made him groan and clutch his skull. His eyes
slowly refocused.
The old man hadn't noticed. Still standing with arms crossed, unfazed.
Xia Yu steadied his breath.
"Alright…" he muttered, fists tightening. "Let me show you the horror… of a
foodie turned chef."
You know nothing about eating.
The kettle on the stove whistled.
Xia Yu sprang into action.
He grabbed the ramen basin from earlier, rinsed it clean, then dumped in
high-gluten flour. Scooping up boiling water, he splashed it in with practiced
precision. The dough began to form under his fingers.
But ramen wasn't simple flour and water. No—there was a secret ingredient.
Kansui.
Ash water. A key alkaline agent that gave ramen its unique texture—springy,
elastic, flavorful. Originally made from burned plant ash, it had been
perfected over generations.
Even in The Cooking Master Boy, there was that legendary stone that
produced alkaline water—limestone.
And the dough? It had to be just right. Too hard, and it couldn't
be stretched. Too soft, and it would fall apart.
But Xia Yu, under the trance of the Mirror Crystal, moved like a seasoned
artisan. The dough kneaded itself under his fingertips, supple and smooth,
slightly softer than dumpling skin.
Sweat trickled down his brow, but his eyes sparkled.
The dough was done.
He coated it with cooking oil, wrapped it in damp cloths layer by layer.
This was the dough resting phase—essential for gluten development. It
needed time to absorb moisture and build structure.
He set it aside and moved on. The broth.
Ramen broth wasn't just a component—it was the soul.
"Beef leg bone…"
He found the large bone the old man used earlier, cleaned it swiftly, then
dropped it into a pressure cooker. Without hesitation, he grabbed
spices—ginger, wolfberries, cinnamon—and tossed them in.
No measuring. No hesitation. Pure instinct.
From the side, the old man, who had been silent until now, opened his eyes.
Slowly, they focused on Xia Yu with sharp intensity.
"Boss Xia."
Masato Kanhara had just entered, drawn by the rhythmic kneading.
"Shh." The old man raised a finger without looking back.
Masato froze.
Together, the two watched.
Sixteen years old, barely done with middle school, Xia Yu wasn't tall—but
his limbs were toned from years of helping out in the kitchen. He moved with a
strange grace, a confident precision that didn't match his age.
He sealed the pressure cooker, then checked the wall clock.
The next phase began.
He pulled out marinated beef slices from the fridge and fired up the stove.
Sizzle.
The meat hit the pan with a hiss. The aroma spread instantly, mouthwatering
and rich.
Fifteen minutes later, the broth began to boil.
The scent that filled the air was enough to make both the old man and Masato
widen their eyes.
A pure, rich aroma. Deep. Savory. Soul-stirring.
Their expressions changed.
This kid… What the hell is he cooking up now?