Chapter 87: Chapter 87

Anna Thornton unwrapped the zongzi, revealing translucent and soft glutinous rice inside. The top of the triangular zongzi was adorned with a plump and beautiful red date.

Whatever she made, regardless of taste, at least it looked decent in terms of presentation.

Even Ethan couldn’t help but stand on tiptoe to look at the stage, especially since the background screen gave a close-up of the zongzi, making his mouth water: "I didn’t know Miss Thornton was so good at cooking! She’s beautiful and talented; I really want to taste the zongzi she made to see what they’re like! I wonder if this show has a tasting segment for the audience?"

Ethan muttered this to himself since President Sterling had just refused to pay him any attention, probably because he found Ethan too chatty.

Ethan seemed to have the same issue as Anna Thornton; whether watching a movie or a variety show, he liked to talk to someone about it. Making them shut up was simply not possible.

But surprisingly, Conrad actually responded to him: "If you want to eat, you can talk to the directors after the show recording."

"Really? Can I, President Sterling?" Ethan asked, delighted.

What kind of lucky day was it?

President Sterling was actually starting to seek benefits for the employees; was this a dream?

It was obvious that at this moment, simple-minded Ethan was unaware of whether he was making a sweet dream or entering a nightmare.

Conrad Sterling was not only emotionally changeable today but also seemed in the mood for mischief!

Looking back at the stage, Anna Thornton unwrapped two zongzi, one sweet and one savory, and placed them on a rectangular plate lined with bamboo leaves, with a small cup of brown sugar in the middle for dipping the sweet zongzi.

Just as she was about to push it in front of Ethan Hawthorne, Jay Cross had a sudden whim to give Anna Thornton a hard time.

The female guest couldn’t appear on this show for free; she had to contribute some value and highlights for the show’s click rate.

Jay Cross felt that deliberately skipping Anna Thornton’s interview, leading to her having no camera time, wasn’t enough, so he purposely chose a cucumber from the props in the kitchen.

"Anyone who watches our show knows that usually, we have female guests make a dish each episode, but other female guests have chosen to stir-fry meat or stew, more flavorful big dishes. Meanwhile, we prepare a bowl of rice for the male guests as a side. By comparison, Anna, what you made today is quite simple. Zongzi is only the main dish; why don’t you show off a bit more and make a small dish while there’s still time?" Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel{f}ire.net

Jay Cross handed the cucumber to Anna Thornton and said, "Cucumbers are quite good; most female guests on our show have encountered them. Moreover, they can make cucumbers in their own style with flavors they like. Just now, I discussed this with Young Master Hawthorne, and we’re both very curious about how you’d handle cucumbers?"

Cucumbers are indeed delicious and nutritious, but because some vulgar people have given them vulgar meanings, mentioning them in certain situations seems slightly inappropriate.

That ’certain vulgar people’ refers to Jay Cross.

Of course, there’s also Ethan Hawthorne on the side, putting on a ’watching-the-show’ expression.

Jay Cross wasn’t playing this trick on female guests for the first time on the show.

Anna Thornton just caught an episode where a female guest was required by the host to give the cucumber a massage.

The female guest’s face turned pale at the time, but she was obliged to continue recording the show, ultimately compromising.

That episode did indeed gain a nice viewership and discussion rate.

But most of the discussion was due to female audiences feeling uncomfortable and condemning that this segment was deliberately attention-seeking, going too far in pranking, clearly to satisfy the host’s private desires. That female guest was almost in tears on camera, and Anna Thornton didn’t find anything funny about it; she just felt embarrassed and speechless while watching.

Even Ethan, who had never seen this show, sensed the unease: "What’s up with this host? His demands of Miss Thornton are... way too offensive."

As men with a semblance of consciousness and grace know, you shouldn’t joke about cucumbers in front of women, let alone while recording a show.

Conrad also frowned slightly, although Anna Thornton had criticized him for lacking gentlemanliness.

The directors didn’t seem to see anything wrong, probably because they’d joked plenty in the past.

Just before Conrad was about to step in and stop it, Anna Thornton suddenly picked up a kitchen knife.

She took a step closer to Jay Cross, causing him to take one step back.

"What are you dodging for?" Anna Thornton raised an eyebrow at Jay Cross, "Aren’t you eager to try cucumbers I made? Go ahead and put it down."

Anna Thornton placed a wooden cutting board on the counter, and while Jay Cross put the cucumber down, she swung the knife down horizontally with force.

Jay Cross was startled by her action, feeling fortunate that if he hadn’t pulled his hands back quickly, his hand might’ve been crushed together with the cucumber on the cutting board.

Even though he was quick to retract, he couldn’t avoid getting splashed with cucumber juice.

Anna Thornton then smashed it a few more times, seemingly having some great vendetta with that cucumber, only stopping once it was thoroughly smashed into pieces.

Then she picked up the cutting board with one hand and scraped the cucumber remnants and juice into the plate with the knife. Despite the wooden cutting board being twenty pounds, Anna lifted it with one hand as effortlessly as if she were painting, gracefully contrasting with her delicate and slender appearance.

Jay Cross was somewhat taken aback, retreating another step.

Even Ethan was surprised and exclaimed from the audience, "Turns out Miss Thornton is a strong little lady, I learned today!"

Anna Thornton selected a packet of salt from the spice storage and sprinkled it generously onto the plate. She continued by taking out the vibrant chili oil and poured in half of the jar. The once fresh-green cucumber in the white porcelain plate instantly appeared to be submerged by a hot pot, vividly red.

"That should be enough, my two dishes." Anna Thornton first pushed the zongzi in front of Ethan Hawthorne, "The first dish, Sweet and Savory Dual Delight Zongzi..."

Then, she turned and pushed the smashed cucumber to Jay Cross: "The second dish is per your request, named Furious Chili Oil-Pickled Sleazy Smashed Cucumber, be sure to eat plenty."

What a bizarre dish name!

Finally, it was time for the guest-tasting segment, where the show would conclude with the male guest evaluating the dishes.

Despite Ethan Hawthorne’s displeasure at Anna Thornton’s earlier rejection, seeing the ’Furious Chili Oil-Pickled Sleazy Smashed Cucumber’ she made for Jay Cross compared to the exquisite-looking zongzi before him, he instantly found schadenfreude.

People might be ; Ethan Hawthorne felt uncomfortable being thwarted by Anna Thornton.

But seeing Jay Cross thwarted, he couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Thus, Ethan Hawthorne was even in a good mood to give a positive remark: "The zongzi looks quite good."

As he said so, Ethan Hawthorne picked up a pair of chopsticks and chose the piece with a red date on the sweet zongzi, putting it into his mouth without dipping it in brown sugar.

Just as he began to chew, his expression rapidly changed before the eyes of all.

With the first chew, Ethan Hawthorne tasted something peculiar but didn’t want to believe it.

With the second chew, his eyes met Anna Thornton’s with disbelief.

There was no third chew; Ethan Hawthorne directly spat it out!