The staff member's voice echoed through the grand kitchen arena, reading off the pairings for the second round.
"Contestant Seventeen—Mianmian, Contestant Eight. Lili—you will work together."
Mianmian's head lifted at the sound of her number. Relief flickered for the briefest moment that she hadn't been paired with Gu Xuelan.
But that relief was short-lived. Contestant Eight—a tall, willowy young woman dressed in a designer blouse beneath her apron was already walking toward her with a sharp tilt to her chin.
The girl's posture screamed pride, and her expression made no attempt to hide her displeasure.
"So you're my partner?" she asked, lips pursed as though the words themselves tasted sour.
Mianmian inclined her head politely. "Yes."
