Chapter 213

Shen Yi was very pleased with his wife’s performance. She radiated confidence and bravery after the challenge was thrown at her. The smile plastered on her face suited her. Now, facing the main problem was imminent, but he would not let Lu Xinyi deal with it alone.
“Where are you going?” Xiao Lan asked when she saw Shen Yi leave his seat and head to the nearest exit.
“Going to exterminate some pests,” Shen Yi nonchalantly replied, leaving the twins in Xiao Lan’s care. Once he was out of earshot, he took his phone from his jacket and dialed his assistant’s number.
“Find out who oversaw the distribution and preparation of the ingredients,” he commanded Qiao He.
“Already on it, Boss Yi.”
Yuan Jin didn’t bother to find out what Shen Yi was planning, but it was clear that he wouldn’t keep silent when someone dared to harm Lu Xinyi. An amused smile crossed his lips. Ah, Lu Xinyi wasn’t an angel or a goddess, but she was able to affect the infamous President Shen without knowing it.
“Let him be. Lu Xinyi needs his help.” A familiar voice sounded behind Xiao Lan. Xiao Lan, Lu Xiulan, and Yuan Jin turned their heads and saw Xia Yuhan watch the judging part with her arms folded in front of her chest. Her eyes then turned to Lu Xinyi’s friends. “What?”
“I thought you aren’t going to watch?” Yuan Jin gave her a sly smile, teasing the young woman. He knew well why Xia Yuhan was there.
Xia Yuhan scoffed and refused meeting his gaze. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Yuan Jin.”
“Sure, girl. Sure.” Yuan Jin laughed and returned his attention to his best friend.
Going back to Lu Xinyi…
‘A glimpse of hell?’ Jun Simin remembered Lu Xinyi’s words. The cake itself was a trap. A trap one wouldn’t mind falling in the end. First, it will tempt the person and made them believe that it was a light and soft cake. When they succumb to its temptation, they would realize it was too late to back out. It was like a demon itself disguised as an angel, the unsuspecting victim following its lead until it was too late for them once they found out the deceit.
Lu Xinyi’s devil’s food cake was spectacular in the sense that one would lose to it and would indulge in its sweetness. Too bad for Tong Yan, she hadn’t witnessed how her victim came out victorious in this round, but there’s still a big issue Lu Xinyi had to face.
“Does it matter if she just made the ultimate devil’s food cake? Lu Xinyi cheated, and that was unfair to everyone!” Some yelled from the crowd, which was followed by curses and nasty words directed to Lu Xinyi.
Lu Xinyi arched a brow. She needed not to explain herself to these people. It was pointless to explain to people who had already closed their minds to logical reasoning. She shook her head. People really won’t know someone was stupid until they opened their mouths. They could accuse her all they want, for in the end, her devil’s food cake spoke for itself.
“Disqualify her! She’s a cheater!”
“The Shen family shouldn’t support a lying wench like her!”
“Take her away from here!”
Surya Rathore couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Why were they so mean to their fellow countrymen? He couldn’t understand why there was hate towards Lu Xinyi. In his opinion, she was an admirable woman—a woman who refused to be tied down by challenges.
“This is ridiculous! We received a different kind of set in our ingredients! Lu Xinyi only did what she thought was necessary to survive this round!” He exclaimed, surprising not only the angry mob but Lu Xinyi herself. She couldn’t believe this young man would try to defend her to everyone.
“Lies! Didn’t Huo Meili say no one is allowed to use other ingredients that aren’t included in their boxes?”
“She knew she broke a rule. Why is she confident now? She was able to produce a perfect cake because she cheated!”
Han Zhiling lifted a hand and instantly dispelled the murmurs and accusations from the crowd. Her impassive face was enough to let them know she wasn’t pleased with their behavior.
“Do not forget this is not only an entrance exam but a competition. We, the judges, are the one to say if Lu Xinyi really did break a rule or not! Can’t this wait? Let us taste all the cakes first.” The coldness in her voice made the temperature within the stadium feel lower.
“I expect a good and acceptable explanation with all these troubles, Director Han,” Madam Li commented. The woman had been paying attention to their representative and noticed Ye Xieren’s struggle. She also didn’t miss Lu Xinyi’s earlier dilemma on how to approach the problem with their switched ingredients.
“Of course, Madam Li. We will have a brief discussion after we finish this round.” Han Zhiling promised her, with the older woman nodding in acceptance.
“Lu Xinyi, are you certain that your ingredients weren’t the same with everyone else?” Shen Xue asked. Since Lu Xinyi started making her buttermilk, he could feel the goosebumps behind his neck knowing his older brother threw glares at his direction. It was his brother’s way to remind him to protect his Big Sis’s reputation in public.
“Positive.” Lu Xinyi gave him a straightforward answer.
“Then be assured that the Shen family is on your side. We will not let anyone tarnish your name as long as you think you have done the right thing.” Shen Xue’s words were a direct warning to everyone. The spectators talking shit about Lu Xinyi earlier bit their tongues in fear that the Shen family would direct their anger at them. After all, it was known within the capital that out of the five families, the Shen family wasn’t very forgiving to their enemies.