Chapter 47: Utter Defeat

"I didn't expect it, but your cooking is quite impressive." Ignoring everyone else, Zane turned to George. "I've had Squirrel Fish at many restaurants, but none have topped Chef Liu's. I always thought he was the best in the country. I didn't expect a PE teacher to surpass him." "Thank you for the compliment," George responded, appreciating Zane's fairness, which left a positive impression on him. "I'm just being honest," Zane said. He noticed the two bowls of soup being carried over and added, "Are these soups part of the competition as well? How about..." "I'll handle it," the young man at the head of the table suddenly interrupted. All eyes shifted toward him. His tone was calm. "I've had quite a bit of wine. A little soup would do me some good." "If Master Connor is willing to judge, that would be ideal," Zane agreed. With that, there were no objections. In truth, this third round didn't matter much. George had already won the first two, securing his overall victory. However, since both Zane and the young man had spoken, Manager Terry didn't dare refuse. He still hoped to salvage some dignity for the restaurant, hoping to win this final round, if only for pride. The young man sipped the soup and casually asked, "Are you all teachers at Jiangzhou University?" "Yes, I teach PE at Jiangzhou University. It's my second year," Elijah quickly answered, now realizing the young man's significance from Zane's respectful tone. Eager to make connections, Elijah saw an opportunity. The young man nodded. "I have a friend studying at Jiangzhou University." "Really? What a coincidence," Elijah said, his interest piqued. "Who is it? I have connections at the university and could help look after them." "No need," the young man smiled. "With her abilities, no one would dare bother her." "Of course, a friend of Master Connor must be extraordinary," Elijah replied, sensing the young man's standing. Though Elijah belonged to the wealthy second-generation crowd, there were levels to this circle. His status was below Zane's, and seeing how respectfully Zane treated Master Connor, Elijah knew not to overstep. He'd been in this world long enough to understand the hierarchy. After tasting both soups, the young man said, "Both are excellent, but this one stands out—fresh, fragrant, really bringing out the best of the radish and greens." Manager Terry forced a smile, but inwardly, he was bitter. The soup the young man had praised was George's, sealing the restaurant's total defeat. Elijah, too, was upset, but his thoughts had shifted. George was no longer his focus; the young man had his full attention. He believed there would be other chances to deal with George. After all, George was just an ordinary guy—how could he always be this lucky? Meanwhile, Calista was thrilled. Elijah had gone after George because of her, and if George had been humiliated, she would have felt responsible. As for Chef Liu, he had already left the room. Being bested by a PE teacher in his specialty was a tough pill to swallow. But after tasting George's dishes, he had to admit they were superior. It was a bitter defeat but one he accepted. "Since you're all here, why not grab a plate and join us?" Zane invited, looking at Calista and Elijah before turning to George. "You can stay, too." "I'll pass, but thanks for the offer. I have something to take care of, so I'll head out," George replied. "Can't you push it back a little? It won't take long," Calista urged, giving George a pleading look. She knew how valuable connections were in their circle and didn't want George to miss this opportunity. Whether it was Zane or Connor, both could be beneficial to him. "Calista, stop pushing him. Maybe he just doesn't want to eat with us," Elijah cut in, smirking. "By insisting, you're only making George feel awkward." "Shut up!" Calista snapped, irritated. "If you have things to do, I won't force you," Zane said, letting it go. "Thank you," George nodded his appreciation, offering Calista a brief glance before leaving. In truth, George didn't feel comfortable around this group. He knew staying would only make things awkward. Plus, he did have something to take care of—teleportation. After everything that had happened, it was getting late, and George had come to fully appreciate the importance of the other dimension. He took every teleportation with utmost seriousness. "Oh, one last thing." As George reached the door, he suddenly stopped. "What, you can't bear to leave now?" Elijah sneered, assuming George had changed his mind. "No," George said calmly. "I just wanted to remind you not to forget my money. Also, let Manager Terry know I won't be saying goodbye." Elijah's face flushed with embarrassment and anger. "Don't worry, you'll get every penny! A thousand dollars is a lot to someone like you!" "As long as you remember," George said with a small smile, then turned and walked out. "What's that about?" Zane asked, curious, after George had left. Calista chuckled and explained what had happened earlier. Zane looked toward the door George had exited through and murmured, "Interesting."