Shattering the Male Lead's Aura as the Ultimate Villain

Chapter 12: Flirting and the Culinary Tower

After finally calming herself down, Lily at last sat beside Ethan. She smiled and comforted him gently, her voice soft. “If you’re nervous about tomorrow, I really don’t think there’s any need, Ethan. You’re very capable.”

Ethan watched Lily’s pale hand holding the wine bottle as the crimson liquid flowed into the glass, swirling and shimmering beneath the dazzling lights.

He took the glass from her, drank a sip, then leaned back against the sofa, almost completely relaxed. Even concealed beneath his suit, the perfect lines of his body were no less captivating, if anything only making one want to explore them more.

Lily stared blankly at Ethan’s Adam’s apple rising as he tilted his head back against the sofa, until he spoke and she suddenly realized what she had been staring at.

She nearly jolted in surprise, quickly lowering her gaze. Her hands clasped together, her heart beating far too fast.

Ethan, however, seemed completely unaware of all of Lily’s subtle movements. He simply said slowly, “Your words are very pleasant to hear, Lily. Much more pleasant than those of the shareholders in my company.” He paused, then chuckled softly. “If I were truly that capable, I wouldn’t need to take part in this competition at all. You know, I’ve heard there’s someone very impressive. Ah, Benjamin. They say he defeated many opponents to get here, and a lot of people predict he’ll take first place. What do you think, Lily?”

Lily’s chin was suddenly lifted. She clearly hadn’t expected Ethan to do this. Her eyes widened involuntarily, glittering beneath the lights like the surface of the sea at sunset, ripples turning into countless four-pointed stars.

As expected of the female lead. Even just a pair of eyes was enough to make people lose themselves.

She stared at Ethan in a daze, her red lips parting slightly. “What are you asking about?”

Lily’s heart was pounding wildly, so fast it felt unreasonable. She looked at Ethan’s face so close to hers that she couldn’t even tell whether she was frightened because he mentioned Benjamin, afraid that Ethan knew something, or because of something else entirely. Especially when Ethan narrowed his eyes, his gaze hazy as if intoxicated, then leaned in even closer until the tips of their noses were almost touching.

Lily nearly stopped breathing. She instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for what was about to come.

But what answered her was only Ethan’s soft chuckle, low and deep like a hook that made Lily’s heart tremble. She instinctively opened her eyes, only to see Ethan smiling lightly at her, the corner of his lips curved in a teasing arc.

“I want to ask who you think will win, me or Benjamin. Lily, what exactly are you thinking right now?”

Lily guiltily lowered her head, her cheeks flushing red, the corners of her eyes tinged with pink. A watery sheen shimmered in her eyes from embarrassment. She genuinely suspected that Ethan was deliberately teasing her, but all she could do was hurriedly shake her head. “No… I’m not thinking about anything.”

“Then answer me.” Ethan lightly scratched Lily’s chin twice, as if teasing a cat, then leaned back against the sofa again. One hand gently swirled the wine in his glass as he looked at her with an easy, unhurried gaze.

In Lily’s heart, Benjamin was, of course, the most outstanding. Benjamin would definitely be the winner. Even though she had seen another side of Ethan during this time, she still didn’t feel that Ethan would cook better than Benjamin.

Benjamin… had hands blessed by the gods. Lily felt a quiet sense of pride. Yet she couldn’t feel as happy as she had at the beginning anymore. Instinctively, she didn’t want Ethan to lose. Why did Ethan even join The Culinary Crown? Lily had clearly heard that before deciding to participate in The Culinary Crown, Ethan had already had another direction planned for Efood.

But standing before Ethan now, Lily could only go against her own heart and say, “You’re very capable too, Ethan. You’ll definitely win.”

“You’ll definitely win!” As if to encourage him, Lily repeated firmly.

She looked straight at Ethan, only to realize that he was also looking at her. His gaze was deep and unfathomable, carrying something Lily simply couldn’t understand.

“Haha, I don’t even trust myself that much, Lily,” Ethan said with a laugh.

Lily couldn’t help but be taken aback. But by then, Ethan had already stood up. He tilted his head back and drained the wine in his glass in one go. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, making Lily stare without blinking, and she instinctively swallowed as well.

Ethan suddenly bent down and set the wine glass on the table. The sound rang out a little loudly, heavy as it struck straight into the depths of Lily’s heart.

Lily stared blankly into Ethan’s dazzling gold-colored eyes as she heard him say slowly, “But since you said I’ll win, then I will definitely win.”

“I… you’ll win because of me?” Lily said dazedly, her heart pounding so fast it almost hurt.

Ethan laughed. “Because you think I’ll win.”

As he spoke, he lifted Lily’s chin and pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose, then straightened up. With a roguish smile, he said, “I know your intentions. So after I win, I hope you’ll give me a reward.”

With that, he turned and left without hesitation. Lily stood there in a daze, watching Ethan’s carefree retreating figure. Only after a long while did she raise her hand to touch her nose.

Then—poof—her entire face flushed crimson in an instant. Her eyes shimmered with moisture, and she almost didn’t know where to put her hands.

So Ethan knew that her seemingly ordinary actions were actually attempts to seduce him?

But Lily— it was just a kiss. It wasn’t even a kiss on the lips. So why was her heart beating this fast?! You… do you really like Ethan already?

When she recalled what Ethan had just said about a “reward,” Lily’s face grew even redder. But then, thinking that Ethan would never win, the turmoil in her heart was instantly extinguished.

Lily had agreed to stay by Ethan’s side as a spy for Benjamin because she liked Benjamin. But now, that bit of affection had begun to waver, like a thin layer of ice, only waiting for the sun to rise a little higher before melting away completely.

Outside, when Robert saw Ethan stroll out at an unhurried pace, he couldn’t help but feel surprised. “You’re done that fast?”

Ethan cast him a sidelong glance and gave a faint smile. “What, want to try it yourself?”

Robert suddenly shouted, shuddered, then turned aside and gagged. “Damn it, Ethan, can you not joke like that?!”

“Then don’t make trouble here, almighty assistant.” Ethan calmly sat down in the car and gave his instructions. “Oh right, call a car for Lily.”

Robert quickly snapped back into work mode. After telling the driver to wait for Lily, he got into the car as well and asked with some curiosity, “So? Did you manage to shake the enemy’s resolve?”

Ethan smiled lightly. “The moment I take the championship of The Culinary Crown will be the moment Lily’s heart belongs entirely to me.”

And that will only be the first thing I take from you, male lead—love, future, achievements, everything this world has favored you with. Will of the World… haha, I’m here to reset those foolish, biased rules!

…

The next day, at the Culinary Tower, the venue of The Culinary Crown.

Today, the top ten list would be announced. At the same time, the special contestants would also step onto the stage and officially join the race from this point on.

The grand hall of the Culinary Tower had been rearranged with a massive stage raised more than a meter above the ground. Guests who purchased tickets to watch The Culinary Crown sat in tiered stands built upward, while those seated farther away could watch via a large LED screen suspended high above.

And on even higher levels were the seats reserved for distinguished guests—the most influential investors in the culinary world.

As long as one performed well and gained the support of those people above, even without claiming the crown, a bright future would already be unfolding ahead.

At this moment, on the stage, the MC was dressed in an outfit so dazzling it bordered on flashy. With a radiant expression, he introduced the contestants who had made it into the top ten in a vigorous, energetic tone.

The stands surrounding the stage were already packed. Every time a contestant stepped onto the stage, waves of applause erupted. And now, when the MC introduced Benjamin—who was also the top-ranked contestant from the previous round—the applause grew even louder, resounding so strongly that even the other contestants couldn’t help but feel astonished. It was clear just how immense the public’s support for him was.