"So, what you're saying is, I have to learn to cook, which the only thing I sucked at, and I have to do it in a reality show, where there will be proof of how incompetent I am?" Yibo stared incredulously at his manager, Anji, as if she's growing the third head. But Anji's not cowering at his less-than-friendly glare.

"Think about it as a learning experience, besides, the upstairs management already okay-ed this program, and we even got you a very popular chef slash cookbook author! He's trending at Yout*be, his instructions are easy, and he is also easy on the eyes." Anji's cheerful tone was already starts grating at his nerves. "You can check him out before the initial filming in a week, his name is Xiao Zhan."

"So what if he's good looking? Better for the rating?" Yibo is really furious because he barely have enough time to do his other jobs, and now they threw him this shit? Of all the reality show they could give him? Cooking? Yeah, right.

"Fine, but after that, I want 3 weeks of holiday." He's trying to bargain for time off.

"I'll see what I can do, now quit sulking and go home." Anji shoo-ed him

He walked to his car, with his bodyguard, and after being delayed by his more persistent fans, he finally able to sit and rest his head on the back of the seat. He knew that his management gave him far too many projects than he's been able to handle, but it's fine, more projects mean less time to think. And he did not want to think, especially when he's alone. He took out his phone, and googled Xiao Zhan.

-----

"Hello everyone, this is Xiao Zhan's Everyday's Easy Cook, I'm Xiao Zhan, welcome to my channel! Please click subscribe if you want to receive more updates from me. You could also watch my show every Friday at 7 p.m on Asian Loves Cooking TV channel! Now, today, we are going to cook a very easy chicken recipe, even the kids can make it!" He smiles brightly. "First, you have to prepare the chicken, now, you could buy the whole chicken, like I did, but if it's inconvenient for you, you could always asked your butcher to prepare the chicken for you. Easy peasy! Next, I want you to rub the chicken with salt, just enough salt to scrub the skin and make it tasty! You will see in a minute! Just do it like this..."

Yibo's eyes did not leave his phone for the whole duration of the show, which is very rare since he hates cooking. This...Xiao Zhan, made it look...easy.
Maybe it will be good for me after all.

-----

Xiao Zhan was finishing his live stream, when Xuan Lu, his manager slash cousin came in his studio.

"Xiao Zhan, I have some good news for you!"

"Yeah? We're finally getting recognized by Kylie Kwong? God, I'd give my left hand to have her come to my show!"

"Not exactly Kylie Kwong, but the next best thing!"
Xuan Lu is jumping up and down, excited. "I got a call from Wang Yibo's agency, and they requested us to do a reality show with him, teaching him how to cook! Isn't that exciting??" She's squealing like a little girl now.

"I'm sorry, who?" Xiao Zhan is baffled by the unfamiliar name.

Xuan Lu's jaw's dropped "You don't know Wang Yibo? The idol turned actor turned pro racer, plus he had a variety show and modelling under his belt! In short, only the most famous man alive!" She is giddy with excitement.

"Are you a fan girl? And nope, never heard of him." Xiao Zhan took off his apron, and set it aside, and started to clean up the table. His other assistants were clearing their equipments. It's only a small studio, set up in the first floor of his office. And by office he means his apartment.

"Google him! And I already accept the offer, no take backs! He'll be here in a week to film his segments with you!"

Xiao Zhan just shrugged noncommitally, but he took out his phone, and googled Wang Yibo.

The amount of results from google is tremendous. And Xiao Zhan spent the next two hours learning about his soon-will-be pupil for the next few weeks.

But, no matter how many hours he spent scouring the videos and news about Wang Yibo, it didn't prepare him for the real thing. Wang Yibo on the videos was captivating, cute, have a nice smile and a nice body. A very nice body.

Wang Yibo in real life however, is a brooding male god with a body sculpted like Michaelangelo's David.

And it took every ounce of Xiao Zhan's self restrain not to gape at him.

"Xiao Zhan, this is Wang Yibo, he will be your pupil for the next few weeks...hopefully." the manager introduced herself to Xiao Zhan and Xuan Lu, and they seem to hit it off straight away.

While their managers chatting away, Wang Yibo looked at Xiao Zhan very thoroughly from under his cap, while pretending to play with his phone.

"Hello there!" Yibo's almost jumped out of his skin because the sudden closeness of the handsome chef.

"...hello." he nods his head politely.

"So, since we're going to spend the next few weeks together, why don't we get more closely acquainted?" Xiao Zhan sit in front of Yibo.

"...and how do you propose we do that?" He tilted his head to look more closely to the other.

"Why don't you and I, we start to get to know each other, by telling me what's your favorite food. And we will buy the ingredients together, and we will cook it together."

He looked at the chef, his eyes twinkling. "You do know that I really suck at cooking, right?"

"Well, everybody's got to start somewhere," he shrugged, "So why don't you start here? With me. I promise it's getting easier. With a lot of practice." Xiao Zhan grins.

Yibo looked at him incredulously, and flashed his shit-eating grin. "I would love to see you try, Xiao Laoshi."

-----

First day of filming

They went to the morning market, not the clean supermarket with tiled floor, overpriced stuffs and aircon, but the real outdoor market with all the people and products you've ever hoped to find.

"Ew." Said Yibo for the nth time.

"Stop it, Yibo, there won't be much footage left if they have to keep cutting the part where you said 'ew' all the time!" His assistant hissed at him.

Xiao Zhan laughed at them. "It's alright, this is Yibo's first time to the traditional market, I won't blame him for being...surprised."

"Xiao Laoshi, you're too kind, but you don't have to accomodate him all the time. It's his job" The assistant bowed her head.

"It's quite alright. Do you know that I also did exactly the same as you the first time I went to traditional market, Yibo? It takes time to get used to all the smell and the ambience of this place, but now I loved it, the smell of fresh seafood, fresh meat, fresh vegetables, nothing can beat it." And his feeling's showed on his face, make him radiated happiness, he seems glowing.

When he saw Xiao Zhan's face, he thought that he never saw anyone more beautiful than Xiao Zhan at that time.

They went back to the studio to practice the basic before filming. While Xiao Zhan prepared the ingredients, he asked for Yibo to massage the chicken with salt, since they're making Singaporean Hainanese Chicken. Yibo only stared at him incredulously.

"You want me to what now?" He frowned and looked at the whole chicken in front of him.

"Massage the chicken with salt. Here, rub this salt to the whole body of the chicken, and massage it gently to remove extra dirt and scum." Xiao Zhan gave Yibo a container of coarse salt.

Yibo then proceeds to grab a handfull of salt, poured it on the chicken, and massage it as if his life depends on it.

Xiao Zhan looked at him, and burst out laughing.

"Holy....Are you massaging the chicken or are you trying to strangle it to death for the second time?" He can't help but laughed at Yibo's expression. "Gently, Yibo, gentle like when you massage your lover..." he tried to show Yibo how to massage the chicken when he heard Yibo's murmuring, "How am I supposed to know, I never had a lover..."
Xiao Zhan's eyes widened, but he said nothing.

"Here, let me show you, put your hands here, and do it like this." He put his hands on top of Yibo's, and put a little bit pressure on them. "See? Gently..." he continues to hold on to Yibo's big hand for a while, before he felt embarassed and let go to chop other things. He certainly did not see Yibo's heated gaze on him.

Xiao Zhan continued to show Yibo the prep, how to use knife properly (It's upside down, Yibo, you can't cut anything if you hold it like that), how to put the chicken inside a pot filled with cold water (You need a bigger pot, Yibo, the water will be overflowed if you put the chicken inside that tiny pot), how to cut the cucumber for the salad (Thinner, Yibo, thinner, we want salad, not pickles), and so on.

By the time the filming's over, Xiao Zhan's never felt more exhausted in his life. But when he saw Yibo eating the chicken rice with gusto, he couldn't help but feeling proud and happy.

"So? How's it? The first ever Wang Laoshi's cooking." He sneaked a bite and groaned. "God, this is soooo good, you have a great hand, Wang Laoshi."

Yibo grinned happily like a puppy dog's being praised for being a good boy. "Xiao Laoshi is too kind, I could not make everything by myself if not being helped by Xiao Laoshi."

"I think you can do anything your mind's set into, Yibo, you are very capable of handling anything life's thrown to you. I think you're really built for a life full of adventure ahead." He unconsciously ruffled Yibo's hair fondly.

Yibo caught his hand, and pulled him closer, making his face only a breath away from the other. He looked at his mouth, his eyes, and finally let him go. He cleared his throat and got up from the chair.

"Xiao Laoshi, it's getting late, I really don't want to impose on you. But I will be back tomorrow for the filming." His smile was rather strained.

"Ah? Ah, okay Wang Laoshi, please take care of yourself, and see you tomorrow!" He also tried to act naturally, and it's hard when his heart's thumping in arrythmia and he suddenly feels very hot all over.

What's happening to me?