I've been reborn, I'm definitely going to become an internet celebrity!

Chapter 52: [Filming Completed]

Late at night, the night market was nearing its end, and many stalls had closed, but a large crowd still gathered in front of one stall.

Not only the diners, but even several shop owners who were about to close up shop stood by with their hands in their pockets, happily watching the spectacle.

The air was no longer filled with the usual smell of cooking oil, but with a sweet, fresh aroma of seafood with a hint of buttery caramel.

"Relax, we're not food critics, we're just having a meal and chatting." Liu Zhuohao's voice was gentle, with a reassuring tone.

He stood behind the hot plate, his gaze steady as he looked at the two young diners who had been chosen—a boy wearing glasses and a girl with a ponytail.

The two had just tasted a few dishes in front of them, and their faces showed obvious tension.

"If you think it's delicious, say so. If you don't like it, just say so too. Whether it's too salty or bland, how's the texture? Say whatever comes to mind, it's all fine."

The camera first followed the process of preparing and cooking the lobster, then finally focused on them. Under the watchful eyes of dozens of people and two action cameras, the two men were visibly uncomfortable.

"Good, delicious."

The boy spoke first, his gaze shifting between the camera and Liu Zhuohao, "The lobster meat... is very firm and springy, um, it's fresh."

"The taste... I think it's just right, but I prefer stronger flavors. I'm from Sichuan and Chongqing, so it might be even more enjoyable if it were a bit spicier." His speech gradually became faster and more fluent. "But that's my fault; I didn't mention it beforehand... Anyway, it smells delicious!"

That's a compliment.

It's a positive review.

After he finished speaking, he gently nudged the girl next to him with his elbow.

The girl's face flushed red, and after a long pause, she managed to squeeze out two words like a mosquito's buzz: "...Delicious."

Liu Zhuohao smiled and nodded, his tone more formal than when he usually entertained guests:

"Thank you both so much for participating in the filming; this should be a very special memory."

As soon as he finished speaking, he glanced almost imperceptibly to the side.

Having already familiarized himself with the process, Huang Weixiong immediately understood and steadily pushed the camera tripod forward to capture a close-up shot.

On the other side, Richard Li held the medium shot camera steadily.

"That's all for today's video." Liu Zhuohao turned to the camera in Huang Weixiong's hand, his smile impeccable. "If you're interested, please like, comment, and favorite. Thank you all for your continued support."

After saying that, he seemed to relax completely, turned to look at the two diners who were still holding the sizzling plate, and his tone returned to its usual casualness: "We're done filming, are you still eating? It tastes best when it's hot."

These words act like a switch.

The two young men were taken aback at first, then visibly relaxed.

"Eat! Of course I'll eat!" The boy nodded hurriedly, picked up his chopsticks, and almost wolfed down a big mouthful of fried rice. He then quickly picked up a large piece of tender white lobster meat and stuffed it into his mouth, making smacking noises as he ate.

The girl also abandoned her reserve and began to eat quickly in small bites.

They had just eaten steak here a few hours earlier, which gave them the opportunity to take photos.

But at this moment, their appetite remains real.

And what about the surrounding people? The voices that the others had been unconsciously keeping low suddenly burst out, mixed with good-natured laughter and chatter.

"Is it over? Hey bro, can I have a piece of meat to try?"

"Boss Liu, can we order lobsters separately from now on?"

"What are you thinking? How much does this lobster cost? The boss is having a promotion!"

"You never know, the boss has made steak his signature dish!"

The lively sounds once again enveloped the stall.

Whether it's the diners enjoying their meals or the lively banter around them, everything is clearly captured on camera.

"Okay! That's a wrap!" Liu Zhuohao clapped his hands twice, the tension on his face from the "filming state" quietly fading, revealing a hint of deep-seated fatigue, but his eyes couldn't hide his joy as they swept over the still enthusiastic crowd.

"Thank you again everyone. This special event for 'Midnight Diner' has now come to a successful conclusion!"

Yes, only now is the video truly finished being filmed.

Just now, he keenly noticed the restraint and theatricality of the two ordinary diners during the "filming".

That "It's over" was a "play within a play" he deliberately set up.

Only when people shed the awareness of being "photographed" can their most instinctive greed and enjoyment of food be revealed without reservation.

That's the "truth" that the audience wants to see, far more powerful than any deliberate praise.

In particular, I was worried that if the food wasn't good, the diners wouldn't give me the courtesy of stopping their meal after I said the filming was over.

But what if it's delicious? Then I'll definitely eat it before I leave.

……

……

The crowd did not disperse immediately; instead, even more curious people gathered around.

"Boss Liu, when will there be another good deal like this?" A middle-aged man in a t-shirt asked in a loud voice, with the impoliteness typical of his age.

"It will be next week at the earliest, depending on everyone's feedback on this video," Liu Zhuohao said honestly while deftly wiping the iron plate.

"Can we select a few more people?"

"What are we eating next time? Can you give us a heads-up?"

"Boss, please call earlier next time! The lottery was already over when I arrived!"

Liu Zhuohao patiently responded to each question, calming everyone's excitement with a smile.

The crowd dispersed reluctantly, but they didn't leave the night market. Instead, they turned in twos and threes to the still-open porridge and noodle stalls, continuing their search for late-night snacks.

It was nearly 1 a.m., and the night market, which should have been quiet, was still bustling with people.

Liu Zhuohao stopped what he was doing, looked at the figures moving among the scattered lights, and then looked at Huang Weixiong and Li Zekai who were busy tidying up.

Who kept them here?

"It's me..."

Liu Zhuohao couldn't help but clench his fists; this was unexpected.

After choosing the second path, he will definitely focus more on filming and managing his account.

Before this, my video direction was actually quite chaotic.

While it's supposed to be a record of daily life, sometimes it includes hours of tedious and boring work logs in order to attract the attention of offline customers.

Occasionally, he'll release some low-quality videos that fans comment are almost on par with shows like "A Bite of China".

If you want to operate your account better, you definitely need a more professional planning approach.

Liu Zhuohao originally planned to create a project, organize an event, and turn it into content like "Random Challenge" that could be developed into many episodes.

Unexpectedly, the first video shoot attracted so much attention from viewers.

This feeling was even better than he had expected.

"elder brother!"

A clear female voice rang out from behind. Liu Zhuohao looked over and saw a girl wearing a school uniform, with dark skin and glasses, who looked like she was good at "exams" running towards Huang Weixiong.

"Wow, a high school uniform?"

Liu Zhuohao was very surprised. He really didn't expect that Huang Weixiong, who only graduated from a vocational school, was actually the younger sister of a high-achieving student.

but……

In this small city, only children like myself are actually the odd ones out.