“Time up”
Jasmine bites her inner cheek, lowering her hand and dropping the seasoning packet she was holding. That was the last ingredient for her to add to her dish, but the time was already over.
Just like how they had done originally, the contestants dished out the pork rice porridge each of them had prepared in a bowl and was later passed to the judges.
While the reviewers had a taste of these seven dishes, the tense moment could be sensed around Jasmine and the other contestants. Some even shut their eyes tightly as if praying to God inwardly.
“You all did great, I must commend,” the male judge began with a soft smile slumping on his thin lips.
Hearing this, a few of the contestants couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief, but the rest of them weren't eased as if knowing that the judge's next words would be a bad omen.
“However, the following contestant would be evicted now due to their low points, and just so you know, we need only three winners,” the male judge said and then looked over at his colleague who took over from where he had stopped immediately.
“Contestant number one, you had four points which don't meet our criteria for scoring,”
Jasmine peeked a glance at the contestant's face and immediately felt bad for the woman. She looked so heartbroken, and it could be effortlessly detected that she had perhaps promised her daughter that she was going to win the competition.
Jasmine thought that, although she had not made a promise to Aurora of coming first, however, she knew Aurora would be sad if she didn't come first, who wouldn't?
By the time Jasmine would revive from her thinking, the crowd was already cheering with a loud applauding. This only means one thing, she was among the winners.
Her heart gladden as a wide smile ensued on her face. She quickly counted the number of contestants who were remaining, and they were just four, including her.
“The final round would start in a moment, get ready. Also, congratulations contestant,”
Jasmine's gaze searched for Aurora, and she soon found her among the other students sitting in the front roll.
Smiling so big, Aurora waved to her, and she also reciprocated it instantly.
Noah saw this and a warm smile broke out on his sexy thin lips directly as he stared at them. They really looked like a mother and daughter.
“Alright, contestants, are you ready for the final round?” the male judge asked in a buzzing voice after a few moments of silence.
“Yes, sir!” the contestants said in unison, while Jasmine shut her eyes briefly and prayed silently.
“Okay, so you're preparing curried coconut pumpkin soup in twenty minutes and your time starts now!”
While Jasmine had squatted and begun to bring out the recipes for this dish, the rest of the contestants were still looking dazed, as though they weren't certain if they could prepare it.
After standing upright again, Jasmine grabbed a knife and chopped the onions, garlic, and ginger, and mixed them with curry powder. She further added the pumpkin purée, broth, and coconut milk.
All this time, all the judge's gazes were dwelling on Jasmine's figure without her realizing it.
Just so you know, aside from caring for sick or injured people. Another thing Jasmine enjoyed doing very much was cooking. She loves to prepare varieties of dishes and would even try out some non-existent meals which would come out delicious afterward.
Today, she was damn glad she could show her cooking skills in front of these people. In her opinion, even if she didn't come first, the second position was still fair enough.
In a matter of minutes, their time was exhausted, and the contestants were now dishing out the soup in a bowl for the judges.
“While we prepare your final score, you can all step out for a short break. Well done, contestants,”
As soon as Jasmine came out of the event hall completely, a familiar voice called out her name from behind.
She turned around swiftly and saw Aurora running over to her with a wide grin on her face.
“Congratulations, Jasmine. You're winning this, right?” asked Aurora with a beam, after they had both shared a brief embrace.
“No, we're both winning it,” Jasmine corrected, and they both smiled and hugged each other once again.
Afterward, Aurora held Jasmine's hand, “Come, let me show you around my school, especially the garden, you'll love it, Jasmine”
Jasmine nodded happily and asked first, “But have you seen your Daddy?”
Aurora's eyes widened very much in awe, “My Dad is here?”
“Yes, Darling. You asked me to come, didn't you?” Noah spoke behind them, and they both looked swiftly in his direction.
“Daddy!”
Aurora shrieked with ecstatic and run up to meet her father, hugging his slim long legs and looking up at his face.
“I'm glad you could make it, Daddy”
However, Noah didn't make any reaction to his daughter's words and continued to glare coldly at Jasmine.
Jasmine immediately lowered her head, as though his pupils were too powerful to make contact with.
“What are you doing here, Jasmine?” he cuts to the point, his eyes right on her.
Aurora let go of his legs directly and put some footsteps backward, lifting her head to look at his face.
“What do you mean by that, Daddy? Jasmine had come to act like my mother for the competition isn't it obvious enough?” she gave an impression of annoyance as she spoke.
Noah tuts and took a few steps forward, his black business shoes blazing to the shimmering sun above them.
“Have you forgotten what she did at the party so soon, Aurora? Have you forgotten she's the cause I lost a great deal, huh?” he raised his voice with a scowl, still not discarding his gaze from Jasmine, who had her head lowered all the time and whimpering softly?
Noticing that she was now sobbing, Noah couldn't help but cursed himself inwardly. This was not what he had planned all along, all these act was just to get Jasmine to say a word to him.
He hated to admit that he kept checking his phone at any slightest chance to see if he had missed Jasmine's call, but hell no. She was not calling him again, and he couldn't bring himself to initiate a call.
“Believe it or not, Daddy, Jasmine would never do that deliberately,” Aurora also raised her voice at her father, she was so peeved.
“Would you allow her to talk for herself now, Aurora? You're not her mouthpiece, are you?” Noah blurted out his heart, looking down at his daughter just briefly.
“You're so mean, Daddy,” Aurora pouted and evacuated their midst at once.
Right after Aurora had left, the atmosphere became so depressing immediately. Jasmine's hands that were hanging on her sides clenched into fists, her palms wet and sticky with sweat.
She couldn't utter any sound when parting her lips.
“Don't you have anything to say?” Noah asked in a soft yet husky voice.
Just when Jasmine raised her head and opened her mouth, “All contestants should get ready now,” the announcer's voice blocked her words from coming out.
Noah couldn't resist the urge to scoff and then turned away immediately.
As the contestants strolled back to their previous position, each of them was given a head mic, just like the judges.
“Welcome back, contestants,”

Jasmine's heart began to pound strongly inside her chest. Here comes the final result.
“To be honest, you've all done great and because of you, guys, I was able to taste some dishes I've had in a long while,” the male judge said with a giggle and his colleagues laughed along with him.
“So now. Contestant number four, would you please come forward?”
Jasmine watched as the young and pretty woman went forward, looking bold and confident, while she couldn't help her anxiety.
“Pumpkin soup is a simple soup to make, right?” the female judge sitting on the right-hand side of the male judge interviewed.
“Yes, ma'am” the contestant agreed.
“Apart from this, can you please tell us an advantage of this great soup?”
The contestant swallowed first and chuckle softly and then began, “In my view, curried coconut pumpkin soup would be great for entertaining and taking along to fall and winter gatherings.”
After this response, the judge nodded satisfactorily while they exchanged a glance among themselves.
This went on and on until it got to Jasmine's turn, the last contestant.
“May I ask a question first, please?” the male judge asked with a beam on his face.
“Of course, sir,” Jasmine quickly replied, the fear squeezing out of her throat.
“Do you by chance have a restaurant, I mean like, do you cook? Are you a chef?” the male judge asked curiously, his eyes peering at Jasmine with adequate interest.
Smiling, “No, sir. I'm just a nurse,” she simply said and a little 'Whoa' came out of the judge's mouth, “Let me just reserve my comment first,” he put in.
“Contestant number eleven, could you please tell us something about this soup, that could convince anybody to try it out?” the female judge from earlier directed her question to Jasmine.
Jasmine sucked in a sharp breath and then let out, “Not only is this pumpkin soup quick and easy, but it is also extremely nutritious. Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A, which is important for keeping your eyesight sharp. Pumpkin is also a good source of fiber, which keeps you feeling full for longer on fewer calories. Coconut milk gives the soup a rich and creamy consistency, without the use of any dairy” she explained the little she knew about this soup.
“Whoa. Superb!” the male judge exclaimed with excitement.
“Please, audience, give this lady a big hand. She has done great,” he inputted and clapped his hands.
After the cheering had quieted down, the male judge began,
“Contestant number seven, you had five points in the first round, eight points in the second round, and just two points in the final round. Just fifteen points. I'm sorry, but thanks for participating anyway. Please give her an applaud, she has tried”
With a pale smile on this contestant's face, she evacuated the place and embarrassed climbed down the broad stage.
“Contestant number eight, you had five points in the first round, seven in the second round, and five in the final round. With all points put together, you have seventeen points, a round of applause for this woman, please,”
“Contestant number four, you had seven points in the first round, eight in the second round, and seven in the final round. That's twenty-two points, Congratulations, contestant.”
A big smile broke out on this woman's face as a loud cheer drifted in the air. Even Jasmine was seen clapping her hands happily.
“And to our last contestant, contestant number eleven,” the judge began again as soon as the atmosphere went back to normal.
“She had eight points in the first round, seven in the second round, and nine good points in the final round, giving us twenty-four points. A big round of applause for our winner,” the judge, intensified and the whole crowd cheered.
Aurora couldn't contain her happiness, she left her seat and scurried to meet Jasmine on the stage.
Jasmine who was now in tears squatted and hugged Aurora directly as if that were what she needed at that moment.
“Congratulations, Jasmine,” Aurora trumpeted, tears spilling over her cheeks as they both disengaged from the hug.
“Thanks, Darling” Jasmine choked between sobs while cleaning Aurora's tears.
“Not only did you help me by participating, but you also come first, which means we're going to Paris,” Aurora squealed. She was now in a state of euphoria.
“Aside from the prizes the school authority would be awarding you, I, personally, would be giving you a cheque of a token, you're just so great,” the male judge announced and another applauding erupted from the audience.
Hearing this, the little smile that was radiating across Noah's face could no longer continue as he thought inside his heart, who's this man this time around?