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For Lai, cooking was never about the competition or the hustle. "The most important thing about being a chef is to enjoy it. I also know that before enjoying it, you have to do a lot of homework," Lai explained.

"If you want to be a chef, you have to love food and be able to stand in the kitchen for over 10 hours. Actually, none of this is hard work for me. In life, find your own interests, your own talents, and then just follow them, never let go — it's all about enjoyment."

In a season dominated by high stakes and fierce rivalry, it was Lai's calm, carefree spirit that won the hearts of viewers.

The 55-year-old introverted chef was as surprised by his newfound fame as anyone, but the relaxed, free-spirited persona he presented to the public gave viewers a refreshing, even inspiring, look at what it means to be a chef.

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