"Oh?" The internet cafe owner brightened and said, "Oh! I remember now—wasn't he right here just a moment ago?" Then he turned toward F3. Left Tianpei said to Chen Jiangliu, "Chen, you're looking for the young master, aren't you?" "Yes! Yes!" Chen replied. "Quick! Clean him up!" Zhao Yuanhang barked at Gao Liang, who was nearly pressed flat against the floor, frantically wiping his shoes. The internet cafe owner glanced sideways and said, "He's gone!" Chen looked at Gao Liang, who was bending low to wipe his shoes, and felt a sense of familiarity with the figure, though he could only see the back. But since he couldn't be certain, he hesitated and turned to leave. Gao Zhongming came over, followed by several young bodyguards dressed in suits, and asked, "Have you found him?" "Your servant reports, Lord, that he's not here at all!" Chen answered respectfully. "What are you all standing around for? Go find him! If you don't find him, don't come back to see me!" Gao Zhongming shouted at his bodyguards The bodyguards scattered quickly in different directions, leaving Gao Zhongming gasping in frustration, "Son! The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming up—go home and reunite with your family! Forgive me, father!" Chen Jiangliu said, "Lord Gao! Don't worry—your son is bright and capable; he should be fine!" "Stop comforting me! It's all my fault—I was too impulsive!" Gao Zhongming regretfully拍 his head. Zhao Yuanhang tried several times to bring out Gao Liang, but Gao Liang clung tightly to his feet. After narrowly escaping the searches conducted by both his father Gao Zhongming and Chen Jiangliu, Gao Liang exhaled in relief. At that moment, Li Tianpei picked up a delicate card from the ground and passed it sequentially to Zhao Yuanhang and Fan Weizhe. The three of them glanced at it and only laughed. Gao Liang tried to snatch it back, but Li Tianpei asked, "Gao Liang, I never realized you actually have a deep interest in mooncakes!" "Far beyond interest—I've studied them thoroughly!" Gao Liang became Zhao Yuanhang couldn't believe it, as he sensed that this formula was remarkably similar to the one recently unveiled by Huahao Yuanchuan Mooncake Store. "Highlight, we're brothers—be honest with me!" Fan Weizhe interrupted. "Indeed, I have many hobbies and a solid understanding of mooncakes. Look!" Highlight held up the elegant card and said, "The ingredients here are actually quite simple. I could easily build upon this foundation and refine it to better suit modern tastes!" Highlight spoke with great confidence. "Really?" The three exchanged looks of disbelief and asked in unison, "Highlight, can you design a formula based on taste preferences?" "Absolutely—believe it or not!" Highlight said, then walked off on his own. F3 exchanged glances. Zhao Yuanhang stepped forward and caught Highlight by the arm, saying, "Highlight, I won't hold back—my mother has a special fondness for mooncakes. Would you mind making one for her?" "Then Fan Wei Ze and Zuo Tianpei also joined in, saying that everyone in the family loves them and wants to make them too." "Well, then, let's all get involved! How about that?" Gao Huang smiled warmly. "Yay! Let's make the best mooncakes of all—go for it!" Their hands came together in a firm clap. Soon, they rented a spacious and bright apartment, and under Gao Huang's coordination, they divided tasks while working collaboratively. Zhao Yuanhang conducted a detailed survey of market demand for mooncake flavors, Fan Wei Ze took charge of purchasing the equipment and raw materials for mooncake production, while Zuo Tianpei assisted Gao Huang with the actual mooncake making. Soon, several batches of mooncakes were produced. When F3 tasted them, they were very satisfied and excited. Only Gao Huang shook his head and said, "Last night, I had a dream—dreamed of eating a particular type of mooncake. The taste was simply exquisite, and I want to create exactly that kind. I'm not sure if everyone agrees..." "Let's make it! Let's make it!" F3 couldn't wait to clap and cheer before Gao Huang finished speaking. "Great "We'll work together to create the most delicious mooncake!" F4 once again clapped their hands in solemn pledge. Over three days without a single moment of rest, Gao Liang led F3 team, paying meticulous attention to details—both in the careful selection of raw materials and in refining a unique crafting process. A particularly challenging aspect involved Fan Weizhe bringing a wireless laptop, while Gao Liang skillfully sketched out the vivid, moving scene that had appeared in his dreams. Through a special technique, this painting was then brought to life and seamlessly integrated onto the exquisite mooncake. Zuo Tianpei showcased his musical talent, designing a musical mooncake under Gao Liang's guidance and request. Zhao Yuanhang collected the latest feedback—especially on flavor preferences—with remarkable accuracy, enabling Gao Liang to continuously develop recipes tailored to diverse taste demands. Together, the four forged a mooncake unlike any other. F4 erupted in applause. No. 18, Caixiang Village on the third ring road in the southern part of Hanhai City, a typical residential neighborhood. High Ruolan's family is having dinner at the table when a news segment on TV captures their attention: "The soft, sweet, fragrant, and smooth flavor reflects Hua Hao Yue Yuan Mooncake Shop's pursuit of excellence. To enable everyone to enjoy this premium mooncake, the shop is now inviting residents throughout the city to submit their mooncake recipes and production techniques. If you or your family have insights on mooncakes, please step forward and showcase your talents—participate in the million-yuan reward program! Hua Hao Yue Yuan Mooncake Shop is the exclusive organizer of this initiative and warmly invites all citizens to join!" "If we had a million yuan in our household, that would be wonderful!" High Caisheng finds it hard to eat his food, as if having a million yuan would allow him to enjoy fine meals every day. "But heaven doesn't fall cakes!" Mei Hanfu reminds them. "Dad, Mom! Let's try making our own mooncakes! We don't have to do it perfectly—we just need to give it our best!" Gao Ruolan became interested in making mooncakes, as she had gained a solid understanding of them over the past few days through various promotional activities. Thus, the entire family worked together, bustling with energy to create a truly satisfying mooncake. At Hainai City's Huahao Yueyuan Mooncake Shop, a mooncake recipe competition was underway. Zhao Yuanhang, conducting market research on consumer preferences for mooncake flavors, happened to pass by and observed the event in person before quickly moving on. Taking advantage of Gao Liang's break, he shared his ideas with Fan Weizhe and Zuo Tianpei, who immediately agreed and enthusiastically gave him a solid thumbs-up in approval. Following the competition, Gao Ruolan's family was thrilled, as their family-made mooncakes had successfully earned a spot among the finalists, culminating in a final presentation at Century Dynasty Hotel on the Mid-Autumn Festival day. The Mid-Autumn Festival, a day that brings joy to millions of Chinese people, had finally arrived. Hansha City's five-star luxury hotel — Century Dynasty Hotel — its second-floor grand hall is bustling with guests and friends from all walks of life. In front of the hall stands a large stage, adorned with a grand electronic backdrop displaying dynamic, elegant patterns. A golden, full moon hangs in the sky, radiant and brilliant. Below, mountains, rivers, flowers, grasses, and homes lit up by thousands of lights create a serene scene. With a gentle breeze, the flowers sway gently, as if a graceful young lady in a floral dress is dancing a beautiful dance. At the center of the backdrop, the artistic calligraphy reads: "Welcome to the Mid-Autumn Festival Get-Together Gala," in warm, golden characters, evoking heartfelt warmth. Both male and female hosts step onto the stage simultaneously, offering their most sincere greetings. Male host: Mid-Autumn is a voice of destiny — from that moment of perfect roundness, love spreads out, and thoughts become boundless. Today, we gather from far and wide, united around an enduring theme—love. The host, with the lines, "How bright the moon has been, how long has it shone? Pouring wine and asking the sky," reminds us that the Mid-Autumn Festival is the celebration of those who long for reunion and togetherness. Seated together, sharing moon-shaped pastries that are as round and full as the moon, our hearts are filled with warmth; bowing to our elders, we offer heartfelt wishes for long life and joy in every moment; holding a single network cable, raising our glasses to the moon. This is the profound love in life—this is the endless emotion and the never-ending conversation of human connection. Now, please give a warm welcome to the organizers—Shenlong Group’s Chairman, Qiu Zhengxiong, who will deliver his Mid-Autumn Festival greetings! Qiu Zhengxiong steps onto the stage with grace and dignity, greeted by enthusiastic cheers and applause. His appearance is commanding, his spirit vibrant, his gaze wise—truly a leading figure in the business world. After a brief moment of well-wishes, he moves directly into the main event, standing before the microphone and formally announcing The moment Chairman Qiu announced it, the audience immediately erupted into excitement. Ten finalists who had been selected through the qualification round stepped onto the stage to make their presentations. At the same time, a panel of ten expert judges, hired by Shendragon Group, took their positions, equipped with the latest scientific instruments to comprehensively evaluate and score the mooncakes from multiple dimensions. Given the significance of this event, media partners have been closely covering the developments—Hanhai City Television, radio stations, major newspapers, and online portals have all provided continuous coverage. Under the enthusiastic anticipation and intense attention, the expert panel of the Moon Cake Committee tasted the cakes on-site, evaluated them using instruments, and after thorough discussion, reached a unanimous decision, ultimately announcing the top three: First place went to "Golden Moon Cake," the highly recommended creation by Huahao Yueyuan Moon Cake Store; second place to Ms. Gao Ruolan's "Orchid Moon Cake"; ... High Gao, the owner of Huahao Yueyuan Moon Cake Store, was overjoyed, beaming with pride, while Master Liu remained quietly shaking his head, still thinking about the young man who had proposed a recipe for him—had he been present, he was certain there would have been an even more outstanding moon cake on display. Would that young man have been there at all? Ms. Gao Ruolan was pleasantly surprised by the award, her face glowing with excitement and delight. A spacious and bright rental apartment. Gao Liang sat alone on the bed, slightly disheartened. Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival—the day when families gather and celebrate. Every year at this time, his father hosted grand banquets, inviting guests from all over. To his father, the significance of family reunion even surpassed the achievements of the Lianchuang Group. His father was, in truth, a man deeply devoted to family. Yet, due to their arguments, the words "You just don't come back!" still echoed in his ears. People value their dignity—especially someone like Gao Liang, who had a strong sense of self-worth. Though his father had sent out search parties to find him everywhere, Gao Liang had firmly stated, "I don't believe I can survive without you." Yes, he could live a bright life even outside this warm home. Though he was currently penniless, he was determined—not to give up. He believed he would win and live a fulfilling life. Gao Liang thought this, smiling with confidence. "What are you smiling about?" "One voice surprised Gao Liang quite a bit. He turned around and there stood Zhao Yuanhang, Fan Weizhe, and Zuo Tianpei. 'How come you didn't go back to visit your families for the holidays?' Gao Liang asked, looking utterly astonished. 'Because we have something truly meaningful to accomplish!' Zhao Yuanhang played it mysteriously, deliberately emphasizing the words 'truly meaningful' with greater volume. Fan Weizhe and Zuo Tianpei beamed proudly at Gao Liang. Gao Liang found it interesting and said, 'Great!' Just as he finished speaking, he felt his eyes covered by black cloth—now completely blind. It turned out the three had already coordinated their plan to surprise him. 'We're taking you to a place!' Zhao Yuanhang announced. 'There's going to be a real show today!' Fan Weizhe exclaimed with excitement. 'What's going on? Pull that black cloth off me right now! I'm not going!' Gao Liang grew increasingly impatient. 'The most exciting moment is about to begin!' Zuo Tianpei clapped and cheered enthusiastically. "There isn't much time! Let's hurry and get on the bus!" Zhao Yuanhang checked his watch and urged. So the three nearly pushed Gao Huang onto the bus. Gao Huang shouted, "Where are we going?" "Beautiful mountains, beautiful waters, beautiful places!" The three sang cheerfully. "Ah!" Gao Huang said, "Well then! By you—see what tricks you've up your sleeves!"... In the grand hall on the second floor of Century Dynasty Hotel, the final round of mooncake tasting had reached its most thrilling moment. The male and female hosts announced together, "Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to Miss Qiu Xin Yue, who will now taste the top three mooncakes!" Everyone gasped and cheered as Qiu Xin Yue made her entrance—she was simply radiant, like a precious pearl or a flawless jade. Her dark hair was coiled into a princess-style bun, adorned with a pearl flower pin, its tassels gently flowing. She had a fair, clear complexion and delicate, smooth skin. Her eyebrows were long and gracefully drawn, and her eyes sparkled like stars. Below her delicate nose lies a small, slender mouth with thin lips slightly curved upward, giving her a refined and fresh appearance—so distinct and pure, it seems untouched by any earthly warmth or commonality. She wears a light-colored blouse with delicate floral patterns and a white pleated skirt. On stage, she stands with grace and dignity, quiet and elegant. So pure and tender, like a lotus bud just emerging from the water, untouched by dust. "A breathtaking beauty! A goddess descending from the moon!" someone in the crowd exclaims. The performance begins, the performance begins. Qiu Xingyue receives the mooncakes presented by Yu E, takes a graceful, delicate bite, savoring each one carefully, while the audience watches with anticipation. In response to the committee experts' feedback, Qiu Xingyue offers heartfelt and sincere appreciation. "Excellent! These three mooncakes truly stand out—both in formulation and craftsmanship, they demonstrate a high level of excellence!" With confidence, she speaks into the microphone, her voice lively and melodious, so pleasant that listening to her feels like drinking honey. "Perhaps, such a perfect flavor can only appear in dreams!" Qiu Xin Yue closed her eyes, clearly enjoying herself, as if savoring the taste of the mooncakes she had tasted in her dream that day. "There's one mooncake you absolutely mustn't miss!" A voice rang out, surprising everyone. Turning to see the source, they found Zhao Yuanhang holding a beautifully crafted large mooncake, speaking with a compelling tone that fully satisfied everyone's curiosity. Gao Liang, beside him, looked sternly at Zhao Yuanhang, exclaiming, "What on earth are you up to? Where are we? Hurry and tear off that black cloth!" But he was firmly held by Fang Wei Ze and Zuo Tianpei, who kept him from continuing to protest, and Fang Wei Ze and Zuo Tianpei eventually covered his mouth. Since the black cloth covered most of his face, the audience couldn't recognize him. With Qiu Xin Yue's permission, Zhao Yuanhang placed the elegant mooncake on the display stand and then stepped back to the stage floor. Under the warm expectations and intense attention, the experts of the mooncake evaluation committee tasted samples, conducted instrumental assessments, discussed thoroughly, and finally reached a unanimous agreement, then raised their thumbs in unison, praising it enthusiastically. Qiu Xin Yue, gazing at the mooncake covered by a delicate pink sheer cloth, felt her heart stirred, so she signaled Yu Yue to gently lift the cloth. She didn't know it until she saw it—she was stunned upon first glance. It was a large circular mooncake, about two feet in diameter and one foot thick, with a golden hue, placed in a square box of soft pink color, exuding a delightful fragrance. A refined pattern was engraved on its outer surface, immediately capturing Qiu Xin Yue's attention. Yu Yue also turned to admire—it was a vividly rendered scene of Chang'e ascending to the moon, so lifelike that it seemed masterfully crafted. "Is this something from a dream?" Qiu Xin Yue murmured to herself. "Miss, look!" Yu Yue exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder. Qiu Xingyue noticed a very elegant poem inscribed beside the painting of Chang'e's journey to the moon, written in strong, graceful calligraphy: "In the golden autumn, the full moon hangs at the horizon; the wanderer's heart grows filled with longing. Lonely Chang'e dances alone in the vast sky, while Zhu Bajie is demoted to such a state. My feelings for you can be expressed to the heavens; even across a thousand miles, we can share the same moon." Before Qiu Xingyue could fully grasp the poem's meaning, she heard Yu Ye call out, "Miss, try this!" Qiu Xingyue took a small piece of mooncake cut by Yu Ye, held it gracefully, and slowly chewed it. "Yu Ye! Is this all happening in a dream?" Qiu Xingyue exclaimed once again. Yu Ye had not yet responded when she heard the male and female hosts together announce, "Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to Qiu Chairman for his speech!" With the cheers and applause of the audience, Qiu Zhengxiong stepped onto the stage with dignity, and addressed the microphone solemnly: "Thank you all for your attention and support Here, I'm delighted to announce a truly significant news—today is not only our traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, but also my daughter's 18th birthday. "Wow! Miss Qiu's birthday! It's so perfect—what a wonderful double celebration!" One guest jumped up and down with excitement. "Dad! Is this really my birthday?" Qiu Xin Yue was absolutely stunned, as she had always grown up in the U.S. and remembered her birthday as August 15 in the Gregorian calendar. "That's because there was no Mid-Autumn Festival in the U.S. back then!" Dad expressed a touch of regret. "Moon, you were born in China, and your mother gave birth to you exactly on the Mid-Autumn Festival!" Mrs. Xu Xianghe, tenderly gazing at her daughter, confirmed with a smile. Qiu Xin Yue was thrilled. On stage, facing the microphone, she spoke with a sweet, warm voice: "Ladies and gentlemen, friends, I'm pleased to share a wonderful news—I'm celebrating my birthday with all of you, sharing this mooncake together!" "说完，在人群一阵欢呼声中，示意玉娥拿来餐刀进行分割。"