Friendly Neighborhood chef cooks up joy

Lai was particularly delighted to see fans recreating the dishes he prepared on the show, especially the roasted chili fish. "Some people who don't eat fish tried it, some who don't cook tried it, even those who don't eat spicy food gave it a go. It's really fun," he said.

Many fans praised him not just for his cooking, but for his approachable, positive attitude. One user on Xiaohongshu, "Gunaiqingfeng" shared, "In these two months of 'knowing' chef Lai, the biggest impression I have is that I no longer worry about getting older. Life still has so many interesting things to offer, and no matter your age, you can live freely and joyfully. Thank you, David, for joining this show and sharing such an inspiring story."