Friendly Neighborhood chef cooks up joy

His journey broadened public understanding of the culinary world while encouraging many to pursue their own passions with the fearless joy Lai demonstrated so effortlessly.

Beyond the show, Lai's down-to-earth philosophy resonated deeply with fans. In August, he launched his Xiaohongshu (social media platform RedNote) account and gained over 13,000 followers in just a day — far outpacing his Instagram growth over the past seven to eight years.

"I live on Xiaohongshu," he joked, noting the flurry of posts tagging him. He made it a point to read and interact with each one.