
Yeah but like, what was the secret ingredient tho

It is secret taste not secret ingredient.
It means to ad a touch of a special and unique flavor to a normal recipe. Something a professional Chef would do. Like including some anise seeds in a tomato and tuna sauce for pasta. Most people would never think about doing that but it actually tastes really good and becomes 'special'.
That is what the uke is trying to do and failing miserably becouse he can't sucesfuly imagine what should taste good and just experiments randomly. ( ̄∇ ̄")

Wow i absolutely hated reading this. Like damn, the manager dude has the fucking nerve to be such an absolute asshole and just decide everything by himself and drag the uke into his plans as he sees fit. Literally so toxic jfc. And the worst part is, the uke was coerced into this and suddenly he just...falls for the dickbag even though he was literally just a fucking jerk throughout the entire ordeal? I hated reading this so much i could barely soldier past two chapters before i gave up. Ugh.
He Tian's brother has me shooketh as fucketh like daaaayum son