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.