the dinner of vipers

The Zhekova family's young master approached Cindy Clarke with an old phone and said, "You dropped this five years ago, and I picked it up. Do you still deny it?" Five years ago, she was set up and got pregnant. Cindy Clarke never imagined that the father of her son would turn out to be the Prince Charming that the entire nation loved. She had a weak father, a scheming mother, and a sister plotting to harm her? None of that mattered! Adrian Zhekova said, "Whatever they want, I'll give it all to you. Let them be jealous." If her opponents slandered Cindy Clarke? Adrian Zhekova said, "I'll shut down their account." Don't like it? Endure it! Morgan Clarke said, "Sob, sob... Arthur Woods says I'm an illegitimate child without a dad." After the Woods family went bankrupt, Adrian Zhekova turned to Cindy Clarke and asked, "When are you going to make us official?" Cindy Clarke replied, "Since I met you, it's been like having a cheat code. Everything goes my way." Adrian Zhekova replied, "That's right, I'm that cheat code."

Old phone in paw, Mr. Zhao corners Ye Fei: “You left this with me five years ago—still pretending we never happened?” Back then, Ye Fei got tricked into Mommy-hood, and Baby’s dad turns out to be the nation’s top heart-throb! Coward dad, scheming mom, meanie sister? → Zhao buys her the moon and watches them pout. Internet trolls? → One click → *poof* account gone. Little Ye Xiaomo tugs Zhao’s sleeve, pouting like a dumpling: “Daddy, Wang says I’m a wild kid with no dad!” Zhao pats his head: “Wang’s Wi-Fi just took a nap—forever.” Final scene: Zhao wearing an apron, waving a ladle: “So, when do I get upgraded from secret dad to official husband?” Ye Fei giggles: “Ever since I met you, life’s on easy mode!” Zhao winks: “Exactly—I’m the built-in cheat code!”

Personal chef Beau St. Clair, recently divorced from his cheating husband, returns to the small Ohio River town where he grew up to lick his wounds.<br><br>Jack Rogers lives with his mother, Maisie, in that same small town, angry at and frightened by the world. Jack has a gap in his memory that hides something he dares not face, and he’s probably suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.<br><br>Maisie, seeking relief from her housebound and often surly son, hires Beau to cook for Jack, hoping the change might help bring Jack, once a handsome and vibrant attorney, back to his former self. But can a new face and comfort food compensate for the terror lurking in Jack’s past?<br><br>Slowly the two men begin a dance of revelation and healing. Food and compassion build a bridge between Beau and Jack, a bridge that might lead to love. But will Jack’s demons allow it? His history could just as easily tear them apart as bring them together.

Henry Appleby has an appetite for life. As a recent high school graduate and the son of a wealthy family in one of Chicago’s affluent North Shore suburbs, his life is laid out for him. Unfortunately, though, he’s being forced to follow in the footsteps of his successful attorney father instead of living his dream of being a chef. When an opportunity comes his way to work in a real kitchen the summer after graduation, at a little Italian joint called Fiorello’s, Henry jumps at the chance, putting his future in jeopardy.<br><br>Years ago, life was a plentiful buffet for Vito Carelli. But a tragic turn of events now keeps the young chef at Fiorello’s quiet and secretive, preferring to let his amazing Italian peasant cuisine do his talking.<br><br>When the two cooks meet over an open flame, sparks fly. Both need a taste of something more -- something real, something true -- to separate the good from the bad and find the love -- and the hope -- that just might be their salvation.

It only takes a few days for Ollie D'Angelo to lose his boyfriend, his job, and his home. Instead of mourning what he doesn't have, Ollie celebrates what he does: the freedom to pursue his real passion -- cooking. He begins Dinner at Home, a home-catering business, and it takes off.<br><br>Late one night, Ollie catches Hank Mellinger, a streetwise hood down on his luck, about to rob his car. Ollie soon discovers that appearances aren't necessarily what they seem. Hank isn't a criminal caught red-handed, but a hungry young man trying to make a life for himself and the four-year-old niece he's trying desperately to take care of.<br><br>Instead of calling the cops, Ollie offers Hank a job and a way to pull himself up by his bootstraps. Together, they discover they can really cook ... and that their shared passion for food just might lead to a passion for each other.

Welcome to the enigmatic tale of Reinhart Glast, a warrior wrapped in a hard hat, hit by a storm of misfortune in his prime years. Threatened by Parkinson's Disease, his world crumbles into a heap of depression, pushing him to the edge of despair. As he contemplates death, life serves him a bittersweet twist - instead of oblivion, Reinhart's existence is whisked away to another realm, where he is plated as... an instant dinner? Fork your way through the unfathomable world of Fallenia, a simmering cauldron across dimensions, where the air stirs with magical energy known as Mana, and humanoid dragons, the Dralkons, color the sky. At the heart of this world lies the Roost of Grammel, where Queen Maze sits on the overheated throne, ensnared in a whirlwind of conspiracy and strife. With her kingdom on the razor's edge of chaos, the heat of politics blisters relentlessly. In the spice-ridden milieu of Maze's royal tribulations, our unlikely hero Reinhart appears, struggling to digest his peculiar fate. Their paths merge in an unusual mélange of destiny and dire need, as they bite into the thick crust of Fallenia's challenges. The epic adventure of this duo cooks up the central plot of our story, as they navigate the cauldron of deception, whip up alliances, and serve their enemies with defeat.

Shelly has been struggling to support herself and her special needs little brother, Toren, after their parents' death, scraping by with a grueling job at a rundown diner. The meager wages and tips barely cover rent, and her efforts are constantly undermined by leering, grabby customers who turn her shifts into a nightmare. However, when she has had enough, she storms out. Without a job, she starts to regret her decision. That is, until she finds out she and her brother are heirs to a three-billion dollar fortune. But all good things come with a catch– Shelly and Toren must move in with the rest of the Veyron de Luthaine family– a clan of greedy schemers and possible murderers– and live with them for an entire two years. Will the two make it? Or will they lose their fortune to their awful relatives?

Arnold Jr., the only son of Arnold Palmer, one of the richest and most powerful men in America, was born into a wealthy family. He was cruel, mean, and the most notorious bully the school had ever known. After a scandal that nearly ruined his reputation, Arnold Jr. and Olivia's paths crossed. He tried to make Olivia's life a living hell, but she fought back with all her might. Hate turned to love, and enemies became friends, uniting the once-feared rivals Arnold Jr. and Olivia. However, their bond always threatened to break, as Arnold Jr.'s former enemies, who had suffered at his hands, constantly sought to harm him, and Olivia was always drawn into their unfortunate situations. Will love conquer greed, betrayal, lust, and a lifelong secret that had kept them apart? Will Arnold Jr. find more meaning in life than hatred and cruelty? The journey begins in the story "Dinner with the devil ."

[Irresistible MC + Farming & Entrepreneurship + Strong Female Lead + Cute Baby + Love Rivalry + Farming System + Male Competition] Deng Yuyuan wakes up to find she has transmigrated into a period novel about a "pampered group darling" — as the biological mother of the vicious female villain. The female villain has a biased grandmother, a mooching uncle and his family, a blindly filial father, and a spineless mother. She was a small-time thief as a child. As an adult, she committed every kind of evil — constantly framing the female lead — and ultimately met a miserable end. The female lead is the only daughter in another family, doted on by her older brothers. The villain targeted her out of pure jealousy. And now, Deng Yuyuan has become that villain's cowardly mother — and the villain herself is currently just an ugly, wrinkly-faced infant. The blindly filial father loves his wife, but gives all the good things to his own mother. He says to his starving wife and daughter: "Xiao Yuan, come drink some water. I specially heated it for you." Deng Yuyuan looks at her own bony frame and her tiny child — and decides to get a divorce. Goodbye, useless husband. She's going to raise this little cub with an abundance of money and love. No way she'll go astray this time. Lost one husband, gained a crowd of suitors. A beautiful sent-down youth coveted by many — she knows some self-defense and burns the midnight oil studying. With the reinstatement of the college entrance exams, she takes her child toward a much wider world. Riding the wave of the times, Deng Yuyuan works her way up to become a gaming tycoon and a cutting-edge scientist... Except — why are so many men fighting to be her cub's stepfather?

【Career-oriented female protagonist + Love-struck male lead + Entertainment industry + Variety show + Satisfying sweetness】 Renee Morgan, a newcomer in the entertainment industry, learns of her predetermined fate as a minor female supporting character in a dream. She is the queen of minor roles, the resilient type, blazing with fighting spirit, illuminating many female stars. Renee Morgan: "...To hell with being a minor character. Anyone who dares use me as a stepping stone, I'll make sure they fall flat." Wendy Aldridge, also a newcomer in the entertainment industry, wants to use her as a control group. Renee Morgan: Ok~ Half a month later, Wendy Aldridge, who was supposed to become famous as part of the control group, ends up being cyber-bullied and is urged to leave the industry? Renee Morgan, who was supposed to be cyber-bullied out of the industry, becomes an overnight sensation and a top-star. The rival company's leading actress, backed by influential figures in the entertainment circle, snatches the main female role, leaving only the role of the female third lead for her. Renee Morgan: Ok~ Four months later, this drama explodes in popularity, all supporting roles become famous, and the female third lead role becomes a classic. The biggest stars, male and female leads, are left with no buzz? ... Later, Renee Morgan finally achieves her dream, winning the Best Actress Award with her acting skills, and announces her relationship on the day she receives the award—she is in love. He's just a regular person. One day, Morgan all over the country sees familiar figures appearing in the news and rushes online to share: Is this the Best Actress's ordinary boyfriend?