Naruto: Manipulation - Chapter 8: Black Zetsu — Feels Like Seeing a Friend Who Died a Thousand Years Ago

In the Kunlun Snow Palace, a sage once said, those who pass away wander, while the living cannot let go.Once the soul departs, it will wither like the autumn grass.Those who are reborn from the dead, existing apart from the mortal realm, shall be shunned by all celestial sects and smitten as undead demons.On this day, a youth awakens from within a coffin, his blood dry and his bones chilled, to find himself a century old upon opening his eyes.A single tear from a sage awaited, a constant companion, may unravel the dreams of the past.Seeking not immortality but a mundane death, not to lament with the ages over lost love and resentment, but only wishing to grow old with tenderness in this lifetime, beneath the white clouds that hold no envy for the heavenly realms.

Yan Xi was the eldest young lady of Beiqiao City’s top four families, the Yan family. Despite her talents, she was sickly and destined to die young. She was an unattainable dream girl for many.

One day, she had a dream, and the setting was in a novel. In the novel, for the sake of alleviating his pain of losing his wife, and soon his daughter as well, her father adopted a girl named Chen Xiangxiang who looked just like her. The girl was docile as a deer and very therapeutic, which made her all the more lovable. This girl became her substitute, and after a series of heart-wrenching incidents, everyone, from her father, brother, fiance, to her friends, they all doted on this girl. Meanwhile, she, the real rich daughter, was schemed against. After being disfigured, she jumped from a building and fell to her death.

Now, she returned to the moment when she was just discharged and before the tragedies happened. She lowered her head and looked at the person before her. She smirked. This time, she would control every development, and those who intended to harm her could forget about escaping.

She is the slow-witted idiot of the Prime Minister’s Residence. Everyone bullies her. He is the most respected and unfeeling Prince, with frightening ability and absolute envy! Together, they are conferred an imperial edict of marriage.

She acts stupid and tries to decline in every way possible while he despotically escorts her into the wedding…… everyone ridicules the match, but no one knows that the “idiot” has transformed from a loser into a talent.

After the marriage, when they encounter the Empress Dowager examining the room, they act in concert with each other and pretend to be two mandarin ducks deeply in love. Afterwards, she laughs, “The performance has ended. Your highness, please return.”

He laughs softly, “Since you’ve got onto this Prince’s bed, don’t even think of getting off.”

- Description from Novelupdates

After his divorce, Lu Qin acquired a street food stall and quickly rose to fame, becoming a culinary sensation known for his unmatched cooking talent. With his young daughter by his side, he roamed the city streets, setting up his stall and making a living. His irresistible dishes attracted crowds from all over, earning him widespread recognition.Passerby: “Most places sell fried noodles, but Lu’s are worth every penny.”Food Enthusiast: “We’ve organized a group of over a thousand people just to track down where Lu sets up his stall each day.”Chef: “I’ve tried countless times to recreate his dishes, but I just can’t match Master Lu’s perfection.”One day, an old man called the police, claiming the street food stall downstairs was suspiciously good, hinting there might be something addictive in the food. The police launched an investigation, only to find…Meanwhile, Shen Muyan’s upscale hotel restaurant was flooded with complaints, forcing her to reluctantly seek help from her ex-husband.Girlfriend: “Your ex-husband is impossible to reach! When can I book him for an exclusive interview on my gourmet show?”Shen Muyan: “He still hasn’t agreed to remarry…”A celebrity chef from South Korea traveled to China to film a culinary show but ended up spending the entire season documenting Lu Qin’s street food stall instead.