Name: The Cook's Reborn Life of Happiness
Author: Mo Qian Chuan

Synopsis

Straightforward, sunny shou who fusses over his gong x love-struck, tight-lipped, clever gong

Xu Guiran was born with an exceptional sense of smell and taste, and his father was a highly skilled cook. He should have been able to use his talents to become a famous chef, but he spent his life being foolishly filial. Every penny he earned from cooking was taken by Grandma Xu, supposedly to save for him, and given to his gambling-addict father. When Xu Guiran fell so ill he couldn't get out of bed, he couldn't even afford medical care. In his final moments, he thought: I need to keep my money in my own hands.

After dying, Xu Guiran became a ghost. Watching himself get sold for twenty taels of silver to be wed to a spirit tablet, he finally came to his senses. His father had been right when he said that, to the Xu family, the two of them were nothing more than tools for making money. But by then, it was too late...

In the tenth year after Xu Guiran became a ghost, he thought Qin Mingyuan, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, was foolish for having to marry a spirit tablet just because their birth destinies were compatible. But he had grown used to being stuck by Qin Mingyuan's side, watching the world change, just as they'd been inseparable in childhood.

Xu Guiran watched Qin Mingyuan teach day after day and secretly help the common people write petitions to clear their names. But suddenly, Qin Mingyuan collapsed in front of him, his face turning blue as he stopped breathing. Xu Guiran desperately called for help, but it was no use. His own figure gradually faded away as Qin Mingyuan died...

When he opens his eyes again, Xu Guiran is back one month before his father's death. In this life, he'll save his father and escape Xu Jian, the gambling addict who's like a bottomless pit.

And one more thing: Xu Guiran looks toward the doorway at Qin Mingyuan, still looking somewhat young and green. In this life, he won't let his own insecurity make him misunderstand and push away this tight-lipped man.

Later, Xu Guiran uses his excellent cooking skills to open a restaurant in Fanjing, making a name for himself throughout the capital. Customers come and go in an endless stream...

Reader's Guide

1. The gong and shou are head over heels for each other, with a pronounced age gap. Both are each other's first and only, and this is an mpreg story.

2. Neither the gong nor the shou is perfect. They both have their little flaws, and they're a perfect match for each other.

3. A slice-of-life story about family and food, with the characters gradually improving their skills. It has an ensemble cast and several side couples.

4. Set in an imaginary dynasty, with plenty of invented worldbuilding.

Here's a future release, coming next:

I Found an Idiot [Ancient-to-Modern]

Resilient, optimistic, naturally slow-witted, single-minded shou x sharp-tongued, tsundere gong who's cynical, cold on the outside, and soft at heart

You Maomao was an ordinary farmer. When he turned eighteen, he'd finally paid off the debt his late father had incurred for medical treatment. Just as he was looking forward to saving enough to build a new house and marry a wife, the endless snowfall shattered his hopes.

There was no way to survive if they stayed, so he and his mother had to leave, praying they could find a way to live.

But nothing ever went his way.

His mother starved to death on the road, and the refugees swarmed him and beat him badly. All he could do was drag his weakened body forward with all his strength.

His consciousness gradually faded. In a daze, You Maomao thought he'd crawled into a place that could only exist in a dream. The air was rich with the aroma of cooked food, and someone was walking toward him...

*

On New Year's Eve, Tao Zhiyan, who had planned to end his life, found a scrawny ancient person in his own courtyard.

Tao Zhiyan hadn't wanted to get involved with You Maomao.

But the man was an undocumented person who couldn't read, and everything in the modern world was strange to him. If Tao Zhiyan didn't take care of him, how was he supposed to survive?

A panicked voice called out, “Sir, help!”

He could call him “sir” a hundred times a day and still wouldn't change.

Tao Zhiyan was helpless.

Tao Zhiyan got up to “save” him.

I'll carry out my plan after You Maomao can take care of himself, Tao Zhiyan thought as he helped him clean up the mess.

*

The days went by.

You Maomao learned to read and write and adapted to modern life. He even followed online tutorials to film videos of himself farming and eating, becoming a content creator and gaining a devoted following.

With the first money he earned, he bought Tao Zhiyan a gift to show him how he felt: he'd spend his whole life repaying Tao Zhiyan!

Tao Zhiyan looked at You Maomao's shining eyes. After a long silence, he looked away and said, “Who'd want to spend their whole life with an idiot like you?”

“Just tell me if you agree!”

“...I agree.”

Because of each other, they were given a new lease on life.

Bonus Scene

When they first met:

You Maomao, after making a meal: “Sir, come eat.”

Tao Zhiyan, too weak to get out of bed: “Don't pout...”

You Maomao: “Confused but too timid to argue” ... “All right, sir.”

Some time later:

You Maomao, after making a meal: “Get up and eat already!”

Tao Zhiyan gets up obediently. “...Pouting again.”

You Maomao: “Hm?”