Reborn as the Queen of Cuisine
I am Phoebe Sharpe, representing SJ Group in this competition.
Her white chef's uniform was immaculately pressed, and the carving knife in her hand still shimmered with the cold gleam of a freshly sharpened blade.
Aurora Larsen, the assistant in charge of the side dishes, suddenly rushed in, her face ashen.
The storage box in her hands slipped to the floor, sending bright green asparagus spilling everywhere, stained with brown smudges.
"Ms. Sharpe, I'm so sorry. I accidentally ruined all the side dishes."
Her voice trembled, yet she quietly pulled a cardboard box labeled "Instant meal pack" from behind her.
"I don't think there's enough time. Let's use this prepared dish—just heat it up, the flavor will be close enough, and the judges won't be able to tell."
I stared at that cardboard box, fury instantly rising to my head.
A prepared dish? This is an insult to the Kitchen God Competition and a disgrace to SJ Group's name.
"Aurora Larsen, do you even know what you're saying?"
My voice was as cold as ice, fingers tightening around the knife handle.
She kept defending herself, claiming it was just an emergency measure and no one would check closely anyway.
I stopped listening to her excuses and pointed toward the prep room door.
"You're fired. Leave immediately."
Aurora Larsen stood frozen, then broke into tears, begging that her family was struggling and she couldn't lose this job.
I remained unmoved, firmly insisting she leave.
Watching her hesitate as she walked away, I took a deep breath and turned to the remaining ingredients.
Carrots, potatoes, a small piece of beef, and a few eggs.
It's enough—when you put your heart into it, even simple ingredients can create stunning flavors.
I tightened my apron once more, ignited the flame, heated the pan, and poured in the oil.
When the oil reached a moderate heat, the beef was placed into the pan, sizzling with a mouthwatering aroma.
The carrots and potatoes were cut into evenly sized pieces, then stir-fried until their sweet fragrance was released.
Finally, I drizzled my own special sauce over it and let it simmer gently on low heat.
As the bell rang to start the competition, I stepped onto the stage carrying the dish "Prosperity Feast".
At first, the judges frowned upon seeing such humble ingredients, but after tasting it, their eyes lit up.
"The flavors are deeply layered; the true essence of each ingredient has been awakened!"
"This dish may seem simple, but it reveals true mastery!"
In the end, I held the Chef God's trophy in my hands.
In the audience, the president of SJ Group, my future husband, Leon Deer, smiled as he applauded me.
At that moment, I still believed it was the beginning of happiness.
Only later did I realize it was merely the prelude to a tragedy.
My success paved the way for SJ Group's smooth expansion into the catering industry, with chain stores opening across the country.
As for the dismissed Aurora Larsen, it was said she faced rejection everywhere she sought work.
Her parents, ashamed of her, soon arranged her marriage to a man hopelessly addicted to alcohol.
Later, I heard she suffered domestic abuse and ultimately died on a cold winter's night; her body wasn't found until days later.
I thought it had nothing to do with me—until Leon Deer blamed her death on me.
The night before the bell rang, he brought me a glass of red wine, saying we should celebrate the company going public.
Off guard, I drank it down.
When I woke, my head was splitting, and a share transfer agreement lay before me.
He gripped my hand and pressed my fingerprint onto the agreement.
"Phoebe Sharpe, if you hadn't fired Aurora Larsen, she wouldn't be dead."
"Now, hand over all the shares to me—that will be your redemption."
I struggled to resist, but the men he summoned held me down.
In the end, he threw me into a beggars' den on the city outskirts.
Those people surrounded me, their eyes filled with greed and malice—I will never forget them until my dying breath.
My body wasn't discovered until a year later, found by an old scavenger.
Leon Deer forged a suicide note, claiming I took my own life out of depression, and left all the shares to himself.
He took the fruits of my labor and continued living a dazzling life.
I wandered through endless darkness for what felt like an eternity, until I opened my eyes once more.
Before me was still the prep room of the Kitchen God Competition. Aurora Larsen clutched the box of instant meal packs, panic etched across her face as she stared at me.
I'm back—back to the day that changes everything.
This time, I will not make the same mistake twice.
Leon Deer, Aurora Larsen, what you owe me, I will reclaim bit by bit, every last fragment.
Aurora continued to sob and plead, insisting it was never intentional.
I looked at her, my face unreadable.
"You can use prepared dishes."
The moment my words left my lips, Aurora Larsen froze, her crying instantly stopped.
Other team members in the prep room quickly gathered around, faces filled with surprise.
"Ms. Sharpe, how can you agree to use prepared dishes? If this gets found out, SJ Group's reputation will be completely ruined!"
Deputy Chef Mike anxiously stomped his feet; he had worked with me for years and knew how strict I am about our dishes.
I paid no attention to Mike's anxious pacing and instead turned to Aurora Larsen.
"If you truly believe prepared dishes can work, then for this competition, you will be the head chef and take the stage to compete."
Aurora Larsen's eyes instantly brightened as she stared at me in disbelief.
"Ms. Sharpe, are you really serious?"
"Of course I am."
I placed the carving knife on the cutting board, my voice steady.
The team members erupted in uproar, pleading for Aurora, arguing that she lacked experience and wasn't ready to be head chef.
"Ms. Sharpe, aren't you being too harsh? Aurora only made a mistake—please don't treat her like this!"
"Exactly! She's still young and inexperienced; please give her another chance!"
They all spoke out, convinced that I was being unfair to Aurora.
I watched them with a cold sneer in my heart.
In my past life, this is exactly how I was—trapped by their so-called kindness, always yielding, only to be forgotten in the end.
At that moment, footsteps sounded from the doorway.
Leon Deer walked in, dressed in an expensive suit, a gentle smile on his face.
"Why is it so lively here?"
He glanced at the stains on the floor, then at Aurora Larsen's reddened eyes.
"Aurora, what's wrong? Did Phoebe bully you?"
Aurora immediately threw herself beside Leon Deer, crying even harder.
"Mr. Deer, I accidentally ruined the side dish, and Ms. Sharpe insisted I compete using prepared dishes—and even made me head chef. She's deliberately trying to humiliate me!"
Leon Deer frowned and turned his gaze toward me.
"Phoebe, how could you do this? Aurora is still young. As a senior, you should show her more tolerance."
His tone was full of reproach, as if I were truly a cruel villain.
I looked at Leon Deer, a chill spreading through my heart.
In my past life, he was exactly the same—always siding with others, never once asking how deeply I had been wronged.
"Mr. Deer, I'm only giving Aurora a chance to prove herself."
My tone was calm, yet it bore an unwavering resolve.
"Besides, I have already decided—if this competition uses prepared dishes, I will quit Aureate Grain Pavilion."
Aureate Grain Pavilion is a high-end dining brand under SJ Group, a venture I built entirely on my own.
Leon Deer's expression shifted when he heard these words.
"Phoebe, don't be stubborn! Aureate Grain Pavilion can't do without you!"
"Perhaps leaving me would be for the best."
I looked at him, suddenly recalling something I had discovered in my past life.
At that time, to uncover the truth behind the ruined side dishes, I went to check the refrigerator in the prep room.
I discovered that a part of the refrigerator's battery had been removed, causing insufficient cooling and making the ingredients spoil.
Back then, I didn't think much of it, but now I realize it was no accident at all.
Aurora Larsen did it deliberately, and Leon Deer may have known all along.
This time, I will no longer take the blame for them.
I will make them pay for what they have done.
The competition began; Aurora stood before the stove, wearing an ill-fitting chef's uniform.
She held the prepared dish in her hands, tore open the packaging, and poured it into the pot to heat.
The audience and judges below all watched her, their eyes filled with doubt.
After all, who among the contestants in the national Kitchen God Competition would use a prepared dish?
I sat in the audience, watching it all unfold, my heart completely unmoved.
In my past life, to protect the reputation of SJ Group, I had poured every ounce of strength into making a perfect dish with the last of my ingredients.
But what was the outcome? I received not gratitude, but betrayal and death.
This time, I will make everyone see exactly what Leon Deer and Aurora Larsen have done.
Soon, Aurora placed the heated prepared dish in front of the judges.
The judges frowned and picked up their spoons to take a bite.
Only seconds after swallowing, an elderly judge suddenly clutched his chest, his face turning pale.
"What have you put in this dish? My throat feels itchy—I can't breathe!"
As he spoke, he suddenly collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.
Chaos erupted at the scene as medical personnel rushed over and carried the judge away for emergency treatment.
The other judges also expressed discomfort, saying the MSG flavor in the dish was overpowering, accompanied by a musty smell.
"Stop the competition! Stop the competition immediately!"
The host panicked and loudly announced the suspension of the contest.
The audience erupted, hurriedly pulling out their phones to take photos and record videos.
"What is going on? Using prepared dishes to compete is one thing, but making the judges dizzy as well?"
"What's happening with SJ Group? How could they send someone like this to compete!"
The murmurs grew louder, and Leon Deer's face turned deathly pale.
He stood up, intending to head backstage, but was quickly surrounded by reporters.
"Mr. Deer, may I ask if SJ Group knowingly used prepared dishes to compete?"
"What is the judge's condition? And how does SJ Group plan to offer compensation?"
Leon Deer was left speechless by the barrage of questions and could only awkwardly push past the reporters to slip backstage.
I watched his retreating figure, pulled out my phone, and called my lawyer.
"Please draft a divorce agreement and send it to SJ Group, addressed to Leon Deer."
After hanging up, I immediately called the finance department of Aureate Grain Pavilion.
"From now on, withdraw all my investments from Aureate Grain Pavilion, and freeze all accounts linked to SJ Group."
Having done all this, I stood up, ready to leave the competition floor.
Just as I reached the door, my phone rang again.
It was my master, Leonard Dawson.
Leonard Dawson is a nationally renowned chef; he was the one who brought me into this field.
"Phoebe, quickly check the news! Aureate Grain Pavilion has just caused a huge scandal!"
My master's voice was urgent, laced with a hint of worry.
"I know, Leonard."
I spoke in a calm tone.
"Aurora used a prepared dish in the competition, causing a judge to suffer an allergic shock. The contest has been suspended."
Leonard was momentarily stunned, then sighed deeply.
"Phoebe, you knew this would happen all along, didn't you?"
I remained silent, tacitly acknowledging it.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
There was a trace of pain in my master's voice.
"Leonard, some things must be personally experienced to truly understand the truth."
After hanging up, I looked up at the sky.
The sunlight was blinding, yet it could not pierce the darkness within my heart.
Leon Deer, Aurora Larsen, your good days are over.
When I rushed backstage at the competition, the place was already in complete chaos.
The production team staff were trying to calm the furious families of the judges.
"We are truly sorry. None of us could have anticipated this would happen."
One staff member bowed repeatedly while explaining.
But the judges' families were unconvinced and shouted fiercely, "Didn't expect? Didn't you screen the contestants before holding the competition?"
"Using prepared dishes in the contest and causing the judges to be hospitalized—you owe us an explanation!"
I stood at the doorway, watching everything unfold without going in.
Everyone from the Aureate Grain Pavilion was hiding in the lounge, too afraid to come out.
I could hear the shouting coming from inside.
"It's all Aurora Larsen's fault! If she hadn't used prepared dishes, none of this would have happened!"
"Exactly. Now our Aureate Grain Pavilion's reputation is completely ruined!"
"Isn't it because Mr. Deer is protecting her? Otherwise, Ms. Sharpe wouldn't have left!"
The quarrel grew louder and louder until, finally, the lounge door was pushed open.
Leon Deer walked out, his hair messy and his face heavy with exhaustion.
When he saw me, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, quickly turning to anger.
"Phoebe, you actually dare to come here again?"
He stepped forward, pointing his finger right at my nose.
"It's all your fault! If you hadn't insisted on Aurora as head chef, she wouldn't have used prepared dishes to compete, and the judges wouldn't have ended up in the hospital!"
I looked at him, finding it utterly ridiculous.
"Leon, have you forgotten? It wasn't me who agreed to Aurora using prepared dishes in the competition."
"Besides, I had already said, if prepared dishes were used, I would quit the Aureate Grain Pavilion."
"Now that something's gone wrong, you're shifting all the blame onto me?"
Leon Deer was left utterly speechless by my words, his face shifting from pale to flushed in a dizzying blur.
"You're talking nonsense!"
He tried to defend himself, but the judges' family members quickly closed in around him.
"You're the president of SJ Group? Hurry up and tell us—how do you plan to compensate us?"
"If anything happens to my husband, I swear I won't let this go!"
Leon Deer was trapped in the center, drenched in anxious sweat.
He looked at me, a desperate plea flickering in his eyes.
"Phoebe, for the sake of our marriage, please help explain this, won't you?"
I sneered coldly and pulled a small camera out of my bag.
"An explanation? I don't owe anyone an explanation."
"But I have something here that might finally reveal the truth to everyone."
I pressed play, and the footage clearly showed the scene in the prep room.
Aurora secretly ruined the side dishes, then brought out prepared dishes, alongside her private conversation with Leon Deer.
"Mr. Deer, if I use prepared dishes in the competition and place, we can open chain stores featuring prepared dishes. We're guaranteed to make a fortune!"
"Aurora, you're as clever as ever. But what about Phoebe Sharpe? She'll never agree to this."
"Don't worry, Mr. Deer. I have a way to make her quit. When the time comes, Aureate Grain Pavilion will be ours!"
The footage and sound were crystal clear, leaving everyone present stunned.
The judges' families were even more furious, pointing at Leon Deer and Aurora Larsen, who was hiding in the lounge, shouting, "So it was you all along! You conspired for money and committed murder!"
Leon Deer's face turned ghostly pale. He tried to snatch my camera, but I dodged him.
"Leon Deer, do you have anything more to say now?"
I looked at him, my eyes blazing with icy hatred.
"In my past life, this is exactly how you shifted all the blame onto me, ruining my family."
"This time, I won't let you get away with it again."
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