Ascendance of a Bookworm - Volume 5, Extra 2: An Apprentice Chef in the Temple

When Aria turned five her grandmother told her that their family has never been blessed with a mate and not having a mate doesn't mean they won't find love.When Aria turned eighteen, her desire to have a mate became stronger because her best friend whom she had a crush on found his mate and the pure joy in his eyes when he told her about the mate bond, place a emptiness in her heart.“You are special, Aria. You have the power to turn back time.”That was what her grandmother told her when she claimed she was cursed and even though she was not satisfied with that answer, she never asked again.Two years later, Aria got a call from the hospital and found out that her grandmother has been poisoned and the only way for her to save her grandmother was to accept this deal made by the Alpha of the Shadow Moon pack“Marry Alpha Tristan, have him fall for you and then kill him.”It was the only way to saved her grandmother so she agreed despite knowing that she was walking into a lion den, because how was she going to kill a man who despite losing both his sight and his mate, command enough power and authority to still be called a Alpha.How will Aria feel when she realized that the man she has been task to kill has been waiting for her for five lifetimes and have just two years left to live?What situation will Aria find herself that will require her to turn back time and what price will she pay for altering time itself?-----------ExcerptAria felt uneasy by his silence and wondered if it was the right moment to use the techniques, Hailey has taught her.Taking a deep breath, Aria stepped closer and closed her eyes as she brushed her lips against Tristan's.Tristan stiffened when he felt her lips on his and without thinking, he immediately pushed her away.Seeing the angry look on his face, Aria felt like it was all over; she was definitely going to be killed now.But Tristan expression was shadowed by more than anger. How had she gotten so close without him sensing her? And why--why was his heart racing like this?

For the once dead Hua Yu Man, she has to do three things this lifetime: kill those who harmed her, kill the man who said he loved her, and protect a place called “home.”

She seems docile and gentle, with the air and temperament of a beautiful young lady. But in fact her heart is cold, overbearing, and black belly, with a mysterious identity that can drive the world crazy.

He is the Thirteenth Prince, but also the country’s disgrace; a cold and ruthless man who doesn’t put human lives in his eyes. But only towards a sometimes gentle, sometimes willful and sometimes disobedient woman, would this man be ceaselessly doting and spoiling.

- Description from Novelupdates

This story unfolds during the later stages of World War II, where a man, scarred by the horrors of war, finally grasps the profound and harsh realities of the world. In this world, those at the top laugh and celebrate, while those at the bottom sacrifice their lives in futile conflicts driven by pride and meaningless ambition.A modern soul transmigrates and fuses with the original soul of a body, creating a unique and extraordinary existence. To some, he is a villain; to others, a madman.In a world steeped in cruelty, this man, determined to secure a place among the decision-makers, struggles to break free from the ranks of those powerless to control their fate. To achieve his goal, he resolves to shatter the chains of law, then the chains of morality, and finally the chains of mediocrity.

At 79, Adom is an old mage who has known nothing but illness and regret. When the world finally burns and all hope turns to ash, at the last beat of his fading heart, a mysterious being appears in the dimming light with a simple question:“If you could try again, would you?”What's left to lose when you've already lost everything?A handshake seals the deal, and Adom wakes up on his old school grounds, sixty-seven years in the past. When everything is still possible. A second chance with all his knowledge intact, his memories preserved, and his youth restored.This time, Adom wants it all: to feast on food he's never had, to travel a world still full of wonder, to finally live the life he dreamed of. There's just, as always, one small catch—he needs to prevent the end of the world first.But as Adom will soon discover, changing history might demand sacrifices even greater than watching it burn...