The duel was over. News headlines exploded with Louis’s name:“The Iron Flame Chef Defends His Crown!”“L’Empire de Louis Wins Two Michelin Stars!”“Scarlett Valentine and Vanessa Wu: The Women Behind the Empire.”For three days straight, Louis’s face was everywhere—from food blogs to international culinary magazines. His reservation line crashed twice in one night. Fans called him a culinary revolutionary.But glory never comes without a price.On the morning of the fourth day, Louis walked into the restaurant only to find Vanessa and Scarlett in the middle of an argument. His phone vibrated with notification after notification.And then—he saw it.Leaked photos.Images of him walking with Scarlett in a bathrobe at Griya Tawang. Another one—Vanessa and him sharing gelato at a riverside festival. And one particularly controversial picture: all three of them in his test kitchen at midnight.The captions were cruel:“Sleeping Your Way to the Stars?”“The Chef’s Secret Harem?”“Michelin

The night grew late, but L’Empire de Louis only grew more alive. Louis’s speech had sparked a wave of unexpected support—even from guests who had come just to witness the viral spectacle.Valentina Cruz didn’t upload any of the negative footage. Instead, she posted a brief story:“Came here to expose. Stayed for the truth. This man’s food? 9.7/10. Louis isn’t just a chef—he’s an artist.”Minutes later, Louis’s restaurant accounts were flooded with new 5-star reviews. The hateful articles were now buried under praise.But just as calm returned, the System reawakened[Harem System Reloading…][Converting Reputation into System Points…][+400,000 System Points][New Feature Unlocked: Reputation Conversion System][New Skill Gained: “Truthful Flame” – all dishes made with sincerity will emotionally heal those who eat them.]Louis took a deep breath, eyes sweeping the restaurant.Scarlett was coordinating with the kitchen staff. Vanessa was charming a table of elite guests. And Maia… still

Louis knew this wasn’t just drama. His career was on the line.To top it off, a letter arrived from the National Culinary Federation. It was a challenge: Defend your Michelin star in a closed-doors battle against Elroy Danvers, a rising culinary prodigy nicknamed “The Next Culinary God.”Scarlett read the letter, frowning. “This isn’t a competition anymore. It’s a setup.”Louis sighed. “Then I’ll cook like never before.”Elsewhere…Vanessa had just returned home to her family’s estate. Instead of warmth, she was greeted by pressure.“You’re still seeing that chef boy?” her mother snapped. “Someone like him doesn’t belong in our lineage.”Vanessa looked down. “He’s not what the media says.”“You’re getting engaged next month. End this nonsense.”Meanwhile, Maia returned to her apartment after another secret journalistic outing. Her heart, however, was conflicted.But when she unlocked her door, she wasn’t alone.Revan, her obsessive ex-boyfriend, was waiting in the shadows."You think

After his glorious victory over Elroy, Louis Moreau’s popularity skyrocketed. Every food blog, business mag, and lifestyle channel rushed to publish his story—culinary genius, system-blessed prodigy… and the man caught in the center of attention for being romantically linked with three extraordinary women: Scarlett Valentine, Vanessa Laurent, and Maia Ferelina.And just as the buzz reached its peak… Louis invited all three women on a luxury vacation. Destination, Pulau Privé — a private island under the Valentine Group, normally closed to anyone outside the top 0.1%.On the ShorelineThe sea breeze tousled Scarlett’s simple white dress. Vanessa laughed with Maia under the shade after finishing her first-ever snorkeling trip.Louis stood nearby, watching the scene unfold. Three coconut mocktails sat in front of him—garnished with orange peel, fresh mint, and his special fermented coconut sugar syrup. “For all three of them,” he whispered. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”Scarlett w

[System Notification – Hidden Mission Progress: “Expose the Truth”]Evidence Collected (3/5)Unlock Reward: “PR Shield Aura” (Auto-negates Public Scandal once)Side Quest Unlocked: “Maia’s Past Returns”The energy in the competition hall shifted. Cheers from the audience echoed, but under the surface, tension crackled. Cameras zoomed in on the main kitchen stations. Journalists held their breaths.Louis stood calmly at his workstation, staring down at the fusion ingredients laid before him: foie gras, Korean black garlic, miso dashi, blue cheese, and white truffle mushrooms.The challenge: Create a fusion dish bridging East and West.From the balcony, Scarlett observed carefully, eyes locked on her tablet displaying lab results. Next to her, Vanessa had her earpiece in, tracking any legal discrepancies.Maia, in disguise among the journalists, took notes, watching every judge’s expression.Louis started his process.Step one he seared foie gras in Japanese herbal butter and a touch of