"Not exactly a cultivation partner," Ye Chuan said.
"More like a mascot."
"..." Bai Qianshuang didn't respond further, silently continuing to eat her breakfast.
She ate quickly—small bites, but finished in no time. "I'm done."
Ye Chuan glanced over. Bai Qianshuang had only eaten one bowl, far less than usual.
"Eating so little?"
"Mm." With a cold reply, she gathered her dishes and retreated to her room.
A moment later, Lan Xiaoke emerged, still wearing Ye Chuan's oversized T-shirt, the fabric straining against her figure. Noticing only Ye Chuan at the table, she tilted her head. "Where's Qianshuang?"
"In her room."
"Already ate?"
"Probably not." Ye Chuan sighed. "Why don’t you go ask?"
"Me?" Lan Xiaoke trotted to Bai Qianshuang’s door and knocked. "Qianshuang, can I come in?"
"..." No answer.
"Hehe, then I’m coming in~" She pushed the door open—only to be flung out seconds later by a surge of spiritual energy, landing unceremoniously on the floor.
Rubbing her head, Lan Xiaoke blinked. "Is Qianshuang mad?"
"Seems like it," Ye Chuan agreed.
"What’d I do?"
Watching the clueless silver-haired girl, Ye Chuan shook his head. "Never mind. Just come eat."
"Okay..."
———
Inside the room, Bai Qianshuang sat cross-legged on her bed, cycling cultivation techniques. Her aura fluctuated wildly—spiritual energy swirling around her in erratic bursts, absorbed recklessly, heedless of her body’s limits.
"I can’t focus," she murmured, opening her eyes. A suffocating frustration lodged in her chest.
Her inky hair floated faintly under the energy’s influence, her spiritual sword humming beside her.
"I can’t focus."
"I can’t focus."
For the first time, her usually tranquil mind was riddled with cracks.
"I was here first..."
"What’s wrong with me?"
"Relationships are mutual consent..."
"So why can’t I—"
Amid the spiraling energy, a breakthrough surged through her. Her power ascended to the next realm.
Staring at her jade-white fingers, she frowned. "I... broke through?"
The tension eased slightly, but her restlessness remained.
For the first time ever, she flickered out of the house alone.
"..." No word to Ye Chuan. Bai Qianshuang rarely ventured out solo. Pausing at the gate, she glanced at the guard dog Xiao Hei before striding down the path.
Soon, she reached the outskirts of the urban village.
Hesitating near the bus stop, a familiar voice called out: "Qianshuang? What’s up?"
She turned. Luo Xi stood there, a woven grocery basket in hand, her high ponytail swaying.
"Luo Xi," Bai Qianshuang acknowledged softly.
Running into Luo Xi wasn’t odd—she lived nearby, and morning jogs were her habit.
"Groceries?"
"Yep! Farm-raised chicken for Chuan." Luo Xi beamed, pulling a clucking chicken head from the basket. "See? Rode my bike 30 miles to get it!"
"Bok bok!"
"Since cultivating, I don’t even get tired biking!" She proudly added ginger. "This’ll make the best ginger chicken stew later."
Her sunshine demeanor lifted Bai Qianshuang’s mood slightly. Eyeing the plump chicken, she remarked, "Very fat."
"Right?" Luo Xi grinned—then paused. "You’re upset?"
"..." Bai Qianshuang shook her head. "No."
"No?" Luo Xi studied her face. Though impassive as ever, something felt off.
After a beat, Luo Xi asked, "Is it about Ye Chuan?"
Silence.
"Did he bully you?"
"No."
"I see~" Luo Xi drew out the words, mischief glinting. "Well! Since you’re out, wanna stroll with me?"
"Stroll...?"
"Fresh air’s good!" She thumbed up.
"Okay." Bai Qianshuang agreed but eyed the chicken. "It..."
Luo Xi swung the basket. "Let it enjoy the breeze! Tastier that way."
"Bok?"
"Fine."
They wandered to a small park Bai Qianshuang recognized.
"Lots of greenery here—so refreshing!" Luo Xi chirped. Noticing Bai Qianshuang’s lingering gloom, she fished out a candy. "Here."
"..." Bai Qianshuang took it. "Candy?"
"Yup! Sit with me." On the bench, Luo Xi kicked her legs. "Sweet things help."
Bai Qianshuang unwrapped it—then offered it back.
"Hehe, I’ve got my own."
The sugar soothed her slightly, but words stuck in her throat.
"I..."
"Relax! No need to talk." Luo Xi stretched, smiling. "Just breathe. Feels nice, right?"
"Yes."
Watching children play and elders exercise, Bai Qianshuang’s tension ebbed.
"Luo Xi."
"Hm?"
"You’re always happy."
"Me?" Luo Xi leaned on her knees, gazing at the leaves. "Not really. But..."
"Why frown when you can smile?"
She winked.
orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
lanned to earn money steadily and take life at a slower pace. But he never expected... his father's remarriage, and the stepmother bringing along a dependent, would completely disrupt his life's plans...
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
