Perhaps because of Xu Xi's recent joyous wedding,
the typically cold and desolate winter retained traces of vibrant greenery.
Branches swayed.
Snowflakes drifted like willow catkins.
The wind whistled past, no longer as biting as before, instead carrying the snow in a light, dancing motion before settling on the windowsill.
Xu Xi opened the bedroom window.
With a gentle swipe of his finger,
a clear trail appeared on the dusted sill.
"Even though we're married now, it doesn’t feel entirely real yet."
"It’s like a dream—one I might wake from at any moment."
Gazing at the snowy scene outside, Xu Xi wore a wistful expression, though he knew this happiness was no illusion but a tangible reality.
Whoosh—
The wind howled, flinging a slip of paper through the window into the room.
Xu Xi caught it reflexively, pressing it flat with his thumb to examine the scrawled words.
[I am Xu Xi.]
[If you’re reading this, I’ve already met with misfortune.]
[Run. Escape, me-from-a-month-ago!]
Sunlight refracted through the glass doors of the display cabinet, bending multiple times before slanting across Xu Xi’s face,
illuminating his puzzled, curious, and contemplative expression.
"This handwriting…"
"It’s undeniably mine."
He turned the scrap over—a torn page from a book, hastily repurposed for this message.
The words weren’t written in ordinary black ink but in deliberate crimson, emphasizing their urgency.
The uneven edges hinted at the panic behind its creation.
"So, what exactly happens a month from now?" Xu Xi picked up a calendar and realized the date marked New Year’s Eve—
the first Lunar New Year after his wedding.
What could go wrong?
Curiosity tugged at him to use his powers and glimpse the future.
But after a moment’s thought, he dismissed the idea.
"Some things lose their charm if known too soon," he murmured, shutting the window against the cold wind.
Drawing from past experiences,
Xu Xi could easily guess this year’s New Year’s Eve upheaval would involve those girls again.
"I hope the commotion won’t be too disruptive."
"It’d be a shame to ruin others’ celebrations."
Turning the doorknob, Xu Xi left his room.
In the hallway leading to the living room, the walls were adorned with pristine, newly framed wedding photos—
some featuring couples standing side by side,
others with all five girls gathered around Xu Xi.
Each photograph, a masterpiece of color and light, captured fragments of happiness meticulously preserved by the girls.
"Looking at these again in ten or a hundred years might stir different emotions," Xu Xi mused as he walked on.
He planned to ask if anyone wanted to join him for an outing once he reached the living room.
…
Passing the kitchen, the hum of machinery and a warm, comforting aroma drew his attention.
"Krisha?"
The witch looked up,
her hands clad in thick oven mitts as she carefully held a tray of freshly baked bread.
"What are you…?"
"I’m learning to bake, Master."
Sunlight streamed through the window, scattering into a hazy dawn glow that gilded the bread’s golden crust,
the rising steam tracing delicate trails in the air.
"Master, would you taste it for me?" Krisha requested.
"Of course."
With Xu Xi’s approval, the witch selected the finest loaf and handed it to him before settling into his lap,
her movements practiced, her expression serene.
"...Just as delicious as expected," Xu Xi remarked after a bite.
"Master, could you praise me more?"
The witch pouted slightly—he’d complimented the bread, not her.
Smiling at the girl in his arms, Xu Xi indulged her softly.
"Krisha, you’re amazing."
"Mhm, I am amazing~"
"Without someone as incredible as you, I’d never get to enjoy such tasty bread."
"Mmhm~ I truly am amazing~"
Krisha buried her face against his chest,
her eyes, ears, and lips trembling faintly with barely contained delight.
She adored his praise, reveled in it, cherished the man holding her—every part of him.
"Krisha, want to come out with me today?"
"Out?"
"Mm. I’m planning to buy new furniture and expand the master bedroom in the backyard."
"I see. Master, I’d be glad to assist."
The witch understood his intentions.
A new marriage and a new year deserved fresh beginnings.
Though the current furniture showed little wear, neither Xu Xi nor the five girls lacked funds—
replace what they pleased, buy what they fancied.
No need to economize.
Especially the master bedroom, which Krisha prioritized above all else.
"My room, Master’s room, and the others’ can stay as they are—private spaces for each of us."
"The master bedroom will be expanded separately, reserved for us as a couple. And yes, we’ll need an adequately large bed."
Her tone was matter-of-fact as she followed Xu Xi outside,
her plans meticulously laid out in silence.
Whether intentional or not,
the other four were absent from Krisha’s vision of the future.
So—
they made their own appearances.
"Brother, is something happening today?" Xu Moli materialized in the living room just as Xu Xi arrived,
a piece of homemade malt candy between her teeth.
Xu Xi nodded. "New Year’s approaching. I’m getting new furniture and decorations in advance."
"Ahem, then I’ll tag along too."
The sister’s inclusion was just the beginning.
Soon, Xu Xi’s entourage swelled to include all five Supreme Ones.
They seemed to communicate without words, the harmony among them so palpable it warmed Xu Xi’s heart.
At the furniture store,
the girls began scrutinizing options.
"Darling, what do you think of this bed?"
Faced with the colossal structure Ying Xue presented, Xu Xi hesitated.
"Isn’t this… excessive?"
"Oh, not at all!"
This was absurd.
Xu Xi shook his head, vetoing the princess’s enthusiastic suggestion.
Yet soon, the others proposed similarly oversized beds, albeit slightly less exaggerated.
"..."
Two hours later,
Xu Xi returned to the estate with the five Supreme Ones in tow.
Surveying the new furnishings—including that six-or-seven-person bed—
he opened his mouth, closed it, then sighed.
Recalling the "warning from the future" earlier that morning,
he began to piece things together.
"Wait, no—if it were just that, there’d be no need for such a dire alert."
"For now, let’s set up the furniture and expand the bedroom."
"A month will pass quickly. When New Year’s Eve arrives, everything will become clear."
iemie, male, Race: Moon. Hobby: Collecting anomalies. At first, he thought he possessed two systems: the Crimson Rainbow Moon and the Clear Cold Frost Moon. One day, he discovered that he himself could also become a system for others, holding the chessboard of fate. The Eighth Epoch, also known as the Eternal Moon Epoch. Humans, witches, elves, bloodline descendants, specters, demons, and spirits together compose a new history. Walking the path on behalf of the moon, before he knew it, Chen Miemie's footsteps were followed by all manner of strange and wondrous anomalies. As time passed, many titles circulated about him—The King in Yellow, Lord of Anomalies, Heart of the Eternal Moon, and more. "Me? I'm just a traveler who enjoys collecting interesting creatures," Chen Miemie said.
] [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!"
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
