"We used to be envied by others, measuring..."
In the pitch-black room, Tang Yuyao, somewhat emotionally broken because Ye Cheng hadn't replied to her messages, was scrolling through short videos on her phone. She didn't even watch her usual favorite soap operas.
Whenever she watched an idol drama and saw the male leads, Tang Yuyao would subconsciously replace their faces with Ye Cheng's.
It would have been fine if it was just Ye Cheng, but the face-swapped Ye Cheng was looking at her with a comical expression, muttering something about... Little Magic Fairy.
Tang Yuyao: "!!!"
She really couldn't watch these idol dramas at all. If she continued, Tang Yuyao felt like she would burst into flames on her bed, or awkwardly curl her toes hard enough to dig out a three-bedroom apartment in her mattress.
Since she couldn't stand soap operas anymore, she had to make do with short videos. Tang Yuyao rarely watched these before, thinking them boring, but... watching them tonight, she felt as if she had discovered a new continent.
Hmm... don't say it, really don't say it, it's actually pretty good!
Just as Tang Yuyao was getting into it, a strong blast of BGM echoed in the room.
"We used to be envied by others..."
Tang Yuyao: "???"
The BGM was already a bit baffling, but the main event was the content of the video. It was a massive sea of green chat bubbles, and the most outrageous part was that Tang Yuyao was shocked to find that the content of those green bubbles was astonishingly over ninety percent similar to the messages she had just sent to Ye Cheng.
She glanced at the caption.
"They all call me a simp, but in the past, this word used to mean deep affection. Why did it turn out like this, in this fast-food era..."
Tang Yuyao: "???"
Like a dying person jolting upright, Tang Yuyao suddenly sprang up from her bed, staring at her phone in disbelief: "Who the hell are you calling a simp!!!"
Tang Yuyao raised her phone high and smashed it fiercely onto the bed, her chest heaving. The room went dark... and then turned green again!
Tang Yuyao hurriedly crawled over to retrieve the phone she had just tossed aside like trash. A vibrant green light once again illuminated her face.
She exited the short video... it went dark.
She opened the green bubble app... it turned green.
Tang Yuyao hastily tapped to recall the messages she had sent to Ye Cheng.
"Recall failed!"
Tang Yuyao: "..."
Looking at the prompt on the screen, Tang Yuyao unwillingly continued trying to recall them, muttering under her breath, on the verge of crying from anxiety.
"Recall, why can't it be recalled, boohoo, recall it quickly, I'm begging you, recall..." Tang Yuyao was sweating profusely from panic. Finally, after a full five minutes of effort, she gave up.
Bang!
She raised her phone high and slammed it onto the floor.
"It's all your fault, boohoo..." Tang Yuyao curled up on the bed, wrapping herself in the bedsheet. Coincidentally, the phone dropped on the floor landed face up, and it simultaneously resumed the short video she hadn't finished watching.
"We used to..."
Tang Yuyao: "..."
The room once again became "vibrant with green." At a visible speed, Tang Yuyao turned red with rage. Like a vengeful ghost, she let out a scream, scrambled out of bed, grabbed a stool, and was about to smash it onto the phone that kept "provoking" her on the floor.
"Ahhhh!!!"
"Yuyao, what's wrong!"
Tang Yuyao maintained her "great fury" stance, holding the stool ready to smash down. Just as it was about to fall, Tang's Mother's voice came from outside the room. The voice was full of concern, mixed with a bit of anxiety.
Tang Yuyao: "???"
Outside.
Tang's Mother was leaning against the door like a thief, her face full of worry. Not far away, Old Master Tang and Tang Shouye, father and son, were standing there stiffly like door gods acting as guards.
Old Master Tang's presence here was naturally because his wife had run off, and feeling uneasy, he followed her. Tang Shouye was just plain unlucky; he had been dragged over by Tang's Mother.
"You two wait here and act on my signal." Tang's Mother looked sneaky and deliberately lowered her voice, seemingly afraid of being heard.
"But Mom, aren't you presbyopic?" Tang Shouye blinked his mung-bean-sized eyes, a hint of shrewdness flickering in them.
Tang's Mother: "..."
"Silly boy, your mom is presbyopic, not senile." Tang's Mother put on a face full of maternal love and rubbed her chubby son's cheek.
"But Mom, I remember you previously said..." Tang Shouye persisted, unwilling to give up.
"Silly boy, don't force your mom to smack you when she's in a good mood." Tang's Mother looked "kindly."
Tang Shouye: "..."
"Hahaha, I was just kidding, why can't you take a joke? I remembered wrong. Mom, you are in great health!" Tang Shouye trembled slightly. He quickly changed his tune, terrified that if he spoke too slowly, their family's Old Master would drop his fists on him.
Hearing his response, Tang's Mother nodded in satisfaction. "I'll be right back."
As soon as Tang's Mother stepped away, the back of Tang Shouye's head received a solid smack. Thud. A muffled sound echoed. After hitting him, Old Master Tang acted as if nothing had happened and continued standing there gazing at the moon.
Tang Shouye turned around only to see his Old Master looking like a scholar, "raising his head to gaze at the bright moon"...
Seemingly noticing the stare from the side, Old Master Tang finally came to a "sudden realization" and noticed his rebellious son. "What are you looking at me for? Look at your mom!"
Tang Shouye: "..."
Although there was nothing wrong with those words, as he really should be looking at his mom... why did it feel like something was off?
It must be an illusion, right?
The father and son stared at each other from a short distance away. Over on Tang's Mother's side, she had successfully reached her destination and was leaning against the door, earnestly eavesdropping. However... the room was excessively quiet, as if it was on mute; she couldn't hear a thing!
Unwilling to give up, Tang's Mother pressed against the door and listened for several minutes. Just as she thought her precious daughter had fallen asleep and was about to leave, a strong burst of music came from the room. Although Tang's Mother couldn't understand what was being sung, the tune alone told her it was something sad...
Why listen to such sad stuff late at night?
Then, Tang Yuyao's angry voice erupted from the room. Tang's Mother froze for a moment, then hurriedly spoke up.
"Yuyao, why aren't you saying anything?"
In an instant, Tang's Mother imagined countless possibilities, worrying that her daughter might have disturbed her pregnancy, hurting her dear grandson, or disturbed her pregnancy, hurting her dear granddaughter, or disturbed her pregnancy...
The old lady seemed to have become obsessed. Ever since finding out today that her daughter had a boyfriend, Tang's Mother had been in a state of excitement, especially after learning that her daughter was already living with her boyfriend.
Cohabitation, that's exactly what this is!
"Let her understand this, does it mean the kind where the two of them are shameless together? She understands... So, there should be a grandchild, right?"
Just as Tang's Mother was about to kick open the obstructing door in front of her to rescue her unborn grandchild, with a click, the door opened.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Tang Yuyao looked silently at her elderly mother who was about to kick the door.
Silently, Tang's Mother put her leg down and coughed twice. "Ahem, it's nothing. Mom just got up to use the bathroom and passed by your room, heard a noise, and came over."
"But... Mom, isn't the bathroom over there? And isn't there a bathroom right next to where you and Dad sleep?"
"Oh, it's like this. Your dad has diarrhea." Tang's Mother lied smoothly, without blushing or skipping a beat.
Not far away.
Old Master Tang: "..."
Tang Shouye was holding back his laughter on the side, holding it in so hard that his face turned red. He didn't dare to laugh out loud, knowing he would definitely be punished if he did. However... Tang Shouye soon couldn't laugh anymore.
"There's more than one toilet in the bathroom, right?" Tang Yuyao raised a delicate eyebrow.
"Oh, your fourth brother also has diarrhea. You know how he is, so fat and plump he could be weighed for the New Year. The two of them are queuing up in the bathroom together. Your mom finds it disgusting and dirty, so I came here to use the bathroom. Is there a problem?" Tang's Mother looked at her daughter seriously.
Tang Shouye: "..."
This excuse, although a bit far-fetched, was indeed plausible. Tang Yuyao ultimately chose to believe her kind elderly mother.
"Oh, okay, then I'm going to sleep, Mom. Good night." Tang Yuyao nodded, and after speaking, she was about to close the door.
Tang's Mother: "..."
"Hey, hey, hey, daughter, look, since... I'm already here, won't you let Mom come in and sit for a bit? Oh right, what happened just now?" Tang's Mother blinked, looking at her daughter with a face full of expectation.
Tang Yuyao: "..."
"It's nothing, I just accidentally dropped my phone on the floor." Tang Yuyao blocked the doorway, showing no intention of letting her mom in.
After a few probing attempts, Tang's Mother gave up the idea when she saw there was no way in. Indeed, it was a bit too late today, and whatever it was could be discussed later. However... there was one thing that had to be confirmed right now.
For example, her grandchild...
Tang Yuyao's flat and smooth lower abdomen acted like a magnet, firmly attracting Tang's Mother's gaze. Tang's Mother stammered for a long time but couldn't say anything.
However... Tang Yuyao saw through her elderly mother's thoughts.
So, her mom really thought she was pregnant?
Tang Yuyao: "..."
Tang Yuyao's face darkened with exasperation: "What are you thinking, Mom? It's not even close to happening yet, how could I be pregnant!"
The mother and daughter had a good relationship and always spoke directly. Hearing this, Tang's Mother deflated like a balloon... All that excitement for nothing, sigh.
"Yaoyao, Mom is getting old. Who knows when I'll close my eyes and never wake up again. Before I close my eyes, Mom just wants to..."
"Bang!"
The newly opened door closed, and Tang Yuyao's slightly tired voice came from inside the room: "I'm sleepy. Let's talk about it next time, okay? Good night."
Tang's Mother: "..."
Tang's Mother had started her "magic attack" again, but just as she began chanting, her spellcasting was immediately interrupted by Tang Yuyao.
With no other choice, Tang's Mother could only return the way she came, looking aggrieved. She turned into a pitiful little old lady, went over to Old Master Tang, and began to complain, saying sad things like a grown daughter cannot be kept at home, and that having a boyfriend makes her forget her mother, while also taking a jab at her fat son in passing.
"The one who should be fat isn't, and the one who shouldn't be is as fat as a pig..." Tang's Mother muttered, imagining the beautiful scene of holding her grandchild and her daughter's round, bulging belly.
When it came to painting a rosy picture for herself, Tang's Mother was quite the authority.
Ideals are full, but reality is skinny. The reality was that only their Little Fourth had a round, bulging belly.
Tang Shouye: "..."
...
The "long" night finally passed.
The next day.
The Lin family.
Lin Tianxiong looked at Da Huang in front of him, who had a "crooked mouth and slanted eyes" and was completely "stiffened" for life, and fell into silence.
"Dad, help me keep an eye on this poop-yellow mutt. After it wakes up, feed it some beef, bones, or something. I have things to do and need to head to the company. Oh right, absolutely do not let this dog run away. This dog is very cunning!"
Early in the morning, the kind old father received a "gift" from his good daughter. She gave him a quick call to briefly explain the situation and then hung up.
Leaving only Lin Tianxiong in the room, looking at Da Huang in front of him in slight silence.
Uh... actually, is there a possibility that he recognized Da Huang?
Lin Tianxiong never expected that his daughter would be so unhinged as to lay hands on a dog.
"There won't... be any problems, right?" Lin Tianxiong was slightly silent, sighed, shook his head, and squatted down to untie the ropes on Da Huang.
"Da Huang, you've also run into bad luck..." Lin Tianxiong felt inexplicably emotional. His daughter was really something; what kind of cunning could a dog have?
The moment the ropes were untied, Da Huang, who originally had a crooked mouth and slanted eyes, instantly revived with full health and took a bite out of Lin Tianxiong's hand!
Lin Tianxiong: "..."

rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!

young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."

transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”

e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.