The Gloomy Cannon Fodder in the Noble Academy

Everyone knows that honest, straightforward people have nothing to do with R-rated fiction. Now they do: Jiang Ran, a straight, honest guy, has been transported into an R-rated novel set at an elite academy.

At the aristocratic academy, where the hierarchy is rigidly enforced, the protagonist, Jiang Zebai, and Jiang Ran are the two most unusual people around.

One is the illegitimate son left behind by a wealthy family's beloved first love. The other is a burden brought into a wealthy family by his mother, a social butterfly who married into it.

Jiang Zebai is the classic beautiful, tragic, and strong character. Ever since childhood, he has been bullied, framed, and treated like a dog by his doomed older brother...

After entering the elite academy, Jiang Zebai is noticed in an accident by four so-called prodigies who are the novel's male leads. This sets off a series of events involving, but not limited to, confinement, stand-ins, and a competitive pursuit of love that ends in regret.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ran has become the doomed older brother who brings ruin upon himself: gloomy and taciturn, he bullies the weak and fears the strong, and is eventually driven back to the slums before he can even finish school.

Jiang Ran is an honest, unassuming man and wants no part in anyone's regret-filled love story. While trying to make amends to Jiang Zebai, he does his best to keep his distance from everyone and quietly play the role of an unnoticed extra.

But it seems his luck has never been very good. First, he loses a cord bracelet he has worn for a long time. Then, during a power outage at a banquet, someone pins him in a corner and kisses him until he can hardly breathe.

At first, Jiang Ran thinks it's all a prank. After all, everyone hates him.

It is only when he accidentally notices that the cord bracelet on F1's wrist looks just like his, and catches on Jiang Zebai the same scent he smelled at the banquet, that he finally realizes something seems off about the people around him.

*

Ever since his mother's death, Jiang Zebai has had nothing in his head but hatred. His experiences in the slums made him loathe desire in every sense of the word.

Those so-called prodigies treated him like a plaything, and he treated them as a pack of hyenas. After using them to tear the Jiang family apart and take his revenge, he ended it by shooting himself.

As if the world were deliberately working against him, he is reborn and returns to the beginning. He opens his eyes on the night he was drenched because of Jiang Ran and locked in the equipment room. Burning with fever and barely conscious, he thinks that this time he might as well kill Jiang Ran first and then be done with it.

Just before his blurred vision fades, the equipment-room door is yanked open. Jiang Ran stands in the doorway, silhouetted against the dim light, rainwater running down his face. There seems to be a trace of... worry?

Jiang Ran seems a little different.

That makes Jiang Zebai decide to watch him for a while before making his move. But while he is watching, someone else sets their sights on Jiang Ran, just like he has. More than one person.

In this life, Jiang Zebai still hates Jiang Ran. But now he hates him not for once treating him like a dog to ride, but for being too kind and attracting too many people.

*

Jiang Ran's background was pinned to the top of the academy forum as soon as he arrived. The teasing nickname "little social butterfly" soon spread, but he was a gloomy little mouse who always hid behind his long bangs to watch people. Before long, no one used the nickname anymore, and nobody paid him any attention.

Until one rainy, clammy day, when Jiang Ran was soaked through and casually pushed his waterlogged bangs aside. For a moment, everyone's breathing stopped.

A secretly snapped photo was posted to the forum.

In a dormitory after lights-out, every gaze fell on the beautiful face on the screen. They remembered that nickname once again: little social butterfly. This time, there was no teasing in it, only a desire and craving that grew wildly out of control.

*

In a private lounge.

F1, the prodigy who had become a thief, held the vivid red cord bracelet and smiled nonchalantly. "How can you prove this is yours?"

Jiang Ran looked at the familiar scratch on one of the bracelet's beads. Before he could say anything, the other man grabbed his wrist.

F1 put the damp bracelet around Jiang Ran's slender, pale wrist, then pressed his hand against himself. His usually cool voice was steeped in yearning. "Help it out, and I'll give the bracelet back."

Jiang Ran easily slipped free of his grip. Looking at the other man's bare wrist, with nothing on it, he considered for a moment. "If you like it, you can have it." After all, it only cost three yuan at a roadside stall.

*

In a double dorm room.

The patter of rain made the air inside feel thick and clammy too, so Jiang Ran thought the familiar fragrance was just his imagination.

But Jiang Zebai gave him no chance to avoid the truth. His deep shadow engulfed Jiang Ran, and he asked with a faint, teasing smile, "Do you suspect I'm the person from that night?"

Jiang Ran said nothing. Jiang Zebai suspected he was thinking about someone else again, and pressed his fingers against Jiang Ran's lips, neither gently nor roughly. "Want to find out?"

Only after the person in his arms had been kissed into a daze, his features touched with a few more shades of alluring color, did Jiang Zebai lean close to his ear and confess with striking sincerity, "You guessed right, older brother. But...

"I've grown up. Now it's my turn to ride you, right?"

Jiang Ran frowned and pushed him away. "Little brother, you're too tall. Let's talk when you've shrunk a little. Also..." He casually touched the boy's sharp canine tooth, then skillfully slipped a piece of candy into his mouth. "Don't go biting my mouth all over the place just because you're in your oral stage. You're like a puppy. Besides, my mouth gets really sore."

Reader's notes:

1. For readers who love charming, universally adored male leads and enjoy doting on them.

2. One-on-one, both leads are exclusive to each other, but the adored lead has some mildly intimate contact with the other male leads.

3. A slow-to-catch-on, capybara-like dog trainer. The adored lead is honest but has boundaries and knows how to say no, but the dogs don't understand human speech (not really).

4. If you dislike flirtation between male leads, this is not for you. All the male leads, including the doomed ones, are completely focused on the adored lead.

5. World-weary, reborn male lead who is like a ghost versus an emotionally steady, honest, straightforward adored lead.

6. The male lead and the adored lead are not blood-related.

7. Blurb written on 25-9-22.

Theme: Together, we head toward a beautiful life.