Becoming the Cannon Fodder Second Male Lead's Substitute Bride

[Pretty, sweet-natured, soft-spoken, sharp-tongued, and quick-fingered bottom x cold, fierce, unapproachable, love-struck, clingy top]

After working overtime for a whole month, Shang Pingli finally dropped dead on his way to catch the bus after work.

Good news: He transmigrated into a novel aimed at male readers.

Bad news: He wasn't the protagonist. He was a disposable stand-in bride snatched up by the heroine to escape an arranged marriage, and the man he married was the doomed second male lead, whose whole family was exiled from the start.

Even worse, the life-extending System bound to him said that if he didn't complete a face-slapping task within one minute, his soul would be annihilated on the spot.

Having just died once, this wage slave had survival instincts written into his DNA. So Shang Pingli smoothly launched a quick combo, delivering a crisp, satisfying slap in one clean motion.

From then on, to stay alive, he hit first and never bothered to argue. Anyone who picked a fight got slapped. Anyone who annoyed him got slapped, too.

But there was something odd about the people he hit.

Why did they all turn bright red when they saw him, their ears burning and their eyes glued to him?

Shang Pingli: ?

Why are you blushing like a teapot?! Hey!

And now you're confessing? Are you some kind of masochist?!

One day, to complete a task, Shang Pingli made up an excuse and slapped Tong Xing, who had become foolish after an injury. To his surprise, Tong Xing grabbed his hand and bowed his head to kiss it.

"My wife's hand smells so sweet. I want one on this side, too."

Shang Pingli was stunned.

This wasn't right! Wasn't the down-and-out prince supposed to be cold and ruthless, and love-struck over the heroine alone?

Nobody told him that slapping someone could hit them right in the heart!

~

The moment the slap landed, Tong Xing realized one thing: he had been reborn.

The bride who had died in her wedding sedan in his previous life was now full of life. The family who had died on the road to exile were all safe and sound, and he himself hadn't met a gruesome end.

Only this bride seemed completely different from the rumors.

The more Tong Xing looked at him, the more he felt something was wrong with himself. He must be crazy. Why did he feel an urge to go over and ask to be hit?

In just 0.01 seconds, he convinced himself: A beating is affection, a scolding is love, and when love runs deep, you get kicked.

...When will my wife kick me, too?

His wish came true that very night. Shang Pingli had been "tormented" until he couldn't take it anymore, so he kicked him out of bed. Tong Xing grabbed his ankle and was about to climb back up when he got another slap in the face.

Tong Xing didn't even blink. He kept edging closer to him. "Wife, slap me again."

Bonus scene:

Tong Xing had something that's been bothering him lately:

Why were there so many "flies" around his beloved wife? Every one of them kept coming over to provoke him.

Including, but not limited to:

"So what if you met Lili a little before I did?"

"Think about whether you're even good enough for Lili."

"I think when Lili slaps you, that's his way of rewarding you!"

Tong Xing couldn't be bothered to respond.

Whenever one of these "flies" buzzed in his ear, he did one thing: he curled his 192-centimeter frame up miserably in Shang Pingli's 175-centimeter embrace, lowered his eyes, and complained, "Wife, they keep bullying me. You have to stand up for me."

Shang Pingli was a sucker for that, and hurried to comfort him. Somehow, though, he always ended up comforting him in bed...

Note: 1. There's a height difference.

2. The bottom is lively and charming without realizing it.

3. Both are pure in body and mind. One-on-one romance, sweet with no angst.

Theme: Strive to live and become the protagonist.