Misplaced Plaything

Shen Zhao is a lone soul who came from Blue Star to the insect world.

The first time he saw Celeste, he fell in love at first sight with the tall, handsome female insect who had saved him. Shen Zhao had never known love; the only warmth he had ever received came from Celeste.

And so, like a moth drawn to a flame, he fell hopelessly in love with Celeste.

He wanted to marry Celeste and stay with him forever, but Celeste only gently stroked him.

"Darling, you're only B-rank. Why would I marry a B-rank male insect?"

And so Shen Zhao became Celeste's secret lover, hidden away from the light of day.

Shen Zhao thought that even if Celeste had a betrothed male, even if he had to accept such a degrading status, he would still be willing as long as he could stay by Celeste's side.

That was until all his fantasies shattered. To seize the throne, Celeste planned to give him to a female heir of the Wen'erfei family.

Only then did Shen Zhao understand that, to insects like Celeste, everything else had to give way to self-interest. He was nothing more than a toy Celeste had taken a passing fancy to.

At last, he understood that in this world, as long as you had power, there was nothing you couldn't obtain.

So he calmly married into the Wen'erfei family, pretending with Nolan Wen'erfei to be the model couple that all insects envied. But an unexpected second differentiation made him the first S-rank male insect in the Empire's history.

With the advantage of his rank and the Wen'erfei family's influence, he rose steadily through the ranks of government. Only then did Shen Zhao understand why Celeste had been so obsessed with power.

And now Celeste, who had become the Emperor of the Insects, stood before him naked and tearful, saying that he had always loved him.

Shen Zhao found it utterly ironic. But... why shouldn't he play with a toy that had been handed to him for free?

So he got involved with Celeste again, enjoying Celeste's attentive care and the body Celeste let him do whatever he wanted with.

Until Celeste said to him, bittersweet yet happy, "I'm pregnant. Will you give me and our baby a place in your life?"

Shen Zhao, now the head of the council, gently lifted Celeste's smooth, snow-white chin and smiled. "Your Majesty, I have no objections to your latest bill, on one condition: you must abort this baby. I don't want an illegitimate child ruining my relationship with Nolan."

Shen Zhao thought he should feel triumphant, making Celeste taste the pain he had once suffered.

But when he saw Celeste trembling uncontrollably, crying, even kneeling to beg him to let the baby live,

Shen Zhao thought that perhaps he wasn't quite as happy as he had expected.

[Reading Guide]

· Bitter romance | A scumbag bottom chases his husband through a hellish redemption arc

· First: Humble, devoted top × Cold-hearted bottom who puts self-interest first

· Later: Darkened, powerful top × Humble, love-addled bottom and primary spouse

· 1v1 ending, HE, everyone gets their comeuppance, all the melodrama you could want

Theme: Cherish the person you have