Painting Beauties in Ancient Times

[Preorder 1: I Can't Handle This System [Cultivation]] A money-loving bottom with average cultivation talent but maxed-out talent for miscellaneous skills VS a pure-hearted top who knows nothing but cultivation and, even when keeping someone captive, only knows how to pursue pure love

[Preorder 2: The Joy of Raising an Actor] An enthusiastic, cheerful, looks-obsessed bottom who is great at making others feel appreciated VS a beautiful, obsessive actor who happens to be desperately starved for love

After transmigrating, Wen Cheng'an became a poor scholar, the kind whose home had nothing but bare walls. The only people in the house were himself and a skinny little child.

To keep himself and the little one fed, Wen Cheng'an decided to return to his old trade: painting.

What has always been the most profitable business, from ancient times to the present? Everyone knows.

Before long, the Beauty Portraits from Sansong Studio quietly became all the rage.

But this was only a stopgap. After much consideration, Wen Cheng'an used his painting fees to open a small school, where he taught children their lessons and sparred wits with the little rascals. All in all, life was pretty good.

Until one day... he was pursued by one of his students' parents.

Looking at the Beauty Portrait in the other man's hand, Wen Cheng'an nearly cried. He stammered nervously, "Y-you... hear me out."

Xu Yunjian drew his hand back and carefully put the painting away. Then he turned to Wen Cheng'an without a word, as though waiting for an explanation.

His eyes were pitch-black, like the deepest night, and Wen Cheng'an found himself momentarily lost in them.

◇ Everyday life, a slow-burn romance, with occasional court intrigue.

◇ General Xu Yunjian is the top; scholar and teacher Wen Cheng'an is the bottom.

◇ The top has a child, his late elder brother's orphan; the bottom has a younger brother, born to the same parents.

◇ Set in an imaginary ancient world. Don't nitpick the history; everything serves the plot.

◇ The golden finger is wildly overpowered and not scientific in the slightest.

[Ancient BL Preorder 1: I Can't Handle This System [Cultivation]] Please visit my author page and add it to your collection!

A money-loving bottom with average cultivation talent but maxed-out talent for miscellaneous skills × a pure-hearted top who knows nothing but cultivation and, even when keeping someone captive, only knows how to pursue pure love

When someone with mediocre aptitude gets bound to a century-long Ascension System, the result is that he can't even beat the practice automaton that came with the System.

During the first training session, Rong Xu nearly lost his life. What kind of practice automaton is an entire major cultivation stage above its Host?

If the sect's top disciple hadn't stepped in, Rong Xu was sure the automaton would have beaten him to death.

For the sake of staying alive, Rong Xu chose to bind himself to the sect's top disciple and form a dissolvable Dao companion contract. The other man could use the System to cultivate, while Rong Xu could rely on him to stay alive.

Once a Dao companion contract was formed, the System would provide a sub-System to the Host's Dao companion. Rong Xu promised not to disturb the other man's cultivation, except when he needed a life-saving training session.

Even so, this stirred up countless rumors within the sect.

Facing all those strange looks, Rong Xu put up his signature sales pitch: "Top-grade Meridian-Cleansing Pills, one hundred spirit stones each! Limited stock, buy now!"

Everyone: !!! Middle-grade Meridian-Cleansing Pills already cost a full eighty high-grade spirit stones, and top-grade ones are so rare they can't even be bought at any price! Boss Rong, save one for me!

"Lightning-Attracting Tribulation Talismans! For tribulations below Nascent Soul, they can draw down seventy percent of the lightning; for Nascent Soul and above, forty percent. Ineffective for Mahayana and above. One thousand high-grade spirit stones each!"

Everyone: You make it sound like we can even cultivate to the Mahayana stage. Reaching Nascent Soul would already be impressive! Boss Rong, I'll take one!

Rong Xu smiled as he produced a plain-colored feather robe. "Top-grade defensive artifact! It can withstand a full-power strike from a Fusion-stage expert. Bidding starts at ten thousand high-grade spirit stones!"

The Mahayana stage came after Fusion. With this robe, wouldn't you basically have an extra life?

Every cultivator there, male or female, went wild with the bidding.

Rong Xu scooped up a handful of spirit stones and watched them slip through his fingers, grinning like a little fox.

It really was nice to have a powerful backer. Without the status of being the sect's top disciple's Dao companion, who knew how many advertisements he would have had to run to get this kind of result?

More importantly, if anyone wanted to harm him, they'd have to think twice about whether they could withstand the wrath of Tianyuan Sect.

If he died, it would be the sect's reputation on the line!

The only thing troubling Rong Xu was that lately, the top disciple had been looking at him more and more strangely, and drawing closer to him by the day.

Rong Xu politely reminded him to keep his distance. The other man said it was only for cultivation, then moved even closer.

Rong Xu thought he was imagining things, until the other man kissed him. Calmly moving away, Rong Xu nodded. "Mm-hm, I understand. It's just for cultivation."

That very night, Rong Xu vanished without a trace.

Ever since birth, the only thing He Mian had ever learned was cultivation.

He was exceptionally gifted and advanced at astonishing speed, but unexpectedly became bound to a young man.

The young man had mediocre aptitude, and the wondrous treasure known as the Century-Long Ascension System clung to him like a death sentence.

He Mian thought it was simply an equal exchange. He never expected to give his heart only to be abandoned.

"A-Xu." He Mian tugged at the chains in his hand. A flash of red flickered in his eyes. "You were the one who wanted to form a Dao companion contract, and you're the one who dissolved it without a word. Am I really so unbearable that you can't wait to get away from me?"

After his initial shock, Rong Xu smiled and looped his arms around He Mian's neck. "Senior Brother He, want me to teach you what else you can do while keeping someone captive, besides holding them?"

[Modern BL Preorder 2: The Joy of Raising an Actor] Please visit my author page and add it to your collection!

An enthusiastic, cheerful, looks-obsessed bottom who's great at making others feel appreciated × a beautiful, obsessive actor who happens to be desperately starved for love

A game suddenly appeared on Lu Jintang's phone: The Actor-Raising System. By completing missions, making purchases, and other means, Lu Jintang had to shower a young celebrity with resources and help him become an award-winning actor in order to claim a grand prize.

With nothing else to do lately, Lu Jintang threw himself into diligently running his business and showering the young celebrity he'd adopted with resources.

What? Someone hired online trolls to smear my baby? Lu Jintang opened the work orders accepted by that PR firm and, with a wave of his hand, changed the client to himself.

What? Someone wants to take advantage of my baby? Lu Jintang opened the other party's profile. Just you wait. I'll bundle up the evidence of your company's illegal dealings over the years and send it to the reporters and police!

What? A big shot in the entertainment industry says he'll blacklist my baby? Lu Jintang rolled up his sleeves. Ha! Let's see who goes down first, you or my baby getting blacklisted.

Someone like Gu Junshen, with his outstanding looks but no connections, was easy prey in the entertainment industry, where people fawned over the powerful and trampled on the weak.

From his very first day in the industry, he had been prepared for that.

But before long, Gu Junshen realized that someone seemed to be quietly protecting him.

Before a performance, someone maliciously slashed his costume. He received a text warning him, but when he opened the dressing room, he found another costume just like it, only with better fabric and a better design.

A role he'd already been cast in was suddenly given to someone else before filming began. The very next day, an even better script was delivered to him, and he was told to take his pick.

He was ostracized by the other guests on a variety show. That same day, the director excitedly announced that a mysterious guest would appear the next day. It turned out to be a veteran of the industry who had been famous for decades and long since retired, and who treated Gu Junshen with great kindness.

And every time he came home, there was a pot of... lucky bamboo outside his door.

Lu Jintang thought smugly: Lucky bamboo symbolizes rising higher and higher. It's absolutely perfect for my baby!

Huh? My baby's mood score has dropped below 20. He's feeling terribly down!

Lu Jintang opened the shop and sent his baby a giant plush toy. His mood score went up by 1, then dropped by 3 a moment later.

After sending him a "giant bouquet," "his favorite chocolate," a "script offer with a 90% success rate," and a "master swimming lesson," all to no avail,

Lu Jintang had only one last trick: sending a text! Every time he texted his baby, the mood score shot way up!

"Baby, don't be sad. I'll do anything if it'll make you happy~"

Anything?

Seeing the text, Gu Junshen pressed the call button without hesitation. He missed him so much he felt like he was going crazy. In texts, he addressed him properly as Mr. Lu, but in countless midnight dreams, Gu Junshen remembered clearly that he called him "Tangtang."

But all he heard through the phone was a cold, mechanical voice saying the number was not in service.

Gu Junshen's grip on the phone tightened. After a long silence, he typed a line into the text box: "I want to see you."

He pressed send. The message was delivered.

"Beep. Travel value is sufficient. Gu Junshen has requested a meeting. Would the Host like to accept? (Note: This meeting can last for 24 hours only.)"

Lu Jintang thought it just meant meeting in the game, so he confirmed without a second thought. The next moment, someone knocked on his apartment door.

Thinking his delivery had arrived, Lu Jintang opened the door, then slammed it shut with a bang.

Holy crap, was that my baby standing outside?

Lu Jintang, eyes wide with shock: I think I finally understand what it means to be like Lord Ye, who loved dragons.

Moral: Make a living through your own hard work!

2":"The campus comedy BL romcom I'm currently serializing, Medical Students in Love, is a sweet little treat. Please follow and add it to your collection, mwah~

In the sixth year of the Jingchu era, Nan Hui, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of the Southern States, married into the royal family. She conspired with Gu Feng, the Vice Minister of War, to assassinate the ruler and stage a rebellion.

Unexpectedly, Gu Feng betrayed her at the last moment. The Nan family was found guilty and imprisoned, and every last one of them was executed.

The day before the execution, a lone martial artist broke Nan Hui out. Emperor Ming was furious and ordered a nationwide manhunt.

Three years later, Ye Xun, a female bandit who robbed the rich to help the poor, heard that yet another corrupt official was headed to Yiling Commandery, where he was exploiting the people and committing countless crimes.

She led her bandits in a day-and-night battle against the official, but in the end they were captured.

Ye Xun: "You dog who exploits the people! My Green Mountain Gang swears to fight you to the death."

Little eunuch: "Isn't that the guilty Nan family's Noble Consort?"

Chu Shangjing: "Well, look at that. After all these years on the run, I finally found you."

Ye Xun: "What? 'I'? This guy's not just corrupt, he's pretending to be the emperor too?"

Chu Shangjing gave a cold snort and casually said, "Take Noble Consort back to the palace."

Ye Xun: "Who are you, anyway? We do not know each other. At all."

A few months later.

Ye the Hero: "Now that the matter has been investigated, Your Majesty, would you grant me the late emperor's favor and let me take my daughter home?"

Chu Shangjing: "Father-in-law, I'm afraid I can't. Your daughter is already carrying my imperial heir."

Ye Xun: "What?!"

Ye the Hero: "I'll [beep] your mother! You little brat, how dare you touch my daughter?"

Chu Shangjing: "My mother has been buried for years, yet Father-in-law still thinks of her day and night. Mother-in-law must be getting jealous."

Ye the Hero: "..."

Also known as: The Tale of the Max-Strength Female Bandit and the Scheming Emperor. A sweet romance, one-on-one, both leads' first relationship, set in an imaginary world. No nitpicking the history, please.

This story will absolutely not be abandoned. Published chapters will not undergo major revisions; any updates will only fix typos.

The update time has changed to around eleven every night. There will be daily updates while the story is featured. If you don't want to follow along, dear readers, you may want to wait until there are more chapters.

Any special circumstances will be explained in the author's notes. Thank you for your support =w=

Thanks to every little angel who clicked on this story. Sending love~

Moral: Unite, be kind, face setbacks bravely, and build a better future.

3":"If I hadn't stayed by your side that year, we never would have met...

With our different identities, what happened between us was bound to be different...

If we had never met, would I have been able to live...

In sorrow... and tragedy..."

4":"\"Do you want to understand the meaning of life? Do you want to truly... live?\" [yes/no] No, thanks. Guan Yunsheng stared expressionlessly at the computer screen, wishing he could smash the computer to pieces and yank the System out of his head so he could smash that too. However... [Side Quest: Enter the Main God Space. Reward: 500 points and 5 attribute enhancement points. Failure penalty: Death (lol).] Looking at the empty game interface before him, Guan Yunsheng chose yes without hesitation."

5":"It's the story of a maid and her young master.

Female lead: Fu Chun, a quiet woman with a somewhat expressionless face.

Male lead: Ye Yunliu, a bad-tempered man with paralyzed legs.

The story probably won't be very long. It's a little silly and amateurish, but I really wanted to write it... Please don't hate it.

Moral:"

6":"A possessive, intensely obsessive, fake multiple-personality top × a second-generation rich bottom who's sometimes irritable and sometimes gentle

Fake raising trope, scum top and masochistic bottom trope, and a repayment-of-kindness trope??

Four lives, transmigrating one after another (human world - human world - immortal realm - demon realm). Maybe this is a wild roller coaster of a story full of shocking twists?

[Serious blurb]

Wei Huan spent his whole life as a spoiled playboy, half of it drifting through pleasure quarters. In his next life, he fought for his country on the battlefield, only to return with a body covered in wounds and an unspeakable poison. Before Wei Huan could say anything, he was forcibly dragged into a power struggle and turned into a living corpse.

Wei Huan's inner monologue: I haven't recovered yet. Let me lie down for a while.

But who could have guessed that someone would use blood and human souls to bring him back?

Deeply moved by the kindness after a lifetime of being isolated and helpless, Wei Huan said, "Can we start over?"

System Qiqi: "Granted."

Who knew he'd be reborn again and again, suffering every kind of abuse?

The big boss waved a hand. "I'm the prime minister, the immortal lord, and the demon beast. I'm all your lovers."

Wei Huan grabbed Qiqi by the arm. "N-no, don't come closer. I... I don't know you! I really don't know you!"

The big boss pounced on Wei Huan and breathed suggestively in his ear. "Then let's refresh your memory in bed."

Qiqi sucked on a finger and looked unhappily at the mosaic in front of him. "Ugh, that burns my eyes."

What's it like when your lover goes from a darkened obsessive to a scumbag and then a little crybaby?

Wei Huan says he knows all about it."

7":"Natsume: "When did a new coffee shop open here...?"

Nyanko-sensei: "Natsume! The cake here smells so good."

Tatsumi Oga: "Hey, Beel! This coffee shop doesn't sell croquettes!"

Zashiki-warashi: "Lord Hozuki, we want to drink that."

Hakutaku: "Huh? Why is there a coffee shop in the Joint Hell?"

Taichi Yagami: "Agumon, stop moving around!"

The owner of this coffee shop is a handsome, crafty fox spirit who loves money and can travel between dimensions. To make more money, he made his monster café visible across multiple dimensions.

Reading guide:

1. The worlds featured are undecided, and so is their order.

2. Rolling around and begging cutely for you to add this to your collection~

Moral:"

8":"This story shares its title with the song \"Dao Jiang Xing\" by Huazhou and Ma Yuyang. I wrote it casually as a writing exercise. The story starts strong but ends somewhat abruptly, but I don't plan to revise a writing exercise, so just read it for fun. It's one of my favorite songs. A general in a time of chaos × a girl from a fallen kingdom. The setting is fictional, based on the chaos of the Three Kingdoms era, and all the city and pass names are made up by me.

The great bandit was originally a general, but he refused to accept an official title. He wanted to use the pearl he'd received as a reward to make a slingshot for the person he loved, so they could shoot birds. But on his way home, he learned that the person he loved had already died. Only a loquat tree remained in the courtyard. His hometown was just an arrow's flight away, yet he didn't dare go back and face reality, trembling with fear. In the end, he became a bandit who looked down upon the world. That's the background of the song.

Moral:"

9":"His name is Yan Shu.

His life didn't go very well.

A melancholy piece. Short story. Bad ending.

Moral:"

10":"Su Yuhan is a mixed-blood spirit cat. He had just entered the human world and knew nothing when he was tricked into becoming an entertainer. He'd only planned to give it a try, but he became an overnight sensation.

Su Yuhan: ... There's something I don't know whether I should say.

Content warnings:

Spirit cat bottom × thousand-year-old dragon top

Mainly from the bottom's perspective, one-on-one. The bottom has a fan-favorite physique, and is self-obsessed and spoiled.

This is to indulge my own little desires. There will be childbirth! Important!

The author is a beginner. Suggestions are welcome, but personal attacks are not.

Updates whenever... Thank you.

Everything in this story is pure nonsense."}