Rotten Finery

Zhao Rong was supposed to be a transmigrator who stayed out of things, played his part as a spoiled young master, fulfilled his cannon fodder role to the fullest, and then quietly exited the stage. But when he fell into the mud, Qiao Nanqi reached out a hand and pulled him off the plot's track. So Zhao Rong ignored the original plot completely, pursued Qiao Nanqi with all his heart for ten years, and finally won him over. But after just a year of marriage, Qiao Nanqi thought he was rotten inside and out. He ignored everything Zhao Rong did for him, remained distant, frequently spent nights away from home, and never introduced him to his friends. And there was even a noble, unattainable first love in his heart. Zhao Rong finally came to his senses. He decided to be a proper transmigrator again and steer the plot back onto its original path. The first thing he did after divorcing Qiao Nanqi was fulfill his original engagement. The person he was engaged to was the one who, according to the original plot, should have ended up with Zhao Rong, the spoiled young master: Qiao Nanqi's first love. Three months later... Zhao Rong walked out after spending the night asleep on the first love's sofa and ran straight into Qiao Nanqi, who had spent the entire night waiting outside. As usual, Zhao Rong put his hands on the man's shoulders and said in a low, teasing voice, "What, waiting for him?" Qiao Nanqi shoved him against the wall and leaned close to his ear. "I'm waiting for you." Zhao Rong's eyes darkened. The smile tugging at his lips held no warmth. He pushed Qiao Nanqi away. "Oh, but I'm not waiting for you anymore." * The husband-chasing-to-the-crematorium trope, 1v1 happy ending, no seme change. This novel was polished after completion. Only the latest official version on Jinjiang is authoritative. * A cliched plot about a broken relationship getting back together. * The uke isn't actually rotten inside and out. The details are explained in the novel. * The first love is a misunderstanding in the novel. Neither the seme nor the uke has any real connection to him. The details are explained in the novel. * The characters' values and views on love are based on their characterization. They do not represent the author's values or views on love, or those of the characters in the author's other novels. * Everyone has different tastes. If you enjoy it, you're welcome to read to the end. If you don't, feel free to close the page. Thank you! Coming soon: Rekindle (The blurb is in first person, while the novel itself is in third person) I'm an idiot. I transmigrated into a modern fantasy novel as a supporting character from a family of metaphysics practitioners. According to the plot, the protagonist would defeat me, and evil spirits would tear me apart. Then I would be reborn at the very beginning of the story, repent, and help the protagonist from then on, earning a happy ending. I was even lucky enough to transmigrate before the rebirth plot began. I could use my advantage as someone who'd transmigrated into a book to avoid being reborn and simply become a good supporting character who helps the protagonist. I could have lived freely and happily, without a care in the world. But I let myself get carried away. I fell in love with the protagonist. If I love him, then I have to have him. He's a celestial master of the mystic arts. In the art of exorcism, anyone who reaches the highest levels of cultivation can contract with a lamplighter. A lamplighter's soul is linked to the celestial master's. When the celestial master hunts ghosts and drives out evil, the lamplighter lights a soul lamp to protect his soul. The celestial master and the lamplighter share a deep understanding, and often become partners. I wasn't strong enough, but I relied on my family's influence to force him into making a contract with me. Our souls became bound, and I became his one and only lamplighter. I took what wasn't mine. I forced him to do what he didn't want. I was vile and selfish. So when I exhausted myself lighting his lamp, my soul torn apart in unbearable agony, he only looked at me coldly and scolded me for overestimating my abilities. I understood. I deserved it. I knew I'd done wrong. At least I had one more chance to be reborn. Following the plot, I let go of his hand in front of him and plunged without hesitation into the abyss, thick with evil energy. I let him go. I gave him what he wanted. I met a miserable end. All I managed to see was his blood-red eyes. He must have been crying with happiness. - I really was reborn. This time, he could be the brilliant chosen one, and I could be an ordinary, well-behaved supporting character. Everything returned to its proper course, and we could both be happy. I thought we'd have nothing to do with each other anymore. But he kept bothering me, and he always seemed afraid I might kill myself. I didn't understand what was wrong with him, and I couldn't be bothered to figure it out. I thought we'd surely go our separate ways this time. Until I accidentally lit a lamp to protect his soul. Only a lamplighter who had made a soul contract with a celestial master could do that. I was so scared my soul nearly flew out of my body. How could this happen? This time, I hadn't made a lamp contract with him. * Both are reborn, 1v1, happy ending * The little scenes and interactions in the blurb are there to show off the premise. They may not appear in the actual story. * The blurb may be revised before the novel begins. Theme: Everything in this world that lasts forever takes courage.