Looking at Myself

[Complete. This story was previously available to subscribers only.] Jiang Yansheng was an idle, dissolute wastrel. His days were spent either drowning in drink and pleasure or being scolded by his father for wasting his potential. Everyone looked down on him behind his back, yet still sucked up to him to his face. One day, he came across a post: If you could be reborn as someone else, would you marry yourself as you are now? What kind of stupid question was that? After reading it, Young Master Jiang tossed his phone aside. But when he couldn't sleep that night, he pulled up the post again and replied: Marry him? I'd kill him with my own hands. A moment later, he deleted it and typed again: I'd let him live a good life. Later, Jiang Yansheng was reborn. But he forgot who he used to be. Later still, Jiang Yansheng, reborn as Fang Zhan, remembered his previous life. Looking at the version of himself beside him, worn out and fast asleep, he thought, I suppose this counts as getting my wish. A refined scoundrel of an elite top x a sickly spoiled young master bottom Warnings, warnings, warnings: Selfcest. The top only recovers his memories later, so he basically got reborn for nothing, and the selfcest was for nothing, too. The setup has problems, so just give it a casual read. Please bookmark my next stories, Did the Crown Prince Come Home Today? and After Becoming a Tyrant. Thank you! Blurb for Did the Crown Prince Come Home Today?: Once upon a time, there was a foolish ruler named Yu Yuan. Like all stereotypical foolish rulers, he also had a beauty he treasured above all else. But his beloved was somewhat unusual. She was neither a stunning woman nor a favored concubine, but his elegant and distinguished chancellor, Li Jinrong. He gave him everything, only to end up inviting a wolf into his home. As his country fell, his family was destroyed, and his consciousness faded away, he swore that even if he became a vengeful ghost, he would wash away the humiliation of this life. Later, he unexpectedly returned to his days as crown prince. Just as he was about to seek revenge and find the still-obscure chancellor, he discovered that he had been forced to bind himself to a "Tyrant Reform System." "Ding! System check in progress. Host's current health: -99. Ways to gain health: A. Do good deeds. B. Recruit talented people. C. Give up pleasure." Yu Yuan: "Where did this thing, " "Warning! Warning! Host talked back once. Deducting 111 health points. When health drops to -999, Host will die on the spot." Yu Yuan: "..." "Friendly reminder~ The more talented the person you recruit, the more health points you gain. Please enjoy your reform journey, Host." And so, in the ninth year of the Yunjing era, strange stories began to spread among the people. For example, a man named Wang Er, who slaughtered pigs, suddenly had someone handing him a knife and urging him to go to the capital to take the civil service exams every day. A scholar who sold paintings smiled shyly, yet could lift a heavy cauldron and hit a target a hundred paces away. And the crown prince, once notorious for his lust, had actually sent all the palace beauties away, apparently because of some... private ailment. At the teahouse, the storyteller was gesticulating wildly. When Yu Yuan heard the last part, his face darkened. Wang Er, standing behind him and waving a feather fan, understood at once and advised him, "The crown prince is violent and incompetent. Now that he's afflicted with a private ailment, he's even less likely to inherit the throne. My lord, heaven is on our side!" Yu Yuan: "...On our side for what?" The scholar scratched his head sheepishly and looked toward Li Jinrong, who had just been rescued and was lying on the bed. He hesitated, then said, "Re... rebellion?" Li Jinrong, who had been on the verge of death, immediately came back to life. "Benefactor, there are more than a hundred loyal warriors at my home. If you don't mind, I would be honored to help you." Yu Yuan: "..." Damn! Did I just stumble into a nest of rebels? #Did the crown prince come home today? #Your Majesty, the crown prince has become the leader of the rebels (not really) A little skit: Li Jinrong: "Your Highness, would you like to... with me tonight?" Yu Yuan's eyes lit up. "Talk by candlelight? Have you thought of a way to solve the famine, my dear minister?" Li Jinrong: "...Enjoy the moonlight together." Yu Yuan said nothing. His face clearly said, I'm so disappointed in you. Blurb for After Becoming a Tyrant: Yu Yuan became a violent crown prince. And in the memories he inherited, the crown prince would one day become a ruler infamous throughout history, the emperor who lost his country. To save his own life, Yu Yuan began anxiously plotting to clear his name and make his escape. But after he'd worked hard to clean up his reputation and had already left the palace, he realized the name of the obedient little eunuch he'd casually rescued, now at his side... sounded awfully familiar. Wait! Aren't you the rebel leader who later became the founding emperor? ++ (I really don't know how to write blurbs. I'm on my knees.) Theme: You're already doing great