Ten Thousand Years of Spring Splendor

Chi Zui, the leader of the sorcerers, was born into a noble family. He was handsome, a brilliant tactician, elegant, clever, and a spellcasting genius rarely seen in a thousand years.

In theory, he should have had no trouble finding a beautiful, gentle partner. Men and women alike who wanted to marry him could have lined up from the South Pole to the North Pole.

After all, who could resist a walking Gary Stu?

But he was cold as ice to everyone and only had eyes for another walking Gary Stu.

That man was Shang Tingzhu. He was devastatingly beautiful, came from an illustrious family, was exceptionally capable, and had a gentle, refined personality. An elder once called him peerless in all the world.

Unfortunately, he was dead.

Chi Zui kept Jun Hansheng, who had accidentally caused Shang Tingzhu's death and bore some resemblance to him, by his side. It seemed he wanted to torment him as revenge, or perhaps use him as a substitute for his twisted feelings.

Jun Hansheng was timid, weak in magic, and plain-looking. By all appearances, he was destined to be a cannon-fodder character.

Just as everyone was going wild criticizing this clichéd substitute-romance setup, Jun Hansheng revealed his true identity during a battle that would decide the fate of the alliance.

Everyone was horrified. "Aren't you Shang Tingzhu? Weren't you dead?"

Shang Tingzhu: "I became my own substitute. Surprised?"

Chi Zui: "Not surprised."

Because it had all been their plan.

Everyone: "So are you two really together?"

Shang Tingzhu: "That depends on what Chi Zui thinks."

Chi Zui: "Perhaps I love him, perhaps I don't."

Chi Zui told Shang Tingzhu "I love you" three times, and "I don't love you" three times.

Mutually teasing, evenly matched main couple

A stoic, controlling Gary Stu gong x a gentle, reserved Gary Stu shou

Both gong and shou are breathtakingly beautiful, come from distinguished backgrounds, and are spellcasting geniuses rarely seen in a thousand years.

In short, it's an over-the-top love story about two Gary Stus secretly in love, mutually playing cat and mouse, and saving the world along the way.

Warnings: Large cast, side couples, Mary Sue elements, a long-winded worldbuilding, very over-the-top, and both leads are extremely popular.

Literary version:

There was once a train that sounded its melodious whistle and brought my beloved to my side.

Now I lie dying on the earth, my breath like the long, low groan of an old train.

I hear the train whistle again.

"Have you ever heard a train whistle?" the man suddenly asked me.

The question was abrupt, but I still answered him.

"Yes. It sounds like the breathing of an old man on his deathbed, long and slow, until at last it fades into silence."

Theme: Love the world and fear no hardship.