In harem novels, the second male lead usually exists to flirt at the edges, fawn over the heroine, compete for her favor, throw money around, and serve as a nonhuman in the battle for her affections. He's supposed to be grateful for an if-line or an extra chapter where he gets his happy ending.
As for the villainous foil, he's aggrieved. His very existence makes the audience happy, yet he gets the most abuse and the worst ending.
But what if both the second male lead and the villainous foil in a harem novel became powerful, somewhat normal people? Then...
[One: A harem darling in the entertainment industry, a mission-taker with a livestream System]
The second male lead, who starts an entertainment company and pours resources into it for love, only to be framed VS the actor foil who gets blacklisted across the internet after appearing on a variety show
[Two: A substitute harem darling who leaves everyone regretting their choices]
The second male lead, who pays for the substitute but never lays a finger on him, only to be blamed by the real love interest and lose his family VS the white moonlight who did nothing wrong but is smeared and killed
[Three: A silly beauty harem darling in an infinite-flow world]
[Four: A fake universally despised character who is actually universally adored]
[Five: The second male lead who humiliatingly becomes a villainous son-in-law to get close to the harem darling]
[Six: The harem darling whom the entire sect regrets mistreating]
[Seven: An earnest, straight male harem darling]
They're all more or less the same sort of thing. I'll add more later.
No splitting into separate bodies. The top and bottom have special circumstances: they transmigrate together with their memories sealed, and love each other desperately.
Second male lead VS villainous foil. They love, cherish, and save each other.
My baby bought me the cover with their own money, mua! (*╯3╰).
Theme: Immortality is boring. Find something fun to do.
