The Substitute Doesn't Need Saving [Book Transmigration]

This novel is complete. The author's next novel will be The Crown Prince Really Isn't Sick, an ancient-style BL.

Blurb:

Jiao Ming transmigrated into a book as a cannon-fodder body double.

The little stand-in got paid and didn't even have to warm anyone's bed. All he had to do was stick it out for a year until the beloved returned, then collect his severance pay.

Jiao Ming, who had worked so much overtime he'd dropped dead: There's a deal like that?

He sprang right up like a lazy fish: I'm in!

He played along with his patron, just waiting for the beloved to return so he could pack up and leave. The beloved did come back eventually, but the patron refused to keep his end of the deal, clinging to him like a big puppy and refusing to let him go.

That wouldn't do.

Jiao Ming didn't want to go against the plot, so he decisively ran away

Only to spend a few days living it up before the now-darkened, big bad wolf of a man caught him and dragged him back to teach him a lesson.

It wasn't a big deal, really. It just took a toll on his back to keep the dog happy...

*

Everyone around Lu Yuanzhou thought he liked Xu Ming. No matter how much he denied it, nobody believed him. His friend even worried that he'd be heartbroken when Xu Ming left, so he sent him a "stand-in" lover.

When Lu Yuanzhou first heard the news, he demanded of his friend: "Are you sick?"

After seeing the stand-in in person, Lu Yuanzhou asked: "Can we extend the contract?"

The little wolf cub he had his eye on had delivered himself right to his door. He wasn't about to let the chance go.

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*A cold-hearted seme who's only good to his uke x a vengeful uke who's a little greedy for money

*There's a little showbiz. Don't associate any characters with real celebrities, or they'll be cursed with failure.

*An alternate setting with lots of authorial liberties. No need to scrutinize the details. Everything serves the plot.

*I'm bad at writing blurbs, so feel free to try the novel. No need to tell me if you drop it. Friendly suggestions are welcome.

The Crown Prince Really Isn't Sick

On the first day after Chu Xu transmigrated into a book, the notorious treacherous minister Xuan Zhige dragged him back to the imperial palace by force and made him impersonate the missing crown prince.

All because he had the exact same face as the crown prince.

In the original plot, Xuan Zhige was the great villain who plotted against the male lead at every turn and fought him for the male lead's love interest. The crown prince Chu Xu was playing was pure cannon fodder, destined to be executed for treason as the plot unfolded.

"..." What kind of ridiculous plot and setting was this?

To survive, Chu Xu chose to assist the villain rather than offend the treacherous minister or the male lead:

When Xuan Zhige told him to go east, he wouldn't turn back until he ran into the eastern wall.

When Xuan Zhige told him to play the crown prince, he promised to portray the sickly prince so convincingly that even his own father wouldn't recognize him.

When Xuan Zhige told him to warm his bed, he didn't even ask... Wait, what?

Something was wrong with him. He couldn't do it. He absolutely couldn't!

Seeing that the plot had fallen apart completely, Chu Xu seized the chance while Xuan Zhige was busy changing the dynasty and made his decision: Run!

To hell with the villain, to hell with being cannon fodder. He was off to live a free life!

The previous dynasty fell and a new emperor ascended the throne. Just as the old officials and townspeople were growing anxious about the change in dynasty, they saw the new emperor hurriedly ride out of the city with a troop of soldiers.

???

Rumors immediately spread throughout the city, and everyone had a different theory. At last, thanks to a leak from someone in the know, they settled on a single explanation: The new emperor had gone to capture a remnant of the previous dynasty.

If the new emperor was going after him personally, he must be a major remnant. He'd probably die a horrible death, everyone thought.

But a few days later, they saw that very remnant nestled intimately in the new emperor's possessive embrace, riding in the imperial carriage as he was grandly escorted into the palace.

The crowd: ...?

That remnant was incredible. He'd managed to win over their new emperor in just a few days.

Theme: No matter who you are or how great the difficulties you face, strive to live your life to the fullest.