I'm a Cannon-Fodder Alpha, but I Took the Protagonist Top

[Coming soon: The Crybaby Alpha Is Actually the Strongest in the Empire; The Goofy Gong Refuses to Become a Lovesick Fool [Quick Transmigration]; Don't Act Obedient Around Me [Reborn]]

Please read the content warnings before starting! Fake toady, genuinely straight Gong x fake proper, genuinely "ghostly" Shou

Qi Yue has just won the Best Actor award when he transmigrates into a book, becoming the vicious cannon-fodder Alpha in an ABO entertainment-industry novel who competes with the male lead for his lover and ultimately gets sent to a psychiatric hospital.

He also gets bound to a System.

The System tells him he has to max out the protagonist's favorability to survive.

Qi Yue refuses without hesitation.

Everyone knows that the first thing to do after transmigrating as cannon fodder is to stay away from the protagonists if you want to stay alive.

But then the System says: If you refuse, the plot will activate its anti-collapse function, and you'll have to die.

Qi Yue: ...

Fine! Can't I just do it?

As a straight man, Qi Yue has no idea how to raise someone's favorability. But he knows that if he becomes the male lead's best buddy and helps him get the beauty, he definitely won't die.

So Qi Yue decides to bring the two protagonists together and become the male lead's best friend.

*

But the longer they spend together, the more Qi Yue thinks the male lead is a good guy to have around. If something happens, he really shows up.

For instance, when a thug attacks at a press conference, Qi Yue shoves the Shou protagonist into his best friend's arms. His friend immediately pushes the Shou protagonist away and steps in front of Qi Yue without hesitation.

Another time, a sudden downpour hits an outdoor press conference and soaks everyone. Only his best friend takes off his expensive suit jacket and covers Qi Yue's head with it.

Qi Yue thinks there's no one more brotherly than the male lead!

Until one night, a drunken accident leads him to sleep with his best friend.

When he wakes up and sees his sleeping friend covered in marks, Qi Yue feels as if the sky has fallen.

He thinks he's about to die, so he quickly packs up and runs.

*

Ever since 223 was forced to watch a whole night of mosaic-covered footage, it has felt that the plot is gradually going off the rails.

When it asks its Host what happened, he blushes and stammers, unable to explain.

Then one day, after filming wraps, the male lead pins its Host in a corner of the studio break room.

His eyes are red-rimmed and his lips dry. He looks furious.

Meanwhile, its Host clutches his suppressants, his voice trembling. "D-don't do anything crazy! I'll call someone!"

But the next moment, the usually aloof and self-controlled male lead bares the back of his neck in a pitiful gesture and begs hoarsely, "Stop running. Please, mark me."

System: ...

This is more than just going off the rails. The plot has collapsed, and the male lead Gong has been turned into a Shou by its Host.

And in an ABO world, "Please mark me" means "Please fuck me!"

The first version of this blurb was written in January 2021, revised on June 5, 2022, and finalized on September 18, 2025.

Content warnings:

1. This is a 1v1 story with a Gong protagonist. Everyone's preferences are respected; no weak Gong.

2. The characters aren't perfect. Readers with strong Gong/Shou preferences, proceed with caution; this may break your heart. The worldbuilding is entirely made up, the writing is amateurish, and there are lots of plot holes, so don't nitpick the logic.

3. Both leads are Alphas. In case anyone is uncomfortable with pregnancy, it won't appear in the main story, but it may appear in an alternate-universe extra.

4. The point of view serves the plot, so please don't label me as having a bias toward one role or the other. I'm stressed and sensitive, so please don't give me writing advice. I probably won't take it anyway. Reasonable discussion in the comments is fine. No false content warnings, personal attacks, or spoilers. I'll delete those comments.

5. I have no content warnings of my own. If something bothers you, just leave; you don't need to tell me. The blurb has changed, but the premise hasn't.

6. There will be some subcouple scenes in the story, marked in the table of contents. These scenes can't be skipped, so apologies in advance.

7. The story focuses more on romance, and the pacing may be a little slow.

Coming soon: The Goofy Gong Refuses to Become a Lovesick Fool [Quick Transmigration]

Among the countless stories out there, some people always enjoy reading about lovesick fools.

To collect audience affection points, the transmigration department of the Book Transmigration Bureau starts randomly grabbing people whose lives are about to end and using their desire to survive as payment for working as NPCs.

Qi Mu is a CEO. Every day, he wakes up and works overtime. On the day he celebrates landing a major project, he suffers a sudden death in his office.

Thinking about how he'd been single for thirty years and never even had a proper relationship, Qi Mu starts to regret it.

As soon as he develops a strong desire to live, the Book Transmigration Bureau sets its sights on him.

System 223: Welcome, dear Host! You've been bound to the Book Transmigration System. To be resurrected, all you have to do is play a lovesick fool in every world and earn enough affection points from the audience. Then you'll succeed!

Qi Mu, after hearing the conditions: Even if I want to date, you can't make me be someone's doormat, can you?

System 222: Then you can rest in peace, Host.

Qi Mu: Wait, come to think of it, being a lovesick fool should count as dating, right?

Story One

System: You're a top actor in the entertainment industry with hundreds of millions of fans, but you've fallen in love with a former boy-band lead singer. You find him opportunities, shield him from scandals, and sue his fans on his behalf.

But although he acts like he loves you, he's actually making out with his boss.

And when you find out, you still love him.

Qi Mu: Now that's a real doormat!

So he dumps the young singer who's been stringing him along, then turns around and sleeps with the singer's former bandmate, who's been secretly in love with him for years. At the height of his career, he publicly announces their relationship and spoils his new boyfriend rotten.

System 223: "?"

Qi Mu: Just tell me, am I or am I not a lovesick fool?

Story Two

System: You're a handsome, wealthy student from a rich family. You've fallen in love with your former classmate, a top student at a prestigious university. After repeating a year, you barely manage to get into a branch campus of the same university. Before that, you supported his education, bought him all kinds of designer goods so he wouldn't feel embarrassed, and even threatened to cut ties with your family so he wouldn't be mistreated.

But he's strung you along for three years, and shortly after starting university, he sleeps with an upperclassman behind your back.

And you still want to love him.

Qi Mu grits his teeth. "Can being a doormat really come in so many varieties?"

So he promptly breaks up with the top student, then publicly declares his relationship with the handsome roommate of his ex-boyfriend, who used to shower him with declarations of love. Even after his family beats him up, he still chooses to bring his new boyfriend home.

System: "??"

Qi Mu: "Just tell me, did I become a lovesick fool or not?"

Story Three

System: You're the merman king of the Aslan Empire. You've fallen in love with the youngest prince, who was only recognized by the royal family later on. You help him strengthen his mental power and claim the right to succeed the throne. You even give him a scale that could save your life.

But while telling you he loves you, he turns around and gets together with your archenemy, and the two of them plot to get rid of you.

And you still...

Qi Mu: Stop there! It's my turn to put on a show!

So he unleashes the merman king's true power and goes on a rampage. He digs out the scale in the prince's chest, then gives it to the eldest prince, who has repeatedly risked his life to save him. He also orders the Aslan Empire to obey him.

System: "???"

Qi Mu: "Just tell me, did I keep loving someone like a lovesick fool or not?"

Stories Four and Five: To be decided

Theme: Face difficulties with a positive attitude