When Old Humanity Meets ENIGMA

Blurb (EABO worldbuilding warning, updates irregularly, chapters 53-83 will be locked after publication; new chapters can be read directly. The author's notes include worldbuilding supplements and updates. The pitch for the upcoming novel, The Peanut Gallery, is at the very bottom):

In the twenty-second century, overworked office drone Song Qingyi suffers from insomnia. But one ordinary Saturday night, after waking up from his sleep pod, he finds that the whole world has become unfamiliar.

The technology tree has gone awry, and so has the biological tree, in ways he can't even begin to understand.

Before Song Qingyi can figure out what's changed, he is sent to the law enforcement bureau for being an unregistered resident, then detained when they can't determine his sex.

After seeing Song Qingyi's file, Wen Ji's first question when they meet is, "Can you smell pheromones?"

Song Qingyi is puzzled. "That apple smell on you?"

Wen Ji, whose official pheromone test says he smells like tobacco: "..."

Wen Ji asks again, "How does it make you feel? Uncomfortable?"

Song Qingyi's stomach starts rumbling. He points to it and says, "The apple smell is kind of nice. I haven't eaten in ages."

Neither A's nor O's pheromones have any effect on Song Qingyi.

Wen Ji tries to tempt and intimidate him. "How about joining the law enforcement team?"

Song Qingyi firmly refuses. "I'm not physically fit. I'm a primitive human."

Wen Ji: "I'll help you get registered."

Song Qingyi: "Deal!"

Reader's guide (very important!!):

1. A foul-mouthed, cocky top (E) x a poker-faced, sharp-tongued bottom (genderless in an ABO world).

2. This is a privately devised EABO setting, not traditional ABO. The plot takes priority. The top is an E, and the bottom is male. ENIGMA is a fourth sex that can turn both A and B into O during sex. It's mainly used to advance the plot, and the setting contains a huge number of original elements.

3. The top is experienced, but he won't have any interactions with his exes in the story. Read with caution if that's a concern.

4. All worldbuilding, laws, and events in this story are made up by me. Please don't apply them to real life. I'll promptly clarify and correct any inconsistencies.

5. Former titles: Waking Up to an ABO World [EABO] and The Daily Life of a Beta Impostor.

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Completed novel: The Stand-In Is Handsome and a Flirt (Entertainment Industry)

Upcoming novel: I'm Just a Peanut Gallery [Cultivation]

After receiving their graduate school admission letters, Lin Yuan and He Chiqing arrange to go hiking together. A heavy fog rolls in, and they find themselves in the completely unfamiliar world of Chongjiu.

Both become famous in Chongjiu: Lin Yuan is an utterly untalented nepotism hire, while He Chiqing is a once-in-a-millennium genius. Lin Yuan drinks and sneaks pigs every day, while He Chiqing meditates and cultivates.

Even more absurdly, the biggest sect in Chongjiu, Qingqian Sect, dotes on Lin Yuan, who is lazy and completely uninterested in cultivation. Yang Mian, the greatest sword cultivator in Chongjiu, even takes him as a disciple, only encouraging Lin Yuan's bad habit of slacking off and watching the drama.

Lin Yuan spends every day doing nothing but slacking off and enjoying the show. He never expected the Tribulation Transcendence powerhouse Jixi to chase him down over a roast spirit pig.

The powerhouse asks Lin Yuan, "Who's more important to you, He Chiqing or Jixi?"

Lin Yuan, who has never been one to feel shame, touches his pounding chest and asks hesitantly, "Do I have to answer?"

The powerhouse smiles gently. "What do you think?"

Lin Yuan senses trouble and takes off running.

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Reader's guide:

1. Main couple: Jixi x Lin Yuan (gentle powerhouse top x clever, good-for-nothing, shameless, sharp-tongued bottom).

Side couple: Cang Ran x He Chiqing (poker-faced, devoted top x aloof genius bottom).

2. The side couple gets significant page time, and the plot is important. Read with caution if you don't like side couples.

3. This is not a cultivation-leveling story. Lin Yuan really is a good-for-nothing. His only weapons are his mouth and his brain, and his cultivation level barely changes by the end.

The tone is fairly lighthearted. The main story is mostly about slacking off, enjoying the drama, traveling, getting into trouble, and falling in love. It's not especially melodramatic or angsty, and there's no saving or destroying the world.

Theme: Work hard every day and protect law-abiding citizens.