The Slacker Takes the Initiative

[The main story is complete. Please check out my upcoming work; sending you a heart!]

Upcoming: After Falling Out with the Love of My Life

Blurb:

Shen Tinglan transmigrated into a book, becoming the destined-to-die-young, beloved white moonlight of the male lead.

Apparently, a white moonlight who was still alive wasn't unforgettable enough.

Reasonable, correct, and extremely unfriendly to him.

In the original story, Prince Heng was a sweet, obedient little darling who knew how to act cute, and he immediately captured the male lead Pei Yujin's heart.

If that's the male lead's type, then wouldn't a tea-art master who climbs onto walls, plays the suona, and makes a racket be the complete opposite?

Shen Tinglan was used to his 996, balding work life. With such a perfect chance to lie flat and enjoy his retirement, how could he possibly leave early?

Avoiding the other man wasn't his style. A brave hero should take the initiative.

And a clever hero should also learn to apply what he knows to new situations, covering all the bases.

He'd cause trouble on one hand while doing his best to bring the male lead and his love interest together for a happy ending on the other. That way, he could retire and lie flat sooner, too.

Thanks to his efforts, the male lead and his love interest spent romantic evenings together, drinking and composing poetry, while matching each other in court and supporting one another.

Wonderful. Just wonderful.

But one day, Shen Tinglan saw with his own eyes as Pei Yujin held a knife to the throat of his destined lover, Chi Yan.

"Poetry, wine, talent. There's not a single thing you can do better than me, Chancellor. If you know what's good for you, stay away from him."

The man with a knife at his throat only gave a cold smile. "Even if I fall short of Your Excellency in those things, His Highness still values me."

Their eyes met, sparks flying.

So where exactly had things gone wrong?

Was he destined to die young after all?!

Notes:

1. There's a background System in the story, but it gets very little attention.

2. This is a sweet little romance. The original story's love interest, who is now the male lead's rival in love, appears around chapter twenty-something.

Upcoming Story

The Third Year as a Mad Dog

Ye Duyuan was once the most dashing young man in Yunjing, heir to the Marquis of Yong'an, carefree in his youth and ignorant of sorrow.

Until one day, the Marquis of Yong'an was executed in the imperial prison for treason. The chief interrogator in charge of his case was none other than Chu Yunzheng, the heir's closest friend of ten years.

The entire Ye clan was found guilty. Before leaving for the execution ground, Ye Duyuan's final words were, "Commander Chu, is the imperial prison cold?"

It was the first time he hadn't called him Yunzheng.

Chu Yunzheng gently touched Ye Duyuan's face with hands long stained with blood, then whispered in his ear, "With so many wronged souls, of course it's cold."

At that moment, Ye Duyuan's heart froze over. "Chu Cenxi, you'll regret this."

"You worry too much, heir. Cenxi has no regrets about anything he's done, even if it costs him his life."

It snowed heavily that day. All that remained in Ye Duyuan's memory was that cold, unfeeling silhouette.

Three years later, the heir of Yong'an, who should have long since turned to dust, became the ruler who unified the Northern Frontier. Three years of wind and sand had changed both his appearance and his heart.

The day his army laid siege to the capital, he made two demands of Emperor Ling. He would withdraw his troops if they were met.

First, clear his father's name. Second, give him one person, someone he had thought of thousands of times.

Chu Yunzheng.

"They say Emperor Ling values Commander Chu above all others. It seems that's not entirely true."

This was the man he had kept in his heart since they were boys. He would crush every bit of his pride and avenge his father.

"If I told you I didn't kill the Marquis of Yong'an, would you believe me?"

Even as he knelt on the ground, bound, Chu Yunzheng's spine remained straight.

But all his words earned was a scoff. "Commander Chu, you wield absolute power in Yundu. You should know what it means to own your actions. Men! Hang him outside the city tower. Let's see if it's colder than the imperial prison."

It was the dead of winter, and the frontier was bitterly cold, not a bit warmer than it had been back then.

Chu Yunzheng, this is what you owe me.

For a long time afterward, he truly took his revenge with all the cruelty he could muster, until one day he saw his father, who should have died in the imperial prison.

By then, Chu Yunzheng had been reduced to skin and bones, his body broken by illness.

Back then, he hadn't been able to protect the boy he treasured. Now he would do everything he could to find a way for the boy and his father to survive.

Emperor Ling had always doubted what happened back then. The talk of Chu Yunzheng wielding absolute power was nothing but an attempt to flatter him into a fall. In Yundu, every day had been like walking on thin ice. At least the winds of the Northern Frontier were easier to bear.

Even if that person would no longer embrace him or offer him the slightest warmth.

Note: A ruthless, unhinged gong who turns dark VS a ruthless, devoted shou.

The gong is younger.

It's probably a story about a mad dog and his leash pushing each other to their limits (not really).

There may be an angsty chase after the shou, but it will definitely have a happy ending, and every cause has its consequence (Kid, I'm your comeuppance).

Theme: Love life, be the best version of yourself, and spread love and care.