The Substitute Found the Wrong Person

Qiao Xiaohuai is a monster, a fox spirit.

He grew up in an organization.

The organization was tiny, so it could only pick up scraps left behind by other powerful monsters. Qiao Xiaohuai was also far less capable than the other fox spirits. They could bewitch their targets until they were utterly captivated, while Qiao Xiaohuai either got dumped or was cheated on.

One day, the organization sent him out on another mission.

“You need to enter the entertainment industry.”

Qiao Xiaohuai nodded earnestly. “Okay.”

“Find someone influential who has a first love buried deep in his heart. Imitate that person and catch his eye.”

“Okay.”

“Then become his substitute lover.”

Before Qiao Xiaohuai set off, the organization warned him over and over to be careful around Ying Lin. As an exorcist, he was peerless, merciless toward monsters, and had killed countless of them.

Qiao Xiaohuai took the warning to heart.

*

Qiao Xiaohuai found an influential man who had a first love hidden deep in his heart.

The man was hard to win over, but Qiao Xiaohuai had already failed too many missions and couldn't afford another failure. He pursued the man relentlessly, and everyone thought Qiao Xiaohuai was madly in love with him.

At last, the target accepted his advances.

Qiao Xiaohuai began living a life where someone took care of his meals. He was delighted with how things were going and thought his future looked bright.

When the target's first love came back, as long as he wasn't kicked out and could keep completing his mission, they could work everything out.

Everyone else was even more convinced that Qiao Xiaohuai loved him in a humiliating, self-abasing way.

Even without a proper title, he was determined to stay by the man's side.

Then Qiao Xiaohuai realized he had mistaken his target.

The man he'd approached was none other than Ying Lin, the famous exorcist known for his ruthless cruelty toward monsters.

Qiao Xiaohuai turned deathly pale with fear and fled with his belongings in the middle of the night.

*

No one thought Ying Lin could be bewitched by a fox spirit.

Until they saw Ying Lin kneeling with a calm expression, helping the pretty young man at home put on his shoes.

1. Exorcist gong x fox spirit shou, happy ending.

2. The shou has little understanding of modern society's common sense and follows his own logic.

3. The gong's first love is a misunderstanding. It's fake, and doesn't exist.

4. I'll add more if I think of anything.

[Original blurb from February 1, 2022. It may be revised.]

Theme: Resolve tensions between humans and monsters, and let them live together in harmony.