Ruan Jing was born into the Prime Minister's household. After placing first in all three imperial examinations, he became a celebrated young talent in the capital, riding through the streets to admire the flowers. In private, though, he was cold, aloof, and merciless. After dying unexpectedly, he was bound to the Love Maniac System and sent into various romance-obsessed worlds, where he took the place of all kinds of lovesick doormats. The original hosts, all shou, had loved their scum gong with all their hearts and died with grievances unavenged. Their wish was for the scum gong to fall in love with them.
But Ruan Jing glanced at the scum gong, who practically radiated protagonist charm, and lifted an eyebrow. "Not interested."
The original host: "Come on, big bro! I love him. Please help me just this once. Anything is fine, as long as he looks at me a little more... I'll trade my life for resources and let you take them all!"
Ruan Jing: "...All right. I'm a softhearted young master, so I'll do it, though it's a bit of a bother."
And then...
Scum gongs from all walks of life: "We've been ignoring him for three months. How is he doing now?"
Butler/subordinate: "To answer your question, he has become your superior."
Scum gong: "???"
Later...
Ruan Jing: "I hear you want to see me? Here's the deal: bring two chests of gold bars and kneel at the gate to kowtow three times. Then I'll come out and see you."
The scum gong gritted his teeth. "...Would one chest do?"
Ruan Jing: "Then kowtow six times."
"...Two chests, then! Young master, please come out and see me..."
Ruan Jing raised the corner of his eye, playing with the kitten in his hands. "Sorry. If you want to ask for my hand, bring your father. You're not good enough."
The real gong: I'm right here, aren't I?
Ruan Jing: ...What is wrong with this guy? System, didn't you say the worldline won't let me fall in love with anyone other than the target?
As an alert blared that its permissions had been altered by the higher-level Lord God, the System wiped away a bead of sweat. "That's right, Host, but it seems it never said you couldn't sneak around..."
The haggard scum gong: "It's been three years. How is he doing now?"
Butler and subordinate: "To answer your question, he has become your mother."
Scum gong: "????"
[Reader's Guide]
1. Flirty gong x tsundere. The gong is the Lord God of the worlds. He meets the shou while making an undercover inspection of the various minor worlds. They are each other's first love, and their love (the gong is the flirty one) can move heaven and earth.
2. The original hosts are all lovesick. The shou isn't, but the gong... might be. (Ahem.)
3. The scum gongs in every world are genuinely awful. They won't be redeemed and turn the story into a love triangle. The shou won't fall for any of them.
4. I'll add more if I think of anything before I start posting.
Theme: If you want butterflies, plant flowers first.