Utterly Vicious

[Complete. My next novel, Spring Light, Softly Intoxicated, is now underway. See the blurb and author page for details. ovo]

[Completed: The beautiful invalid x gloomy singer reunion romance, Today's Heavy Snow; the campus romance about a pair of heirs switched at birth, Lunar Trajectory. Come check them out! ovo]

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After graduating with a history degree, college student Qi Ran is unemployed. With what little he has left in savings, he moves into an old courtyard house.

The real estate agent carefully asks him several times if he's sure he wants to live here, because this place is...

Qi Ran: Haunted, right? No problem. I'm a ghost too, a broke one.

Agent: ...

Qi Ran's reasoning is simple. So what if it's haunted? Ghosts can't change the fact that this old courtyard in the city center only costs 598 a month!

He's delighted. For just 598, I get a themed villa. What a steal.

At that price, Qi Ran figures that even if Sadako shows up, he can shove her back into the TV with his bare hands.

Come on, let's see who's scarier.

One hour after moving in, the lights flicker.

Two hours after moving in, footsteps sound in the room.

Three hours after moving in, Qi Ran discovers that he's... woken up on an ornate, antique bed.

Before the bed, a "vicious ghost" with a handsome face and sinister eyes stares coldly at him. Long, slender fingers tighten around his throat.

"Who are you?"

Qi Ran: ...

Believe him, he's just an innocent, weak, pitiful broke guy.

*

Qi Ran does some investigating.

At first, he thinks the old courtyard is haunted. Later, he discovers that time and space overlap here, allowing him to travel between the past and the future.

And that "vicious ghost" is also a person who existed in history.

After eagerly reading through a pile of books, Qi Ran discovers that this "vicious ghost" is none other than the famous Wen Yao, a powerful minister renowned for his immense authority and brutal nature. But he met a terrible end, and not even his whole body was left after his death.

As Qi Ran studies the historical records, the "vicious ghost" is behind him, flusteredly trying to feed the stray cats in the courtyard.

Qi Ran: ...? Maybe the official history is biased. I'd better check the unofficial accounts.

The unofficial accounts are much more interesting, focusing on the tumultuous love affair between this "vicious ghost" and a guest scholar in his household.

Qi Ran munches on melon seeds and reads on:

"The scholar's name is now unknown. It is said that a single character, 'Ran,' was discovered inscribed on a jade pendant buried with Wen Yao, possibly the scholar's given name."

The "vicious ghost" feeding the cats behind him happens to call out, "A Ran, why won't this kitty open its mouth?"

The melon seeds fall from Qi Ran's hand.

Holy... crap...

Could that scholar actually be him??

*

According to the historical records, the powerful minister Wen Yao was ruthless and cruel throughout his life, yet he could never forget one person.

Wen Yao died young, killed by the common people who rose up in rebellion. By then, he could no longer even hold a sword, but he clutched a jade pendant tightly in his hand and refused to let go until his dying breath.

It was the only keepsake his beloved had left him.

*

Bonus scene:

Later, Wen Yao learns about Qi Ran's bold declaration, "Let's see who's scarier," and gladly takes him up on it.

He asks Qi Ran, "Who's scary? Who's scarier?"

The man who'd talked so big has red-rimmed eyes and a broken voice. He can barely get the words out.

Qi Ran: "Y-you... You're scarier."

Also titled I Woke Up as the Beloved Guest of a Vicious Ghost Minister. HE, one-on-one. The bottom is a poor little sunshine with a tough exterior but a timid heart; the top is a devoted, beautiful, powerful man with a tragic past. The leads can travel between the past and the future. The modern setting is entirely fictional, so please don't try to match it to real history. After the paid chapters begin, updates daily at 18:00, 6,000 characters each.

2022.7.11, Zi Zi

-----For more completed novels and upcoming works, please visit my author page! It's a safe bet! [Rose]-----

My next novel, Spring Light, Softly Intoxicated:

In 1991, a Kunqu opera singer came to Yin Family Lane in Haicheng. Every Sunday, they performed at the factory for the residents' entertainment.

The singer played a beautiful young lady role, her looks as lovely as a flower, her eyes brimming with feeling. Her soft, sweet singing immediately captured the heart of young master Si Shaoguang, who was showing off his new bicycle as he rode past.

One glance, and he was captivated for life. Love at first sight, deep and unwavering.

It took Si Shaoguang a long while to come back to his senses. Then he asked the auntie beside him for the performer's name.

Liu Nian. A name meaning remembrance, longing.

The next day, Si Shaoguang put on a sharp, dark suit and deliberately loitered in front of Building Two.

Inside on the first floor, Liu Nian sat on a little stool, humming as he ground Chinese herbs. At a glance, he spotted Si Shaoguang passing by, with his crisp collar and handsome features.

He slowly put away his little stone grinder and rolled his eyes. "Peacock."

Si Shaoguang heard him outside. Seeing that he was a man, he shot back with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "What a nasty brat."

He thought, You little punk. Just wait until I win your sister over. I'll make you pay.

After several visits, Si Shaoguang still hadn't seen the performer he was looking for. Instead, he and the young man inside, who looked remarkably like the performer and had delicate, handsome features, had already taken an instant dislike to each other.

The young man thought Si Shaoguang was a show-off who loved to flaunt himself. He was an eyesore.

Si Shaoguang thought that since the young man also performed opera, he was an awful imitation. His singing was annoying.

Before he could win over the performer, he'd already become sworn enemies with their younger brother.

In a moment of desperation, Si Shaoguang came up with a foolish plan. Before the Sunday show, he took a bouquet of flowers and sneaked straight into the dressing room.

He didn't find the performer he was looking for. Instead, he saw the young man who was always grinding herbs standing before the mirror. One sleeve had slipped to his elbow, revealing an arm so pale it seemed almost creamy. He was attaching a hairpiece while glaring at Si Shaoguang through the mirror.

Every glance, every expression of joy, anger, sorrow, or delight was full of charm. "You're so annoying."

Si Shaoguang was dazed again. "...Is Liu Nian here?"

The beautiful performer turned around, took the ribbon from between his lips with his fingertips, and tied it snugly around his slender waist.

"Why are you looking for me? I'm Liu Nian."

One-on-one, HE, younger bottom.

Sharp-tongued, stubborn, beautiful opera performer bottom x narcissistic, cocky, hopelessly lovestruck young master top

2024.1.16, Zi Zi

1. The bottom is Liu Nian, and the top is Si Shaoguang.

2. Liu Nian has no older sister. Si Shaoguang's lovestruck brain simply made him misunderstand.

3. The story is set in 1991, but please treat it as a fictional setting and don't connect it to any real historical events.

4. More details to come.

Theme: Poverty can't rob you of your ambition