The Child I'm Raising Is Breaking Character

[The main story is complete. Bonus chapters will appear at random.]

Preorders are open. Please take a look, QAQ~

Yan Luo was once a silver-throated long-tailed tit who had taken human form. A thousand years ago, he was the foremost of the four great demon kings. One day, the snake clan ambushed him and poisoned him, leaving him no choice but to go into hiding among humans.

By chance, he rescued Su Mujing, the orphan of his enemy's family, and became the cheap tutor to the family's heir.

At first, Yan Luo lounged in a rocking chair at his mountain hut, studying the young snake before him and plotting his revenge.

Should he peel off his skin and cut his sinews, or grind his bones to dust...

But later, Yan Luo discovered that the little snake's blood was the antidote he'd been searching for all these years.

The thirst deep in his body made him want to pounce on the other man at once and sink his teeth greedily into his neck.

But what kept troubling Yan Luo was this:

His enemy's child was far too well-behaved. He could host guests in style and cook up a storm, and he was also dutiful to his old teacher. He massaged Yan Luo's back, did his laundry, bathed him, and found all sorts of ways to cheer him up and help him sleep...

So,

Yan Luo watched the little snake grow up day by day, unable to bring himself to make a move.

*

On the night of the full moon, the poison flared up. Yan Luo curled in agony on the bed as black demonic aura filled the room.

Just as he was on the verge of death, the door opened.

His bloodshot eyes met Su Mujing's deep gaze.

When he woke, Yan Luo stared at Su Mujing's smiling eyes and the little puncture wounds on his neck, and fell into thought.

His own gentle, courteous, humble, and obedient little brat...

seemed rather different from what he'd imagined.

Yan Luo: ...

It's over. He'd been the one with ill intentions from the start, so how had it turned out that he seemed to have provoked something he shouldn't have?

*

Years ago, the day the entire Su family was wiped out was the day Yan Luo picked up Su Mujing.

During all those years with Yan Luo, Su Mujing looked at his teacher, a good-for-nothing who was indifferent to worldly affairs, meekly accepted everything, and had low cultivation, and couldn't help but wonder.

But the snow-white, round, fluffy little bird really was delightful to pet...

Never mind, never mind.

His teacher could look beautiful, and he would earn the money to support them both.

Later, when the frontier fortress was breached, they tied Su Mujing to a scaffold.

He had thought he would die with regrets, but Yan Luo protected him from the invading army and rescued him from danger.

Only then did Su Mujing learn that his good-for-nothing teacher, who couldn't lift a finger or carry a thing, was actually the demon king whose name had once resounded throughout the Three Realms and inspired fear in all.

*

Years later, people said that Su Mujing, lord of the demon clan, was elegant and charming, gentle and virtuous, as good a spouse as anyone could ask for.

They said he had only two flaws in his entire life:

He had designs on his own teacher,

and he had wreaked havoc among humans for his teacher's sake.

A feisty little bird × a deranged giant snake

◎ Entirely fictional. Please don't read too much into it.

[Cover credits]

Thanks to the wonderful artists who took commissions for the character designs and background art!

(They're little ones raised by the artist, Fox. The cover might occasionally change to my new favorite, hehe.)

[Date stamps]

[Draft saved: 22.9.30]

[Blurb saved: 23.8.30]

[Started: 24.5.5]

[Completed: 24.11.23]

--- Forthcoming: "We Will One Day Conquer the World" ---

In the 31st century, technology is highly advanced and full-dive games are all the rage.

Shi Yining has recently become obsessed with a virtual pet-raising game called "Fantasy World." Made by a major studio, it features a host of distinctive characters, each with a large following.

But Shi Yining is particularly fond of raising the affection level of the guide NPC.

The silver-haired man is named Hu Geng. He has brilliant eyes, is inscrutable and ruthless, and is the greatest mastermind in the world. He's impossible to romance, but whenever you log in, he greets you gently with a "Good morning."

The overworked office worker was struck right in the heart and fell hopelessly in love, pouring money into the game.

To make his beloved smile.

A thousand and one exorbitantly priced roses? Send them! The caramel cookies made by a master pastry chef who only makes ten a day? Send them! The limited-edition outfit box, exclusive to one player on the whole server? Send, send, send!

One day, before logging off, Shi Yining sighed at the quiet figure in the corner. "Starting tomorrow, I won't be able to see you for a long time... Things are so rushed, I won't even get to hear you say good morning..."

*

The next day, the game shut down.

Shi Yining: ...?

Damn company!

Fine, you cheated me out of my money, but at least give me my husband back!

Then he turned and saw a huge dialogue box floating in midair.

[Rewind.exe is not responding.]

A red, high-risk alert from the Alliance immediately followed, filling the screen. The black broadcast speakers on the street kept warning residents not to go outside.

But just then, someone knocked on his front door.

Through the peephole, he saw an all-too-familiar figure standing outside.

When Shi Yining opened the door, crows rose in a flurry from the street.

The man with brilliant eyes bent slightly under Shi Yining's stunned gaze, removed his black top hat, took his hand, and kissed it gently. "Good morning, my master."

#He never realized that as he passionately expressed his love, the quiet companion in the corner had been gazing back at him again and again from between the stars.

#Because you wanted to see me, I came.

#Help, my fave just broke through the fourth wall to find me.

#Meanwhile, Blue Star's public safety officers are hyperventilating. Help! Are we part of your little game too? The world-ending boss is on the loose, aaah!

--- Forthcoming: "Sleepless Tonight" ---

Jun Zeyao is a late-night streamer. Because he has suffered from insomnia for years, he always streams late at night, come rain or shine.

But his naturally deep, domineering voice is so attractive that he rose overnight to become one of the year's top streamers, earning the nickname "The Top Who's Been Top for a Thousand Years."

His fans love to set him up with people. Fan edits, fanfiction, and comics are everywhere, and everyone says he looks great with anyone!

Jun Zeyao: ???

But I already have a husband!

But shipping himself with other men is part of the job, so he has no choice but to occasionally grit his teeth and join other streamers on mic to play up a pairing for the fans. After a few days, he bids them farewell, only to be mockingly called "the year's biggest playboy."

Poor Junjun QAQ. He throws himself onto the memorial tablet of his late boyfriend and whines through his tears, "Waaaah, they're all picking on me QAQ!"

*

One day, Jun Zeyao woke up in bed with suggestive red marks on the back of his neck and received an invitation to appear on a popular singing competition show.

Why turn down a chance to earn money? If you don't take it, you don't get paid!

But somehow, he managed to offend the top-tier star on the panel of mentors. The guy was not only a jerk but petty, too, and always picked fights with him!

Junjun was furious!

But sometimes he felt that everything the other man said and did was just like his beloved boyfriend, who had died so young!

For example, right now, he was sneaking off to practice in a dark dance studio. As he struggled to stretch his legs, a figure quietly approached from behind...

The man's long fingers brushed smoothly over his slender calf. But before Junjun could turn around happily, the man tapped his back casually with a foot-long black-and-gold ruler. "What's with that noise? Stand up straight. Haven't you eaten?"

Junjun's eyes instantly filled with tears: !! You jerk!!

*

That night, in Jun Zeyao's livestream chat:

Comments:

It's this late already. Why hasn't he started streaming?

Where's my streamer? Where's the huge streamer I was promised? The late-night buddy who said he'd always be here to chat and go crazy (strike-through)?

Don't tell me you're actually debuting as an idol???

Then a pinned message suddenly appeared in the fan group: The streamer can't go live tonight. Don't wait up.

Fans: ??? Who are you, buddy?

The streamer: His husband.

What?!?!

*

The next day, the top-tier star posted two marriage certificates on social media with the caption: I hate people who don't know their place.

Fans on both sides fought fiercely over who had been the one to chase the other.

Only the CP fans celebrated like it was New Year's. Haha! I told you! He's so in love with him!! Chenchen! Admit it! You're hopelessly love-struck and jealous as hell!

Theme: All things in this world can live together in harmony.