Loved by Monsters [Nonhuman]

[Blue-ringed octopus monster x naive rich second-generation shou]

Jiang Zhaolin has another nightmare. Ever since he accidentally fell overboard while out sailing and was rescued, he has often had dreams like this.

In the dream, there is a deep blue sea. Smooth, sticky tentacles drag him into its depths.

His nightmares keep getting longer, and he's afraid that one day he'll fall asleep and never wake up.

He has seen a Daoist priest, consulted a swindling fortune-teller, and bought yellow talismans. None of it has worked.

Jiang Zhaolin is terrified and disgusted, until one day a handsome man pulls him away from that nightmare sea.

He cowers in the man's arms, blushing at his loving words, his eyes wet as he kisses the man's lips.

In a corner Jiang Zhaolin can't see, the man mouths "not yet" to the tentacles coiled there.

[Tree demon x energetic male college student shou]

Struck by lightning during a tribulation, the tree demon is weak and powerless. A sudden downpour only makes things worse. Who would have thought that a passing boy would shield it from the rain?

After the rain stops, the tree demon finds the boy.

Rough, gnarled roots wrap around the boy's pale ankles. Branches bearing fresh green leaves brush his tender cheeks. It touches his lips and holds him as he sleeps through countless nights.

But the boy is afraid of it, so the tree demon puts on human skin.

Boy: At first, I was just shielding that cat from the rain.

[Ghost python x spirit summoner with little ability]

Ye Chizhou is known as the family's failure. At his coming-of-age spirit-summoning ceremony, he summons a tiny little snake in front of everyone, giving them plenty to laugh about.

The people before him summoned either ancient ferocious beasts or mighty, imposing iron-blooded lions.

Ye Chizhou is deathly afraid of snakes, but still clings to a shred of hope. Maybe this is some powerful contracted beast? Thinking this, he tries to be kind to it despite his fear.

When the cold snake scales slide across his palm, he is already trembling, yet still forces a smile.

He doesn't know, and neither does anyone who laughed at him.

In the silent night, a massive snake's tail wraps tightly around the pretty boy, cold scales sliding over his warm, smooth skin.

A collection of short stories about nonhuman creatures. Tentatively includes mermaids, eldritch gods, dragons, and elves.

Lighthearted.

Theme: Love makes everything beautiful.