After Being Reborn, I Stole My Brother's Boyfriend

After Gu Mian was reborn, he did only three things: First, he sold the miracle drug he had developed in his previous life to a pharmaceutical company, then secretly contacted his brother's first love and told her she didn't need to deceive his brother with a "kind lie": his terminal illness was treatable, and he didn't have to go abroad to die. Second, he reminded his brother to get a checkup every year and continued researching the cancer drug he had developed in his previous life. Third, he started dating Xie Ruxi, his brother's ex-boyfriend from his previous life, cutting off every chance that Xie Ruxi and his brother's feelings could grow. The first two things were easy enough. The third, however, gave Gu Mian a headache for a while. He didn't understand love and didn't think it was a necessity in life, so he couldn't come up with a good plan. In his previous life, Gu Mian's impression of Xie Ruxi was simple: he was his brother's close friend, the man who was always causing his brother trouble as his same-sex partner, and the only... "inheritance" his brother had left behind. Because of his brother, Gu Mian had looked after Xie Ruxi as an "inheritance" for a while. Their time together had been uneventful, and they had never really gotten to know each other. In this life, he met Xie Ruxi early and successfully arranged for them to share a home. But Gu Mian still had no idea how to date someone, until one day... Gu Mian had just stepped inside when he stopped short. His gaze darkened, and he quietly closed the door with a lighter touch. From one of the rooms came a strange, muffled moan. He knew that voice all too well. It was Xie Ruxi. Gu Mian crept over to the door, which hadn't been fully shut, and peered inside through the crack. The room was hazy with warm, yellow light. Xie Ruxi wore a thin dressing gown, curled up with his back to the door, his whole body trembling gently as if murmuring in a dream. Gu Mian stood there for a long time, then prepared to leave. Just as he turned around, he heard Xie Ruxi's soft moan grow clearer and rise in pitch. "...Please, Gu, Gu Mian..." Xie Ruxi was calling his name. Gu Mian (top) x Xie Ruxi (bottom) A top with genius-level intelligence, terrible people skills, and an unconventional way of thinking x a sensitive, gentle, easygoing literary type who puts love above all else [March 5, 2023 screenshot] Coming soon: "Rumor Has It He's Up to Something" Zhou Qi had a dream. In it, he rose to become the empire's first common-born Chancellor, stepping over blood and wreckage. But in the end, the king betrayed him, and he died while being exiled. After waking, he redrew his path to power, advancing cautiously and making plans in secret. He married Xia Yijin, son of the Grand Elder, a powerful noble with real influence in the Senate. The empire's noble circles erupted. His rival said with a sinister smile, "Ha! Zhou Qi married Xia Yijin, probably planning to climb the ladder, get rich, and bury his wife." His friend was aghast. "Give me the truth. Are you planning to replace the Xia family and take their name?" His father-in-law sneered. "Hmph, you've got quite the ambition. But since you've married Xiao Jin, you'd better keep up the act for the rest of your life!" Before Zhou Qi could answer, Xia Yijin exploded. "How dare you curse me to die?! I'll tell my dad when I get home. You're dead!" "Are you even Zhou Qi's friend? Saying things like that, do you want his marriage to be unhappy?" "Dad! How can you say that about Zhou Qi? He's not that kind of person!" Xia Yijin had always been willful and domineering, a typical spoiled young master. But when it came to love, he was completely besotted. He turned around with a radiant smile, looped his arm through Zhou Qi's, and said sweetly, "Darling, don't listen to them. I know you're not that kind of person." Zhou Qi: "..." After a long silence, he nodded, hand on his heart. "That's right, Jinjin. I wouldn't do that." He may have had ulterior motives at first, but from the moment he decided to marry Xia Yijin, he was ready to fulfill his responsibilities as a husband, partner, and lover. - No one thought Zhou Qi and Xia Yijin's marriage would work. They thought Zhou Qi was "swallowing his pride" for the sake of his future. Zhou Qi scoffed at that. His wife was nowhere near as awful as people claimed. The idea that he was "swallowing his pride" was laughable. He had picked a flower lovingly nurtured with wealth and power. Xia Yijin only had eyes for him. He could be spoiled and fiery with everyone else, but with Zhou Qi, he was sweet and obedient. Still... Zhou Qi expressionlessly swallowed a mouthful of blackened food. His wife's cooking was terrible, and he loved making meals for him. What was he supposed to do? Other than that, he had no complaints. Until one day, Zhou Qi was accosted by a complete stranger, who looked at him with tearful eyes, as if wanting to say something but holding back. Bai Xi: "How did I end up meeting you again, you ungrateful bastard? Forget it, selfish, gold-digging scum! I'll never marry you!" Zhou Qi: ? After that, all sorts of strange voices began popping up around Zhou Qi. "Once Zhou Qi gets to the top, he'll dump Xia Yijin sooner or later. Look at him, his true love is the superstar Bai Xi." "Zhou Qi's really going too far. He's indulging Xia Yijin like this. If you want someone destroyed, first drive them mad with arrogance!" "It's almost time! The struggle for power is going to be spectacular!" Those voices never stopped, from Zhou Qi's days as a prosecutor, finance minister, and Chancellor, to his entry into the Senate and his rise to the very top. Years later, Zhou Qi overthrew the old empire and established a new federal republic. Zhou Qi: This is ridiculous. Who said getting promoted and rich means your wife has to die? I've overthrown the empire and become the first Head of State, and things are still the same??? #Thanks, My Wife Is Still My First Love# #Married People Have No White Moonlight or Vermilion Mole, Only a Wife# #Say I Got Here By Whatever Means You Like, I'm Still the First Head of State# Zhou Qi (top) x Xia Yijin (bottom) Theme: Fate is like a thread, ever-changing