“Reform hopeless romantics? Forget it! I'm no delicate, self-righteous saint. I've got plenty of strength and tricks up my sleeve.”
These days, the protagonists in novels are hopeless romantics in desperate need of reform.
The small worlds are short-staffed, so even villains have to find new jobs.
System 540 comes online: “Will you choose to protect them, stop them, or talk some sense into them?”
Big villain Lin Zhou: “Of course I'll choose to pursue them, then dump them so they learn their lesson.”
System 540: ??? Something's wrong with you!
World One: The uncle who gives everything for his nephew
The impoverished protagonist adopts the son of the girl next door. To raise him properly, he works three jobs a day, gives up his education, ruins his health, and sacrifices his future. In the end, after the boy becomes a scientific genius, he gets called an old man.
Lin Zhou: “Raising one is hard enough, but what's one more? I'll gladly join this big family and make him work six jobs a day.”
World Two: The young master who gives everything for a gold-digging man
The lovesick protagonist falls for an impoverished young man from the mountains. So his boyfriend won't feel inferior, he cuts the tags off his gifts. He finds him a job and helps his parents and sisters settle down. But in the end, he learns the young man already has a son.
Lin Zhou: “I'll steal him away. My sisters are total mama's girls and devoted to their brothers, and my mother is a wicked mother-in-law desperate for a grandchild. I'll make sure he sees how cruel the world can be.”
World Three: The stepbrother who gives everything for a playboy
The reserved protagonist is drawn to the warmth and thoughtfulness of his stepsister's boyfriend. He tries to hide his feelings, yet can't resist his crush's affection. He sinks into depression and can't escape, only to learn in the end that the two of them had been conspiring to toy with him. In unbearable pain, he jumps to his death.
Lin Zhou: “I'll become his stepsister's boyfriend first, then teach him about open relationships and open the door to a whole new world.”
World Four: The omega who gives everything for a freeloader
The devoted protagonist agrees to date his brother's subordinate, a man serving under the Imperial Marshal. He begs his brother to give his husband a promotion and spare him from the war. But after he receives word that his brother has died, his husband sends him to a military tribunal with his own hands.
Lin Zhou: “I'll sacrifice myself and marry him, teach him about interstellar marriage law and omega protection law, and make him put them to the test by fighting for a divorce.”
World Five: The disabled big shot who gives everything for a sweet young man
The gloomy protagonist falls for an aloof young master sent to marry him for an alliance. To protect him, he gives him money, cars, and houses, turns the tide to save the young master's family from ruin, and keeps bodyguards watching over him at all times. Yet he is attacked for being an incomplete control freak.
Lin Zhou: “I'll take the money, the car, and the house. I can walk, run, and even jump. You can't catch me in that wheelchair. Nyah-nyah!”
World Six: The straight man who gives everything for a yandere
The sunny protagonist gets entangled with a roommate who claims they're just brothers. Every day, the roommate subjects him to intimate physical contact he can't accept, monitors his life, and controls his relationships, driving the protagonist, whose sexual orientation is straight, to doubt himself and suffer a mental breakdown.
Lin Zhou: “I'll use all kinds of straight-guy tricks to flirt with him every day and make him more alert. If he doesn't catch on, I'll smack him hard across the face.”
World Seven: The prime minister who gives everything for the emperor
The noble protagonist falls for the Son of Heaven. To secure his throne, he exhausts himself devising plans and loses sleep night after night, always strategizing for him. He doesn't complain even when the emperor wants to fill the palace with consorts. In the end, all he gets is an order to have him assassinated.
Lin Zhou: “I'll become the regent. Forget lovey-dovey romance. Making them worry about how to stay alive every day will be more than enough for them.”
At last, after completing the mission, Lin Zhou lounges at ease in the space. “Are the protagonists still hopeless romantics?”
System 540: “Not only are they even worse, but now they're all hopeless romantics for you!”
Lin Zhou: ?
Uncle: “Zhōuzhōu, don't hold my age against me. I really love you.”
Young master: “Brother Zhou, please don't leave me. I can have children.”
Stepbrother: “Brother Zhou, as long as there's a place for me in your heart, I'll be happy.”
Omega: “Darling, the Omega Marriage Protection Law says that a husband has to provide his wife with regular comfort.”
Disabled big shot: “Xiao Zhou, I can stand up and stay by your side.”
Straight man: “Xiao Zhou, after you hit me, can I kiss you one more time?”
Prime minister: “Your Highness, spare my life, and I'll serve you well.”
System 540 is heartbroken: “How are you any different from those scumbag gong?”
Lin Zhou: “They use people and then cling to them, refusing to let go. I have my fun, break up, and let the protagonists go. Aren't I better than them?”
System 540: ...You're worse than the scumbag gong.
Isn't this just putting your pants back on and pretending you don't know them!
Reader's guide
1. Lin Zhou is the shou. Lin Zhou is the shou. Lin Zhou is the shou.
2. Both are virgins. No children.
3. The gong is split into multiple fragments.
4. The protagonist isn't a perfect character.
5. The small-world order is flexible. If you have a favorite world, leave a comment and I'll give it special consideration.
6. There are countless great novels out there. If this one isn't for you, pick another. Keep your spirits up and enjoy reading!
Theme: The road ahead is bright