Am I Just Naturally Not a Smiler?

It's hard to say what aa is feeling right now.

In his dream, he cultivated immortality and survived tribulations through an entire lifetime. He was the purest and coldest Immortal Venerable xx in the cultivation world, revered by the Six Realms and beyond. He'd kept up his pose for centuries, declaring, "I was born not to smile."

He thought that waking up again meant the Heavenly Dao had chosen him to foresee the future and save all living beings.

But the dream really was just a dream. No matter how much it resembled his life, it was only a pale imitation.

In his dream, everyone cultivated immortality. In reality, spiritual energy was scarce and the world was in a terminal age. The nation was peaceful and prosperous, with no sign of war, so there were no legendary military exploits for him to claim. The old Daoist who had taken him as a disciple was still off wandering somewhere. And the supreme demon he had slain with his sword was now the widely admired Crown Prince.

And there's more!

His mother approached with the hand of his subordinate, a female general, tucked into hers. "aa, you two have been childhood friends and always been close. Now that she's married your older brother, your families are even more closely connected. You'll all be one big family."

aa: ...

That female bandit and my frail, short-lived older brother?

Guess why I don't smile.

His tutor approached, leading his senior martial brother, who had disguised himself as a woman and endured hardship while biding his time. "aa, I brought a top-scoring scholar home from the imperial exams for your senior sister. They'll marry within the month and have two children in three years. Remember to help warm the bed before the wedding."

aa: ???

Wait, how is it that every single one of you is in love? What happened to your lofty ambitions and noble aspirations? What about the vows we made to stay single together in our previous life? Did you feed them to the dogs???

The emperor approached, holding the hand of his sworn enemy from his previous life. "aa, your and the Crown Prince's birth charts are compatible, and you are both in love with each other. You're a match made in heaven. Why not choose a date soon and start preparing for the wedding?"

aa: !!!

Who? The supreme demon I cut down in my previous life?!

I hope to God that's not true!

His mother, tutor, and the emperor gathered around him. "aa, this is such wonderful news. Why aren't you smiling?"

aa: ...???!!!

Can he tell them he was born not to smile?

After destroying the land and laying waste to its people, bb unexpectedly discovered the meaning of life.

The good news: He'd fallen for someone.

The bad news: That person was his sworn enemy.

He was hopelessly in love with that person's cold eyes, frost-laden gaze, and lips that never curved into a smile. He tried every trick in the book, changing his form to win their heart, but all he ever got in return was a cold stare.

"Demon" and "Die" were the words he heard most often from that person.

Even though there was clearly love in their eyes.

He couldn't bear to see his beloved frown, so when they came at him with a sword, he smiled and offered them his chest.

One arrow through the heart. Not too painful, and not a gruesome way to die.

They really do love me!

bb fell with joy in his heart, so when he opened his eyes again, his first thought was to stab himself in the chest once more.

If his beloved wanted him dead, how could he deny them?

After a chaotic commotion, he realized he had returned to the age of nineteen. He also discovered that his beloved was young again.

Overjoyed, bb rushed to the General's Mansion on horseback, his hair loose and his appearance in disarray. But the moment he saw his beloved, he froze.

His young lover was carefree and dazzling, eyes curved with a bright smile. There was no sign of the cold, lonely person they would become in the future.

So he wasn't born not to smile. He had personally destroyed every bit of their joy and happiness.

Obsessive demon seeking redemption, top x cold and beautiful Immortal Venerable, bottom

Both leads are reborn.

The top wasn't that bad in his previous life. He'll get some redemption, but not much.

Blurb screenshotted on 2023-5-23

Theme: People who smile have better luck.