My Insectoid Partner Is Always Putting on an Act

[A plot-driven insect-race novel with a bottom who dotes on his partner and is doted on in return]

[At the platform's request, character names in this novel have been revised.]

[My first completed novel, written for practice. My skills are still limited, so please bear with me, and buy with caution (highlighted!!!). Please be gentle with feedback.]

[Completed and entered premium serialization on 2025.4.4]

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The Anlin Empire is a powerful regime in the galaxy, with economic lifelines and military strength capable of shaking the entire star system. Lai Shu not only possesses S-rank mental strength and commands the White Crow Legion, the Empire's blade, but is also the Anlin Empire's fifth prince.

That sounds like a life of immense power, honor, and prestige.

But he is a female.

In the Empire's political marriage alliance, he inevitably became a sacrifice.

He was stripped of his military post and forced into humiliation at the hands of a male.

Broken bones and ground into the dirt: this seemed to be Lai Shu's inescapable fate...

Until Lai Shu truly got to know this male, he had no idea how wrong his expectations for the future had been.

In an insect society with a strict hierarchy, Xises is a very strange insect. He has the arrogant conviction that everyone except him is an idiot, and he loves writing melodramatic novels.

His goal in life: run over every insect.

Later, he revised his goal a little: run over every insect except his female consort!

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Lai Shu and Xises both thought they were very reserved insects. Then one day, while cleaning the room, Lai Shu pulled open a drawer and a pile of little toys that would have to be censored tumbled out.

Xises, just coming through the door with a thick album of photos: Darling, why do you have my photo... album...

Oh dear. Who should explain first?

[Bonus scene]

Lai Shu asks: My esteemed male consort, why is your online handle "Gaga"?

Xises: Because I go around killing everything in sight, ga-ga!

Naturally defiant, cool-headed bottom x Ill-tempered, unhinged top

Lai Shu is the bottom, and Xises is the top.

No children. The top makes the first move. Both are strong, and the top is only a tiny bit weaker than the bottom in physical strength.

Things to know before reading:

1. The top isn't a traditional male, but he is a native of this world. So early on, when he doesn't like the bottom, he won't stop him from certain "feminine virtues" behaviors. [The plot gets more attention than the romance, and the sweet parts outweigh the angst.]

2. This is an insect society! Don't judge it by the standards of a normal society! The characters' values have nothing to do with the author! The original setting comes from Fengxiang Yunzhi. Some elements have been changed for this novel. This is a fictional setting with no connection to reality. Please don't apply it to real life.

3. The story mostly follows the bottom's perspective. It's a one-on-one romance, and they're each other's only partner. The protagonists aren't perfect; they're both strong and incredibly cool. The author is a little chuunibyou, and there's some, but not much, emphasis on gender equality (highlighted). Readers devoted to either the top or the bottom should enter with caution. The writing in the early chapters is very amateurish, so feel free to drop the story if you can't get through it. [Important.]

4. The top and bottom love each other deeply and dote on each other.

5. Please be gentle with suggestions and bug reports. Don't pollute the comment section, and no trolls.

6. There are lots of personal worldbuilding choices in a vast universe. Expect ABO, sentinel-guide, and other settings to appear.

7. The story idea was screenshotted on 2023.2.20

Theme: As steadfast as bamboo and pine.