Don't Take Pity on the Tragic, Beautiful, and Powerful

[Will be completed]

A secretly-in-love, ruthless, smooth-talking general gong × a secretly-in-love, aloof, gentle crown prince shou

Duan Qi was a little snake no one wanted, with neither a family to support him nor cultivation techniques to rely on. Fortunately, the most noble and kind-hearted crown prince in all the heavens was willing to take him in.

The crown prince coiled the filthy little snake around his wrist and spoke softly. “How pitiful. Why don't you keep me company?”

Duan Qi wondered if he'd accidentally eaten another poisonous fruit. Otherwise, why did his whole body feel tingly, as if he were in a daze?

And so, he was taken to the heavenly realm.

*Five hundred years later, a general who had never lost a battle rose through the ranks under Crown Prince Shen Jiang. The last surviving member of the Teng Snake clan, he had a powerful bloodline and mastered his cultivation techniques. No one could stand against the point of his sword.

Unfortunately, this deadly weapon only listened to Shen Jiang.

The world believed Duan Qi was repaying the crown prince for recognizing his talent, but only Duan Qi knew the shameful feelings he harbored for Shen Jiang.

He had fallen for his moon, helplessly, irrepressibly, beyond hope of recovery.

But he could never confess his love.

Later came the war between immortals and demons. A “conclusive” frame-up pushed Duan Qi to the center of a storm, where everyone wanted him silenced.

His own god sent him to hell with his own hands.

Duan Qi wasn't afraid of being shattered to pieces or having his soul destroyed. The one thing he feared was Shen Jiang not believing him.

His greatest fear came true.

*Three hundred years later, Crown Prince Shen Jiang was punished by the Heavenly Dao and sent down to the mortal world to undergo a trial for violating the laws of heaven. The Heavenly Emperor, concerned for the crown prince, specially permitted the God of Fate to accompany him and help him pass the trial safely.

Duan Qi, his appearance transformed, respectfully accepted the decree. He swore he would make the crown prince learn what it meant to regret his actions.

One day, Crown Prince Shen Jiang happened upon a little snake. He thought it would be nothing more than a diversion in his long life, but before he knew it, the snake had quietly and gradually taken up every corner of his heart.

What could be more absurd than falling in love with a subordinate he'd raised himself?

He locked this secret away in his heart, not daring to let anyone find out, especially Duan Qi. So he deliberately kept his distance from him.

But what Shen Jiang didn't know was that while he struggled to keep his feelings in check, someone else was silently falling for him in the darkness and protecting him without a word.

That person happened to be the one he loved.

A little extra:

Duan Qi looked down at Shen Jiang. “Lord Shen, you must know that making a deal with the devil comes at a price.”

Shen Jiang bowed deeply. “I'll do anything you ask.”

“I don't need you to serve me. I want you, the whole of you. Give me pleasure and let go with me. What do you say?”

“...All right.”

The minister Shen Jiang discovers he has a special ability: he can see the numbers above Prince Duan Qi's head, as well as his memories of the past.

For example, right now Duan Qi accepts his gift with a sour look and says he doesn't like it, but his affection score keeps climbing.

He says one thing and means another.

But Shen Jiang gradually becomes lost in this forbidden relationship, sinking deeper and deeper.

Please check out my upcoming story, “The Strategist Feeds Himself to the Demon (Quick Transmigration)”

Yuan Che is a well-known ace Host at the Time Management Bureau. Just before retirement, the director assigns him a new job: love strategist. It's a line of work that never takes you to the battlefield, yet still earns you plenty of recognition.

System: “The new Host's task is to win over the chosen ones in each world. All you need to do is offer them a little guidance from the sidelines and enjoy being a rich, handsome passerby.”

Yuan Che: How is that any different from retiring? I have to take the job!

But why are the chosen ones looking at him more and more strangely?

Much later, the panicking little System clings to Yuan Che's leg and bawls, “Sir, this isn't the world we were supposed to visit. This is a ruined draft world!”

Yuan Che: Danger!

*Future campus story: a carefree young master who lives for food and fun × a dark, ruthless, deranged heir

Yuan Che guides a rookie Host step by step as he approaches the stunning, talented beauty on the mountain peak. Watching the two grow closer, Yuan Che smiles like a proud father.

Until one day, Yuan Che passes a dark alley and accidentally catches the immortal-like beauty from the daytime slicing someone apart, one knife stroke at a time. The man slowly turns to smile at him. “Oh no, you saw me. Shh.”

From then on, Yuan Che lives in constant fear, trying his best to keep his distance from Pei Chen. He even gives up trying to match the rookie with him.

System: Lord Yuan is acting strange.

Rookie: Don't interrupt. Sir has his own way of doing things. Don't mess it up.

One morning, Yuan Che wakes up in an unfamiliar castle, the air reeking of disinfectant. Pei Chen gently draws a knife across his ankle. Its sharp edge is about to pierce his skin and sever his tendons.

Thinking quickly, Yuan Che kisses him in a panic. “Pei Chen, I like you!”

The man's knife pauses.

Yuan Che becomes the most treasured canary of this young master from a prestigious family.

A month later, after Yuan Che goes to great lengths to send Yuan Che to the Federal Police Headquarters, thinking it is all finally over, he spots a man leaning against the entrance to his estate. The man smiles warmly. “Xiao Che, your wings have grown, have they?”

*Cultivation angst story: a free-spirited, down-on-his-luck rogue cultivator × a peerless genius who is not what he seems (twins)

Zheng Ci and Zheng Ji are twin brothers, a secret that must never come to light. An immortal once prophesied that a pair of twins would ultimately destroy the entire cultivation world, so whenever twins are born, only one child is allowed to live.

Zheng Ci basks in the adoration of countless people in the light, while Zheng Ji wanders alone in the darkness. Until one day, someone rekindles Zheng Ji's light. Zheng Ji swears he'll protect and cherish him for the rest of his life, never allowing him to suffer even the slightest grievance.

Unfortunately, that light is destined to be stolen by his twin brother. No one in the world loves Zheng Ji.

Decades of pain erupt in an instant. Zheng Ji burns through the power of his soul to trap Yuan Che, then whispers in his ear, “A Che, don't give me to someone else. Don't abandon me.”

*Western fantasy vampire story: a human hunter who fights anyone who crosses him × a vampire Grand Duke who acts like he dislikes it but secretly loves it (reborn)

*Modern supernatural story: a 007-style corporate drone just trying to get by × the ultimate drama queen, ruler of the uncanny

Theme: Keep striving for what you want.