But I'm Straight!

[Proud, straightforward beauty bottom x scheming, unhinged younger top]

A Villain Who Seems Loyal is a novel where readers vote on the love interest. It tells the story of Chu Zhe, the protagonist bottom, who crawls out of the Cold Palace and gradually ascends to the throne.

Shi Xian somehow transmigrated into the book as the villainous chancellor, who shared his name.

In public, the villain was elegant and refined, the very picture of an aristocrat. In private, he was consumed by unrequited love, turning love into hatred and forcing himself on Chu Zhe. His fate was easy to guess: in the original story, the love interests skinned Shi Xian, tore out his bones, and tortured him to death.

Shi Xian sighed and rubbed his forehead. He was straight, so he wasn't going to join the competition to become the number-one top. The love interests could fight it out among themselves.

Still, as a proper villain, Shi Xian had a former chancellor as his father, who was now past fifty, and a crowd of loyal, villainous followers beneath him.

To stay alive, he had to get along with the protagonists, top and bottom, to prevent the tragedy in the book from happening. At the same time, he had to lead his villainous followers onto the straight and narrow to keep them from being executed and exiled.

Thanks to Shi Xian's tireless efforts, he really did manage to stay alive.

But can someone explain why he was the one who ended up being forced into love?!

*

Chu Zhe grew up in the Cold Palace, witnessing the fickleness of human relationships and learning that the only way to rise was to fight for what he wanted.

The first time he met Shi Xian, he sensed that Shi Xian treated him differently.

No one is kind for no reason. Chu Zhe wanted to know what Shi Xian was trying to get from him.

Chu Zhe assumed Shi Xian wanted power, money, and status, so he did whatever it took to ascend the throne, until he could give Shi Xian everything he wanted.

But he never expected to receive a memorial requesting retirement and a return to his hometown after becoming emperor.

After ordering his chief minister, who had tried to flee in the middle of the night, to be tied to the imperial bed, Chu Zhe's eyes filled with hurt and madness. "Grand Councilor, you promised to rule this vast empire by my side. Why are you going back on your word?"

Shi Xian raised his hand and slapped him. "You brat! You meant by my side in bed?"

* The protagonist is adored by everyone: they fall for his looks, then stay for his character.

* One-on-one pairing, Chu Zhe is the love interest.

* The original protagonist bottom becomes the top. The top is pure in body and heart. He was a work-obsessed maniac, but gained a scheming streak after meeting the protagonist.

* Set in a fictional world with some inspiration from the Ming dynasty. Many details are made up, so don't overanalyze them.

Message: Repay even the smallest kindness a hundredfold