The Second Male Lead Is Supposed to Be the Dragon-Bound Hero’s Wife

As a major supporting character in an ongoing male-oriented cultivation novel, Shi Zhaorong was born into privilege, possessed stunning looks and extraordinary talent, and was the ringleader of the henchmen who constantly tripped up the protagonist. Every time he appeared, he exuded an air of superiority, putting on an even bigger show than the protagonist and earning the readers' hatred in spades.

So the author took the readers' advice and killed him off.

But the comments section exploded as soon as the chapter went live.

Reader A: Shi Zhaorong is dead? Are you kidding me?

Reader B: Why kill him off? I insulted him because I wanted to see him get humbled, to see the protagonist bring him around. I didn't want him dead.

Reader C: No, that's not how this works. In danmei (crossed out) overpowered-protagonist novels, the second male lead is the protagonist's destined wife. They should start off fighting, turn their hostility into friendship, and ultimately face life and death together. That's how these novels work.

Faced with a flood of criticism, the author immediately fell to their knees: I'll revise it. Right now.

*

Shi Zhaorong dreamed that he would die. When he woke up, he found a System beside him, claiming it had come to help him change his fate.

System: First, you need to change your adversarial relationship with the protagonist. I call this plan “Raising a Loyal Second Male Lead.”

Shi Zhaorong (taking notes): Raise the protagonist into a loyal second male lead.

System: You need to become the protagonist's best friend, worst enemy, most loyal follower, and selfless life mentor...

Shi Zhaorong (taking notes): I need to become the protagonist's father.

System: What are you writing? No, that's not right!

Shi Zhaorong (looking it over): It is right.

*

Meng Shu had a painful past and was cold, proud, and suspicious. A habitual lone wolf, he never imagined that one day a pampered young master would drop out of the sky and force his way in as his companion, as if breaking into his home.

The overpowered protagonist was on guard.

The overpowered protagonist made a probing move.

The overpowered protagonist fell completely.

Shi Zhaorong was born into privilege, but had a wonderful personality. He was generous and kind, unable to bear seeing others suffer. He was naive about worldly matters, but fiercely protective of those close to him. Shi Zhaorong, Shi Zhaorong... Shi Zhaorong was wonderful. The only problem was that he treated everyone else just as well.

He didn't want that.

Reader D: Does anyone else feel like this novel is getting stranger and stranger since the rewrite?

Reader E: Delicious. Finally, a normal relationship between the protagonist and second male lead in a male-oriented novel.

Reader F: Is the protagonist trying to win over a brother or a wife? What do you mean he can't live without Shi Zhaorong? What are you doing, author? Come out and explain yourself! Author? Author?

Reader G: Damn it, the author turned this into danmei out of spite. Everyone, run! If you keep reading, you'll see the protagonist kissing the second male lead!

A lighthearted comedy. A refined, pampered young master with a decent grasp of human nature as the Shou x a cold-faced cool guy who later becomes a cold-faced jealous guy, clingy puppy, gloomy green-tea schemer... In short, an overpowered protagonist who will stop at nothing for his wife as the Gong.

Not a story about redemption. It's about leaving the beginner's village, meeting a max-level succubus, and falling for him despite trying with all his might (he really doesn't).

Upcoming novel

Upcoming novel: I’m Just a Shadow Guard

I'm just a shadow guard. You can't pay me a little money and expect me to do the work of a male supporting character, female supporting character, male lead, or female lead. I'm just a shadow guard. Pay me thirty thousand and I'm your trusted aide; pay me three thousand and I'm your greatest threat. I'm just a shadow guard

My charge is trying to get himself killed again. I'll go take a look.

He won't die. Carry on.

In short, I'm a shadow guard. If you have a job for me, find me on a recruitment site. You get what you pay for, and I don't cheat anyone.

*

Luo Yi transmigrated into a book and became a shadow guard working for the villainous big boss. He was a nobody who didn't need to appear on-page or suffer any hardships. All he had to do was hide in the shadows and watch the main characters act out their tragic love story. His only goal was to save enough for retirement before his boss was written out of the story.

That was how it was supposed to go.

Luo Yi covered his backside and silently shed tears.

A resentful shadow guard Shou who isn't professional but deeply respects his paycheck. The Gong is his boss, the one who is driven to laugh in exasperation by him every day.

The title is tentative and may change when the novel begins.

Theme: Amid the turmoil of the mundane world, keep your pure heart unstained