This one is on hold for now. I've rewritten it and put the new version in my collection as an upcoming story. It's the same basic idea, but I'm not writing it yet. I'll work on another story first.
Gu Ji is an ordinary person, slogging through a 996 work schedule. One day, he drops dead. He thought death would set him free, but even dead, he's still a wage slave. No salary, and now he's working 007!
That's really something.
Every night, he's afraid to sleep too deeply, worried he'll die in his dreams one day.
You ask why?
Anyone would lose sleep if they had a mad villain and a pair of protagonists who hate each other so much they're ready to destroy the world.
Gu Ji: Great. Ever since I awakened, I don't need sleep or food anymore, and I'm practically dead inside.
Great, now I can work even harder for that unscrupulous System!
Haha, he's not crazy. He's not crazy.
As a foil to the protagonists' intelligence, Gu Ji has been saddled with a full-on villain filter. Whatever he does, he's branded as sinister and scheming.
As a result, he gets killed off before he even makes it through three chapters.
Gu Ji's mission is to survive while buried under layer upon layer of villain filter and to advance the romance between the protagonist gong and protagonist shou.
Gu Ji: If you want to kill me, just say so.
But to stay alive, Gu Ji grits his teeth and accepts his fate.
It's just that these big shots all seem to be crazy:
He stares into space.
Everyone: So calculating. Truly terrifying.
He gives an awkward laugh.
Everyone: Such a twisted sense of humor. Truly terrifying.
He breathes.
Everyone: Such an overwhelming presence. Truly terrifying.
Gu Ji: ...
The villain filter is truly terrifying.
And so, from this moment on, a generation's greatest show-off was born.
This is the tragic tale of an ordinary guy tormented by a villain filter.
Content notes:
1. Keep your eyes open: this has two male leads. If that's not your thing, don't read it.
2. No secret identity reveals and no awkward antics.
3. A little bit of everyone-loves-the-protagonist, but focused on friendship.
4. The protagonist has a knack for enjoying the spectacle, though he doesn't know it himself.
5. He doesn't have a strong moral compass, but don't hate on him. If you don't like it, keep your distance.
6. The author is a bit of a ditz, but will try to make the protagonist sensible, so feel free to point out anything that doesn't make sense. I'll fix it.
7. This is the author's personal fantasy made public. Don't be obnoxious in the comments.
8. Don't insult me, and don't insult Gu Ji.
Theme: Being alive is enough
