After the Most Miserable Cannon Fodder in the Book Is Reborn

The apocalypse arrived, and a tide of zombies broke out.

Shu Hanqing survived for years in the post-apocalyptic world. At the height of his glory, he was killed by the lover who had once protected him. Only after his death did he discover that he lived in a book, where he was the most tragic cannon-fodder character. No matter how hard he tried, all he did was move the plot forward and pave the way for someone else.

The gentle person he'd secretly loved for years, his lover with astounding combat abilities, and the mysterious doctor with a brilliant mind were all members of the gloomy protagonist's harem.

Reborn, Shu Hanqing lit a cigarette with a wistful sigh. "...Your world is so crowded. I'll sit this one out."

A story about a protagonist with a natural ability to attract admirers, who loses his drive after being reborn and just wants to be a background character, but can't get his wish.

They don't all date at the same time; the relationships happen at different times.

Contestant No. 1: Gentle next-door team captain Mu Ye (fire ability)

Contestant No. 2: Forceful, domineering leader Lei Zheng (lightning ability)

Contestant No. 3: Mad scientist doctor Yan Shenyun (psychic ability)

Contestant No. 4: A top-notch schemer with a gloomy disposition, Rong Hua (plant ability)

Take your pick.

Coming soon: No A9, No Rescue

Yun Sui transmigrates into the protagonist of an old-fashioned novel about picking up men off the street. The System's mission for him: pick up the male lead, save his life, then go through an unforgettable love-and-hate romance, marry into a wealthy family, and live the life of a pampered rich wife, dressed in finery and spending money like water.

With a cautious attitude toward picking up random men, Yun Sui has strict standards. No ugly men, no short men, and anyone with assets below A9 need not apply. Nobody is going to ruin his dream of marrying rich.

After waiting and waiting, Yun Sui's place is practically turned into a first-aid station for the injured. Then one day, he finally finds two men lying side by side in the roadside grass. They look like they've been through a fierce fight, with rumpled clothes and injuries. One has a cut on his head, and the other has a bandage around his arm. Both are unconscious, but even so, their handsome faces are each stunning in their own way.

Yun Sui doesn't know which one is the real male lead, so he takes them both home.

The man with the head injury is clean-cut and has nothing of value on him. His ID card in his wallet bears two characters: Yan Su. As for the man with the injured arm, the several black cards and limited-edition leather wallet found on him are proof enough of his enormous wealth. His name is Zhuang Zhengyu.

Yun Sui takes one look at Zhuang Zhengyu and knows he's his future husband.

While they recover, Yun Sui naturally devotes all his attention to Zhuang Zhengyu, making soup, bringing medicine, fussing over him, and stealing affectionate glances at him whenever he can. His intentions are practically an open secret. Zhuang Zhengyu seems to enjoy it, too. They exchange flirtatious looks, the atmosphere grows ambiguous, and before long, Yun Sui is pregnant.

Zhuang Zhengyu tells him that Yan Su is one of his underlings.

Once they recover, Zhuang Zhengyu takes Yun Sui away. They get engaged, get married, and have two children in three years. Being a rich family's daughter-in-law isn't easy: there are countless rules, and Yun Sui has to keep an eye out for all the women throwing themselves at Zhuang Zhengyu.

*

Just as Yun Sui discovers he's pregnant again and hasn't yet told his husband, who's away on a business trip, he sits in the manor's garden drinking freshly squeezed juice made by the servants. He's musing that it would be nice if their third child were a girl, so they could have the character for "good" in the family. Then the System, which has been gone for almost four years, suddenly springs back to life in his mind.

"Host, the plot has deviated significantly. You saved the wrong person! Zhuang Zhengyu is not the male lead of this story. He's the main villain. Yan Su is the male lead."

Yun Sui's hand holding the juice jerks, and he blurts out, "...Excuse me?"

*

Only after learning that the husband he'd shared a bed with for three years was the story's greatest villain does Yun Sui begin to realize what a terrifying person lies beneath Zhuang Zhengyu's refined and elegant exterior.

He treats Yan Su like a dog, playing him in the palm of his hand. He stole everything Yan Su was supposed to have, including important resources and status, and even... the male lead's wife.

What can Yun Sui do? The baby in his belly is almost three months along, and Zhuang Zhengyu promised that if this one is a girl, he'd give him an island.

Just as Yun Sui tries to convince himself that it's fine if his husband is a villain, as long as he's good to him, Yan Su suddenly regains his memories.

*

The real male lead carefully seeks Yun Sui out, since Yun Sui once saved his life.

"Sister-in-law," Yan Su says, "take the children and come with me. They've found something that can bring Zhuang Zhengyu down. I don't want you to get hurt."

Yun Sui looks at Yan Su's earnest, sincere face. Damn it, the male lead wants to ruin my dream of marrying rich!

Yun Sui decides to lie low beside the male lead for now and see what terrible things Zhuang Zhengyu has done. If nobody's been killed and he hasn't crossed the line, Yun Sui can still try to save his children's father. After all, he's picked up so many men, and they can all be useful connections.

Unexpectedly, a few months later, Zhuang Zhengyu comes after him.

It is a gloomy afternoon. Yun Sui, his belly now beginning to show, is being helped by Yan Su as he prepares to get into an unremarkable black car. A long black luxury car suddenly cuts them off.

The door opens, and Zhuang Zhengyu steps out, followed by several bodyguards. His face holds none of the gentle smile Yun Sui knows. Instead, he wears a sinister, chilling smile as if he'd crawled out of hell. "Wife, I've been looking everywhere for you."

Yun Sui sees his gaze fixed on his belly. "W-wait! Honey! Let me explain!"

Zhuang Zhengyu looks past him at Yan Su. The smile at the corner of his mouth grows, but his voice is cold enough to crystallize the air. "It's my fault, darling. I failed to protect you. Don't worry, I'll chop up the adulterer and feed him to the dogs. As for this bastard..."

Yun Sui: "…"

He looks down at his round belly, then at Zhuang Zhengyu's terrifying expression, which doesn't look like a joke at all. He feels that his dream of marrying rich hasn't been shattered yet, but Zhuang Zhengyu himself might be the first thing to break.

He becomes a powerful figure while trying to save his husband.

A super-pickup-artist with an impressive network, the recipient, x a refined, sinister villain, the pursuer.

Theme: Be happy every day