Hey, Wasn't I Supposed to Be the Dragon-Proud Protagonist?

[This story is also known as The Childhood Friends’ Adventure ovo] * Qin Yu, an eighteen-year-old college student, transmigrates into a book one day, becoming the male lead of a traditional betrothal-breaking, power-leveling story from a popular web-fiction site. College student Qin Yu: “...” Huh? Me? From the start, his parents are dead, his family is in decline, and he’s surrounded by predators. The only reason they haven’t made a move is that they’re wary of his fiancée’s family. He’s the male lead of a betrothal-breaking story, so naturally, he’s going to get dumped. His fiancée, whom he’s never met, comes to break off their engagement. She’s arrogant and declares, “Fu is the one I love! You’re not even worth one of his fingers! Qin Yu, you’d better know your place and stop pestering me!” Qin Yu rolls his eyes. “So, is the Fu you love here?” His fiancée is at a loss for words. After a round of betrothal-breaking face-slapping, Qin Yu coolly delivers all the lines every overpowered hero has to say, then unexpectedly “binds” himself to a young boy in the audience who’s been watching the whole thing. Oblivious to everyone’s stunned expressions, Qin Yu, a master of trash talk but with zero actual fighting ability, successfully takes the young boy aboard the ship of a fugitive. * From then on, Qin Yu sets out on the path of a protagonist A famed sword recognizes him as its master, and a top-tier sword spirit teaches him. A generation-defining sword cultivator emerges. Millennia-old spirit herbs are always within reach. The Immortal Spirit Sect teaches him alchemy, and the mysterious alchemist is worth a fortune to meet. At the first immortal sect’s recruitment ceremony, even the reclusive old ancestor makes an exception for him, declaring that he’ll accept no one but Qin Yu. Qin Yu grows more and more bold and carefree, following his heart as he rises to ever-greater heights. The cool-eyed young Fu Yu, whom he’s dragged along with him, has extraordinary talent and walks by his side. The two become the youngest revered masters in the history of the cultivation world, with no rivals anywhere under heaven! * But somehow, word gets out that Qin Yu once had his engagement broken off, and it quickly becomes a joke throughout the cultivation world. Remembering that, and seeing that the woman has lately been hanging around Fu Yu from time to time, Qin Yu, vengeful and consumed by jealousy, pays her a visit. “Fu Yu and I are in love! Go find your Fu and stop pestering Fu Yu.” Fu Yu: “...Wait, Qin...” The woman looks at Fu Yu with tear-filled eyes. “Brother Fu Yu.” Qin Yu: “...” He grits his teeth and glares at Fu Yu. “Since when were you and her in love?” Fu Yu: “She’s talking nonsense...” “Just you wait tonight.” Fu Yu: “...Okay.” One day, this guy who gets jealous anytime, anywhere is going to kill him in bed. One-sentence summary: I came for you, I exist because of you. One glance, and spring blossoms. [Sunny, upbeat, overpowered hero top × noble, pure childhood-friend bottom] [Sweet on the surface, dark underneath × cute despite the poker face] (The top is a childish brat in the early chapters, a total menace! The bottom is more mild-mannered, a little robot, as the top puts it.) Reader’s guide (made up as I went): 1. I revise the story from time to time, usually to fix typos and the order of events, and sometimes to add a hint I forgot to include. The plot is a wild horse with the reins off, so what you see may not be what you get. Or maybe it’s a case of promising one thing and delivering another (?) 2. The two boys get along like real brothers early on, but later they can’t live without each other. Together forever! 3. Soft, cuddly couples for old-timers like me :p 4. The couple will not be separated or switched around! No top/bottom control wars! No top/bottom control wars! Please don’t interrupt our little couple while they’re falling in love 🥺 5. The title comes from the “Aren’t I a genius prodigy?” meme. At its heart, this is a story about searching for the perfect timeline. 6. I don’t like calling anyone “the original top,” and there is no such thing. I usually just say “the protagonist.” That identity involves spoilers, so I won’t explain it in detail. Just know that the couple’s love is pure 🥺 7. No secondary couples! Just a wild adventure with the two of them 😘 8. The author’s mental state is like what you see on my profile. All I can do is clutch my head and cry; I’m no good with words. When a comment catches my interest, I’ll just go wild with likes and mysterious red envelopes. (↑ I recently found out that people get notified when I like something, so I’ll be selective with likes, but I read every comment.) Regardless, thank you for getting to know my work and feeding me with your comments. 9. I’ll add more if I think of anything (oez) A real little extra: For a while, Fu Yu came down with a serious illness. Qin Yu was so careful with him that he was afraid he’d melt if he held him in his mouth, or break if he held him in his hands. There were plenty of other troubles at the time, and the cultivators could only turn to the famous duo for help. Fu Yu was recovering, of course, so they couldn’t ask him. But Qin Yu became so difficult to deal with after Fu Yu got hurt that those seeking his help had no choice but to go to Fu Yu instead. Fu Yu was ill and weak, yet still had to handle all these people wailing and pleading. He was kind and easygoing, and the task really wasn’t difficult for Qin Yu. So he whispered to him from their pillow: “Could you help them?” Qin Yu was cold and arrogant toward outsiders, but very obedient at home. His expression softened. “If you ask me to go, of course I’ll go, but...” Fu Yu understood and kissed him. Qin Yu understood too, pinning him down and kissing him hard in return. Still not satisfied, he shamelessly demanded, “One more.” Today’s haul: two kisses and one bite mark from an embarrassed, angry Fu Yu. New story preview: The Sword Immortal Doesn’t Want to Live Anymore [Wily old fox × naive, inexperienced puppy] No one in the cultivation world doesn’t know Wen Yi, the sword cultivator who ranks first among the Four Masters of Songchi, unmatched by anyone. Though nominally affiliated with the Sword Sect, he is a rogue cultivator without a master. They say he ties his hair with red silk and is always smiling. The Shanhai Sword in his hand can both strike fear into the eight directions and pick flowers from the snow. A sword cultivator like him should have become a sword immortal who would lead the cultivation world. But he suddenly fell in battle against a heavenly demon. His body was never found. Five hundred years passed, and the world changed beyond recognition. The sword immortal of old had become Wen An, a sickly mortal chef who seldom told the truth and loved to joke around. He thought he’d never again have anything to do with cultivators in this life, but then he ran into a young, green immortal lord. The young immortal lord was handsome and spirited, brimming with youthful energy. And he had the audacity to ask Wen Yi to take him as a disciple. Wen Yi: “...” What a disaster. * The young immortal lord is named Sheng Chi, a rising star who’s currently all the rage in the cultivation world. His parents are both members of the Four Masters of Songchi, famous and powerful. ...And old friends of Wen Yi. Sheng Chi’s parents have told him stories about the sword immortal since he was a child. He idolizes the sword immortal and wants to become a great hero just like him. He applies the same idea to his own disciples, using the sword immortal to encourage them. “As long as you work harder, you’ll get a little closer to becoming like the sword immortal.” Wen Yi: “Tsk.” He didn’t know he could be used as a unit of measurement. * At a family banquet, Sheng Chi finally finds the cheap disciple he hasn’t seen in a long time. He’s about to march over and scold the guy for leaving without a word when he sees his parents holding down his cheap disciple and force-feeding him all kinds of snacks. The guy looks more like their son than Sheng Chi does. Sheng Chi: “?” “Let me introduce you. This is your parents’ fellow student, your Uncle-Master Wen Yi.” Wrapped in a thick fur cloak, Wen Yi raises an eyebrow and tilts his head, looking as sly as a fox. “...Master?” Sheng Chi: “...” What a disaster. Theme: Strive with determination and face life with optimism