this week in short fiction

She became the young mistress of the most powerful family in City T by marrying the young master in place of her sister. He was cold to her on their first nuptial night. "Just because you played some tricks to get yourself married here, you still mean nothing to me!" However, she was calm and heartless. "Young Master Mu, don't think too highly of yourself. I despise all that is you — your money and your very being!" After the wedding, Young Master Mu lived lavishly by spending money like flowing during the day while working his nights away busily. "You said you despised me earlier. Well, which part of me do you despise exactly, hmm?" Luo Chenxi could not bear the harassment any longer so she tossed out the divorce papers in rage. "I can't live like this much longer..."

Be an Uber driver, one Pagani Zonda rewarded. Be a university lecturer, 10 buildings rewarded. Be a landlord, 1billion dollars rewarded. Be… Lin Yi was fired by his company and his girlfriend cheated on him. After all that had happened, he suddenly awakened the professional experience system. He could keep receiving awards as long as he kept trying and experiencing new professions? There is no job that Lin Yi isn’t familiar with! If there is, that means that the reward isn’t enticing enough!

Sarah Hill is an introvert who does not want to attract attention. Other than mad coding skills, Sarah knows how to throw a punch. She believes that her biggest problem is the existence of the hacker Omega and her world flips upside-down when the most popular guy on campus approaches her. What does he want? Why her? (Ah, Sarah, that is only the beginning.) JoAnna Hill easily makes friends with her bubbly personality. Some call her a mad scientist, but she prefers ‘Dr. Hill’, because that is what she is. JoAnna is an excellent markswoman who can snipe out any target and she is wondering if her prince charming will ever come. Sophia Hill is the voice of reason, their pillar of support. She is a confident CEO who knows how to get what she wants. Sophia’s degree in law combined with amazing capabilities to analyze the situation and plan ahead make her the perfect strategist (to achieve a goal without ending up in jail). This is a story of three Hill sisters who are navigating through challenges while they uncover the complicated story behind their maternal side of the family. And their father is not a simple man either. Every sister is different, and so are their relationships. They all have in common: trust and belief that if they work together, anything is possible. Mature content! 18+ ***SPOILER? - START *** The story starts with a focus on the youngest sister (Sarah). After about 100 chapters, the oldest sister (Sophia) gets in the romantic spotlight. JoAnna finds herself pulled into romance last, at about 200 chapter mark. ***SPOILER? - END *** Excerpt from the novel... "Do you believe in destiny?", Sarah broke the silence. "Destiny?" Aiden didn't expect such a question. "Yes. The thing that is meant to happen, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. And when it does happen, everything feels right." "Why would you ask me such a thing?" "Until a few weeks ago I would say that there is no such thing as destiny. That we are all masters of our lives and that everything depends on our actions, or lack of it. But I can't help but wonder: why did I not push you away? ... Why does it feel like everything will be OK as long as we are together? ... You are a piece of me that I never knew was missing. Is this destiny?" "Mmm... if that is destiny, then I approve it.", Aiden lightly kissed Sarah's shoulder and rested his chin on it. --- 1st WARNING!!! Contains descriptions of intimate scenes. If you are not comfortable with that, don’t read it! --- 2nd WARNING!!! This is my first novel! :) --- ***** I own the cover. ***** Check out my other novels: * "Accident Prone" * "Amara - Reunion" * "The Alpha's Bride" * "The Supreme Alpha"

Lu Qingshan, a renowned player ranked in the top ten of the Sword Cultivators' leaderboard in "Nine Heavens," had been reincarnated into the very game world for which he had always strived. Sword Cultivator, a class in "Nine Heavens," known for dealing the highest damage but also having the least amount of health, leading to their nickname "Brute." In this life, Lu Qingshan had still chosen the path of the Sword Cultivator. However, this Sword Cultivator seemed a bit too stable???

It all started when the protagonist downloaded a game called "The Fool (Beta Version)," marking a pivotal shift in the style of his life. This was no ordinary game; it lacked visuals and music, composed solely of lines of text and a multitude of choices. Yet, each decision within the game had the power to alter the player's destiny, for on the other side of the game lay a real, unknown world. Players were unable to physically enter this otherworld or see its landscapes, experiencing the alternate realm solely through text, vicariously living each step of their character's journey. As the game progressed, not only could rewards from the game materialize in the real world, but creatures from the game began to appear in reality as well. Then came the day the game was released for global public testing. An era quietly unfolded, where the masses embarked on explorations and treasure hunts in an alternate universe through 'textual adventure,' heralding a new chapter of engagement and discovery.

She died with her eyes wide open, waiting by the river for three days and three nights, only to be greeted not by her husband, but by her benefactor. As she looked at the blurred figure, her heart was deeply moved, and she silently made a vow: if she could be reborn, she would definitely marry him!... Later, she really was reborn.

In the twenty-seventh year of Hong Guang, the allied forces of seven nations invaded the Great Blue Dynasty. Rifled muskets, mortars, and armored vehicles combined into a steel tide, were ultimately shattered by the Great Blue's armored cavalry. Muscle, magic, firearms, cannons... the new and the old powers continuously collided. In an era of great strife, Li Fei, with the help of a Ten Thousand Blood Bead, gradually became an existence akin to a BOSS: 'Is this the extent of your damage? You haven't even taken off one-thousandth of my health.' 'You don't think this is enough to kill me, do you?' 'Don't rush, the second phase is up next!' ......

To survive, the unfortunate Gong Qiying, who became the lord of the Sein Dungeon, had to make his dungeon extremely "hellish": Doors that "cannot be opened from this side", treasure chests "triggering teleport traps", a three hundred and sixty-five mile journey from the starting point to the BOSS room with no place to rest, monster knights with great bows on either side of a narrow bridge, and sinister ambushes around corners. There's also unavoidable visits to poisonous pits and hidden paths... Additionally, well-known fighters like Isshin Ashina, the Furnace Knight, Rajang, and the Scourge Legion bring unexpected surprises! Various unique rewards such as the Flaming Sword, Murky Hand Scythe, Rapid Slash Longsword, Sacred Oath, and Flame Empowerment will make you too happy to contain your joy! Gong Qiying: The most important thing in my dungeon is to ensure adventurers have fun!

In previous life, she was ignorant and naive. She was a "villain" owning a horrible reputation ever since childhood. She was framed by her friend, betrayed by her beloved, and ended up alone and died miserably. When she was reborn in the 1980s, she vowed to recognize the true nature of the people around her and work diligently. In this life, she would never let her younger sister die for her again. She will be an excellent female soldier, a pious daughter, and a qualified elder sister. Let's watch how she goes all in, saving her sister from great distress. She will turn the tide and lead her family through the reform and opening-up, striving for prosperity and a better life.

Chen Yuan found that his superpowers refreshed every week. The first week, he noticed a red number attached to any object that exhibited signs of life, ranging from hundreds, thousands, to tens of thousands, and more. The smallest number he had ever seen was 0.00001, atop a teddy bear. A second later, a large truck crushed it. The second week, he discovered he could hear others' inner voices, uncontrollable. Whatever they thought, they would continuously pour into his head, keeping him from daring to visit places like subways and shopping malls. Moreover, he no longer dared to directly look at the girl with bangs sitting in the back seat who usually kept quiet... Subsequently, he refreshed other special abilities such as Dream Connection and Body Swapping. Several weeks later, his superpowers stopped updating. After several peaceful days, he was ready to return to his normal life. Yet, a girl wearing red stood under a gingko tree, tilted her head at him, and asked: "Can you see me?"