reluctant steps forward

# STUBBORN Ming Yao suffered from severe insomnia. In her last life, she had even died because of it. Coming back to life once more, she woke up to a moody tyrant husband by her side. The man threw divorce papers at her. “Sign it! We’re getting a divorce!”Ming Yao signed the agreement without a word. However, she regretted it in less than a night. She realized that she still suffered from severe insomnia in this life. No medicine could cure her, and the only thing that made her fall asleep was her husband’s clear, crisp breathing. Everyone said that Madam Gu loved Fourth Master Gu. Even though she was abused all day long, she still treated him like her first love. Until one day, Ming Yao finally developed a drug for her insomnia. At the banquet, she held a superstar’s arm with a bright smile, then threw divorce papers at Gu Siye.“Mr. Gu, the papers have been signed. From now on, we’ll have nothing to do with each other!” Fourth Master Gu tore up the papers on the spot. He shoved her into a corner, his eyes sharp. “It’s fine if you want to leave, but return what you stole first!” “What did I steal?” “My heart!”Everyone ridiculed Ming Yao for being ignorant, incompetent, and frivolous. They waited for Fourth Master Gu to kick her out. Some media outlets boldly revealed that Ming Yao was dating the number one hacker in the world. The number one hacker: “Who spread such rumors? That’s my master!” Not long after, the media revealed that Ming Yao entered and left the same hotel as a luxury designer. The number one designer: “She’s my boss.” Seeing the woman dating different men every day, Fourth Master Gu was furious. He bit the woman’s lips and declared to the whole world, “Mrs. Gu belongs to me! Who dares to spread baseless scandals again?!”

At 29, Zoe Xu died in a fatal car crash. In her last moments, she saw her husband Hugh Pei hugging Lila Wei—his "true love"—and learned of her family’s bankruptcy. This became the cruel end to her marriage, which had started as a business alliance.​ But fate reset her life. Zoe woke up three months into her marriage, still unbroken by Hugh’s emotional neglect and clinging to a faint hope for their relationship. This time, the proud City A heiress refused to submit. She ignored Hugh’s coldness, handed him divorce papers first, and focused on reclaiming her family’s losses—her past love and hatred now gone.​ Yet things shifted. Hugh, who once treated home like a hotel, started returning on time and brought her hot coffee during late work nights. His odd behavior unsettled Zoe: was it the butterfly effect of her rebirth, or a new plot?​ A surprise waited at "Encounter Café": Lila Wei, whom Hugh cherished, worked there, smiling brightly. But Zoe saw pure innocence in Lila’s eyes—maybe this "true love" never knew she was a "weapon" against Zoe. As Hugh and Lila fell in love again, Zoe wondered: is revenge the only way?​ From endurance to strength, Zoe regained her family’s honor in business while untangling her emotions. Hugh’s late affection, Lila’s innocence, and her own self-discovery wove a complex web. She finally understood: rebirth isn’t about hatred, but choice—drown in the past, or chase a future that’s hers.​ This is a story of female awakening: when marriage’s illusion and the "perfect rival’s" halo break, a battle for self begins. Amid the city’s neon, two growing souls collide, bringing sweet-anguish emotional chess, a satisfying comeback, and courage to rebuild from ruins.​ This urban romance—mixing second chances, strong leads, and real reflections—will pull you in. Life has no true do-overs, but we always hold the power to rewrite our endings.

Why does the King want to take the daughter of a country noble as his bride? Aren't there so many other women more qualified to marry him??? It has been a few months since the second Prince conquered the throne through a path of blood. One of his first decrees states he will marry the daughter of Duke Bursio, Veronica. Yet, the girl is more than unwilling. And not only because of the ferocious reputation of the young tyrant. She has a secret to keep, and becoming the Queen of Alba would be a risk she's reluctant to take. She is the Princess of Mages. Her powers shall be hidden, for the church persecutes anyone with some affinity with magical arts. Avoiding the King's orders is impossible until she comes up with a plan: she can't get married twice, right? As such, she just has to find another man that will accept her and perform the sacred ceremony before the King has the chance to get his hands on her. The guard at her door, Ignis, seems just the perfect person. They knew each other as children, and this unexpected reunion looks like the last opportunity fate has to offer. WARNING: smut. The cover is mine. Don't use it without permission. *** From the story: I bend lower, approaching his lips. I keep a close distance from our mouths so that they don't touch, but not enough to avoid my breath tickling him when I talk. «Can you swear you won't complain no matter what I do?» «I can. I won't fight back against you, Veronica. I swear it on my honour and my life.» «That's so tempting, you know? Letting me do whatever I want...» I pull the side of the shirt apart, detaching the two buttons I forgot to undo. «Are you sure I'm a little lamb who won't take advantage of your offer?» I place a digit on his chest, making sure he feels the nail pressing. Since he doesn't react, I scratch him. Not too deep, just enough to make him realise I'm not joking. No reaction at all. Not even a frown. Not a single word. «Oh, I'm ready to test your honour tonight,» I whisper, dragging my hand on his stomach. *** Chat with the author! Discord: bit.ly/discordxiaohai Instagram and Facebook: xiaohai_23 Kofi: ko-fi.com/xiaohai_23 My other works: - Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen (historical romance, completed) - Destined: the Vampire's Soulmate (fantasy romance, completed) - Unexpected Gift (sci-fi romance, ongoing, free)

Betrayed. Beaten. Buried. Until she wakes up - alive, angry, and done being obedient. This time, Sabrina won't beg for love. She'll take back her pride, expose their lies, and burn every bridge that once held her down. But her cold, controlling husband Cassian doesn't plan to let go. A diamond mine? Hers. A fortune? Hers. Freedom? Never. When she demands a divorce, he offers power. When she says he's not enough, he shows her just how wrong she is. She was once their victim. Now, she's their reckoning.

After getting hit by a bus, Edward gets sent to another world, forced to complete a mission to save it, which he successfully accomplishes. But just as he's about to enjoy his well-deserved hero life, a cosmic screw-up by the goddess sends him back to Earth. On the very same day, while saving his sister, Edward gets hit by a bus again, ending up back in front of the goddess. Now, in accepting a new reincarnation, he brings the goddess along to a new world, aiming for a peaceful life. However, he discovers that his fate is tied to saving a useless webnovel protagonist, complicating his aspirations for peace. "Well, killing all the villains is the easiest way to do that."

Follow the captivating journey of Lian Dao, once a promising basketball talent whose career was derailed by a devastating injury. Discovering a mysterious jersey that transports him back in time, he discovers he has a system that grants him extraordinary abilities that elevates his skills to superhuman levels. Empowered by this second chance and driven by newfound determination, he embarks on a quest to reclaim his place in the fiercely competitive world of professional basketball. Navigating the complexities of fame, rivalry, and personal growth, he relies on the system to reshape his destiny as the foremost forward in the NBA. His journey transcends mere success on the court, propelling him towards a singular goal: to transform from a comeback story into the greatest basketball player of all time. --------------- SYSTEM INITIALIZING … … … NBA TALENT INHERITANCE SYSTEM ACTIVATED ---------------

Step 1: Find yourself an overpowered Awakener. Not just any Awakener, mind you; aim for the one who takes down bosses solo, preferably with a scowl. They’re the ticket to your hassle-free existence. Step 2: Power up your Awakener. Feed them, encourage them, and let them do all the XP grinding. The stronger they are, the safer you’ll be. Step 3: Marry the Awakener. Lock it down, officially. With this, your safety is practically guaranteed. Step 4: Relax and let the Awakener handle the world’s chaos. You’re now free to enjoy your easy, drama-free life. (Well, mostly.) --- P.S. 1. Steps 2 and 3 are totally interchangeable—or combine them. It worked for me. 2. Forget heroes; look for the anti-hero. The selfish ones, villains? That’s where your real safety lies. 3. You may need to deal with some light trauma cleanup now and then, but it’s no biggie. 4. Not foolproof, but hey, it worked for me! *** Lol it's romance okay, no fight scenes, no system interface cause I'm too lazy to do that research, just romance a hot man,hot woman and some smut here. And a plot. [Two chapters daily] [Please comment and review, votes too]

In a world ruled by magic crystals, Luther Isan is anything but ordinary. After a twist of fate throws him into the pages of the dreadful novel Magic Crystals Reign Supreme—a book he loathes with all his heart—he awakens inside the body of a character so minor he appeared only once and was promptly forgotten. But fate has other plans. To his horror, Luther discovers he possesses a power long thought impossible: the ability to wield magic without the aid of a crystal. A gift so rare, it sparks fear, awe, and suspicion in equal measure. When he accidentally saves the novel’s protagonist, Luther is mistaken for the “Child of the Gods” and proclaimed as the world’s saint. Suddenly, every faction wants a piece of him—while all he wants is to run far, far away. Armed with nothing but sarcasm, bad luck, and a desperate wish to escape, Luther is dragged into idiotic situations, endless misunderstandings, and world-saving duties he never signed up for. And to make things worse, the true protagonists of the book have now been ordered to guard him at all costs. Can a man who just wants peace survive being the most “important” person alive? Or will the world’s fate be doomed… because their so-called saint is the ultimate reluctant hero?

Synopsis In the quaint village of Turnipton, Marcus Griddle is a humble farmer with a simple life: tending to crops, avoiding chicken escapades, and enjoying the quiet. But everything changes when a mysterious voice from the sky informs him he has been chosen as the Hero of Light, tasked with defeating a Dark Lord and saving the world. Reluctantly thrust into a heroic role, Marcus discovers he possesses a quirky "Hero System" that insists he begin his journey immediately—complete with a shiny sword, a mothball-scented cloak, and boots that reflect his bewildered expression. As he grapples with threats to his farming productivity and the absurdity of his situation, Marcus sets out on an adventure that challenges his notions of heroism. With a blend of humor, unexpected challenges, and the unlikeliest of allies, Marcus learns that heroes can come in all shapes and sizes. Join him as he navigates a world of magic, mayhem, and self-discovery, all while trying to save his beloved turnips.

Kaelen accidentally becomes the “hero” after saving a village from a powerful sorceress who was testing a curse there. After that, he gains his Wrath Points system, with cryptic messages telling him he’s been “chosen to unite the kingdom” or some other nonsense he tries hard to ignore. However, as his abilities grow, so does the attention he gets from unusual allies—many of whom are attractive women who develop…mixed feelings about him.