lanterns and leashes

A woman holds the hand of a young boy, teaching him how to write the character for 'Shi', thus giving him a last name. Mountains and seas hold up lanterns, competing with the bright moon!

Lu Tong spent seven years studying medicine in the mountains, but upon returning home, he found everything had changed. His eldest sister, a victim of foul play, met a tragic end. His elder brother, wrongfully imprisoned, languished in dungeons. His father journeyed to the capital to seek justice, only to meet a watery demise on the road. His mother, driven to madness overnight, perished in flames. Lu Tong packed his medical kit and headed to the capital of Jingzhou. 'Debts must be repaid, and lives must be avenged! 'If there's no judge, then I'll be the judge from Hell!' In the capital, noble families faced successive tragedies, Commander Pei Yunxing quietly investigated the matter, And suspicions fell on a young woman from the Renxin Medical Hall. However... Before he could find evidence, The girl made her move against him first.

Beneath the bamboo, in the misty night, Whispers of sages bring hidden light. Stories of dreams, of fate, of mind, Ancient truths for those who seek and find.

Seraphine Elion was raised to follow duty; born to a bloodline of soldiers whose loyalty ran deeper than love. Callum Virell was groomed for power, heir to the wealthiest business empire in the country. Their fathers as sworn siblings, they promised each other's child in a marriage neither wanted. Six years ago, Sera broke the engagement to pursue love on her own terms. But fate has a cruel sense of irony—when Callum kneels to propose to another, it's Sera who stands before him instead. Bound by family expectations and unspoken histories, the two enter a marriage built on silence, bruised pride, and buried wounds. As Callum clings to memories of his first love, Dahlia, and loses himself in long nights of alcohol and smoke, Sera fights to hold the crumbling pieces together—not just for duty, but for something dangerously close to love. But Sera is not the same woman who once walked away. She’s stronger now. Fiercer. And she’s not here to beg for affection—she’s here to claim the man who was once promised to her. In a world where legacy trumps choice, and desire simmers beneath cold glances and quiet dinners, can two broken souls find something real in a marriage neither chose?

In a world where gods command and mortals obey, Xinyi, a mortal bearer of the Forbidden Flame, and Yichén, a god bound by Heaven’s law, find a love that defies eternity itself. Their bond ignites a rebellion that challenges the Celestial Court, shatters divine decrees, and awakens the forgotten power of choice. Through shadow and flame, war and silence, they must navigate a path between destiny and desire—where every step risks Heaven’s wrath, yet promises a life only they can claim. In the end, it is not power, prophecy, or immortality that defines them—but the quiet courage of love chosen freely.

Prince Zhao Ming spent four years fighting on the northern frontier. When he returned home, the crown was on his younger brother's head. The great war hero, feared by his political rivals and plagued by insomnia, grows more and more isolated, while the imperial court waits for him to fall. Xuan Cheng, the eldest daughter of the newly promoted Duke Ying, has no interest in court politics. She has been forced to hide her talents and opinions, far away from her family and ignored by those who should care for her. During an imperial hunt, Prince Zhao Ming is led away from the destination; an assassination attempt is made against him. He ends up underwater, deep into the river; he finds a relic from the ancient world. It turns out to be from his ancestor ten generations ago. However, the relic captured him, sucking his essence. He is miraculously saved. But the impact was too big – his demonic qi was unsealed, leaving him vulnerable. If he doesn't control it, cultivating death would be a good thing to happen. Enemies are countless; the saviour is one, and he must find this person and make him a strong ally. Unaware of the changes in his body, he deems them as side-effects of migraines and war-wound relapses. And the only person who can cure his meridians and treat his crippling migraine. That is Lady Du. And Xuan Cheng is the closest clue Prince Ming has in finding Lady Du.

In case you're wondering, I'm Stephanie Young, 20 years of age, yet far from being independent. I constantly thought it is a norm for most Asian parents to be overly protective. I'm a typical Asian smarty pants, though I didn't consider myself geeky or nerdy. I'm neither the popular nor the average type, I just see myself different. Seems like everything is as planned until Ethan Hernandez showed up. I honestly felt good around him but the problem is I can sense he is hiding something. There were times that he's super sweet but then there were also times that he is ignoring me like WHAT THE HELL?! I'm finding it difficult to compose myself as I am madly falling in love with him!

Summary Magnus Ashford never believed in fate—until the night he saw Venora Whitmore standing beneath a lantern during a rainy autumn festival. One glance was enough to change the course of his life. The problem was that Venora belonged to the Whitmore family, longtime rivals of the Ashfords. When university forces them to work together, what begins as reluctant partnership slowly turns into an unbreakable friendship. Through late-night texts, shared dreams, quiet moments, and countless unspoken confessions, Magnus falls deeply in love with her. But while his heart belongs entirely to Venora, he never finds the courage to tell her. As their bond grows stronger, a mysterious transfer student named Daniel Hartwell enters their lives, carrying secrets tied to a decades-old scandal that destroyed three families. When hidden truths about the Ashfords, Whitmores, and Daniel's family begin to surface, trust turns into doubt, and love turns into heartbreak. Venora learns a devastating truth that appears to connect Magnus's family to a betrayal that ruined countless lives. Feeling deceived, she pulls away, and the two become enemies despite the love still lingering between them. Yet even through their anger, Magnus continues to protect her—risking everything to save her again and again, even taking a bullet meant for her. As Magnus, Venora, and Daniel uncover the real mastermind behind the twenty-year-old conspiracy, they discover that their families were never true enemies at all. The lies that separated them begin to crumble, but healing old wounds proves far more difficult than uncovering the truth. Forced to confront their fears, regrets, and the feelings they have hidden for years, Magnus and Venora must decide whether love is worth fighting for after so much pain. Through longing, sacrifice, forgiveness, and unwavering devotion, they eventually find their way back to each other. Set against a backdrop of family secrets, betrayal, danger, and second chances, this is a story about a boy who loved in silence, a girl who became his entire world, and the truth that nearly destroyed them both. In the end, they learn that love is not fate, destiny, or perfect timing—it is choosing each other again and again, even after everything falls apart. Beneath the same lantern lights where their story began, Magnus and Venora finally get the happy ending they spent years fighting for.

[Irresistible MC + Farming & Entrepreneurship + Strong Female Lead + Cute Baby + Love Rivalry + Farming System + Male Competition] Deng Yuyuan wakes up to find she has transmigrated into a period novel about a "pampered group darling" — as the biological mother of the vicious female villain. The female villain has a biased grandmother, a mooching uncle and his family, a blindly filial father, and a spineless mother. She was a small-time thief as a child. As an adult, she committed every kind of evil — constantly framing the female lead — and ultimately met a miserable end. The female lead is the only daughter in another family, doted on by her older brothers. The villain targeted her out of pure jealousy. And now, Deng Yuyuan has become that villain's cowardly mother — and the villain herself is currently just an ugly, wrinkly-faced infant. The blindly filial father loves his wife, but gives all the good things to his own mother. He says to his starving wife and daughter: "Xiao Yuan, come drink some water. I specially heated it for you." Deng Yuyuan looks at her own bony frame and her tiny child — and decides to get a divorce. Goodbye, useless husband. She's going to raise this little cub with an abundance of money and love. No way she'll go astray this time. Lost one husband, gained a crowd of suitors. A beautiful sent-down youth coveted by many — she knows some self-defense and burns the midnight oil studying. With the reinstatement of the college entrance exams, she takes her child toward a much wider world. Riding the wave of the times, Deng Yuyuan works her way up to become a gaming tycoon and a cutting-edge scientist... Except — why are so many men fighting to be her cub's stepfather?

【Career-oriented female protagonist + Love-struck male lead + Entertainment industry + Variety show + Satisfying sweetness】 Renee Morgan, a newcomer in the entertainment industry, learns of her predetermined fate as a minor female supporting character in a dream. She is the queen of minor roles, the resilient type, blazing with fighting spirit, illuminating many female stars. Renee Morgan: "...To hell with being a minor character. Anyone who dares use me as a stepping stone, I'll make sure they fall flat." Wendy Aldridge, also a newcomer in the entertainment industry, wants to use her as a control group. Renee Morgan: Ok~ Half a month later, Wendy Aldridge, who was supposed to become famous as part of the control group, ends up being cyber-bullied and is urged to leave the industry? Renee Morgan, who was supposed to be cyber-bullied out of the industry, becomes an overnight sensation and a top-star. The rival company's leading actress, backed by influential figures in the entertainment circle, snatches the main female role, leaving only the role of the female third lead for her. Renee Morgan: Ok~ Four months later, this drama explodes in popularity, all supporting roles become famous, and the female third lead role becomes a classic. The biggest stars, male and female leads, are left with no buzz? ... Later, Renee Morgan finally achieves her dream, winning the Best Actress Award with her acting skills, and announces her relationship on the day she receives the award—she is in love. He's just a regular person. One day, Morgan all over the country sees familiar figures appearing in the news and rushes online to share: Is this the Best Actress's ordinary boyfriend?