The Fifth Young Lady of the residence of Marquis Chang Xing was wrongly carried away upon birth and the daughter of a farmer became a Young Lady by accident. The real daughter of the Marquis residence lived amongst the commoners and suffered for thirteen difficult years.... more>>

On the thirteenth year, Chu Jin Yao finally returned to her biological parents’ side. However, the awkward thing was that Mother disliked her for having vulgar manners and wholeheartedly loved the previous ‘daughter’. Even Grandmother could not bear to send the granddaughter she had doted on for thirteen years back to the farming family and made the decision to allow the fake daughter to stay on and continue to be the Young Lady of a Marquis lineage.

Chu Jin Yao, who grew up in a poor family, was out of place in the Marquis Residence. After yet another hindrance from her younger paternal cousin sister, Chu Jin Yao was shedding tears in her room when she discovered that her jade pendant could speak.

Her jade pendant had a bad temperament but would heed to her complaints, help her in the residence battles and provide her guidance to oppress scums.

It wasn’t until one day when Chu Jin Yao had an encounter with the infamously violent Crown Prince.

“Speaking of which, you might not believe but my jade pendant spirit looks exactly like the Crown Prince.” <<less

Transfer student, a head honcho in his previous school • Damn badass cool guy, Shou (Zhai Yao)... more>>

Top-notch big shot in his curent school • Reserved, cunning, and upfront, Gong (Shen Heng)

#This is a story of when one school boss meets another school boss…

Zhai Yao transferred from one rubbish school to another rubbish school, and on the very first day, he sent shockwaves through his new class, leaving his classmates utterly bewildered.

With a pale and delicate countenance and a slender figure, Zhai Yao appeared anything but the rumoured fighter who could take on ten opponents at once. Yet, the very next moment after entering the classroom, he confidently strolled to the back row, kicked a desk in the corner, and dropped his backpack on it.

The male student, who had been reading with lowered eyes, lifted his head and looked up with an indifferent expression. “Need something?” Zhai Yao glanced at the name on his book, knocked on his desk twice, and said, “Shen Xing (沈行), right? …Move aside.”

He remained utterly oblivious to the ominous hush around him—

Very well, the new student had just arrived, and on his very first day, he had already clashed with the school’s big shot.

The big shot sneered, rising to his feet. With a casual flick of his hand, he sent Zhai Yao’s backpack sailing into the rubbish bin. He corrected him, “‘Heng (珩)’.”

–

Zhai Yao and Shen Heng became desk mates.

Zhai Yao felt that his new desk mate was both devious and pretentious. Not only was he ruthless in fights, but he also always carried a book in his hands. As fate would have it, their academic standings left them ranked side by side at the bottom-most. To put it bluntly, he was nothing more than an overbearing king of pretence.

It wasn’t until one day, by a twist of fate, Zhai Yao ended up visiting Shen Heng’s home and discovered a wall decorated with certificates and awards.

Shen Heng accompanied his senile elderly grandpa. He patiently and tirelessly answered the old man’s repetitive questions while revealing his strong yet slender arms, preparing a meal consisting of three dishes and a soup.

He cast a cold glance at Zhai Yao. “Come and have dinner.”

Zhai Yao chuckled and approached, narrowing his eyes. “Tsk, you’re quite a homemaker, huh.”

Shen Heng gazed at Zhai Yao’s exposed fair neck, his eyes lingering for a moment before he averted his gaze. His earlobes betrayed a subtle blush.

–

Zhai Yao once thought that Shen Heng was a bit of a pitiful soul, implicated by the hardships of life, from being an all-around academic genius to falling into a delinquent.

To the extent that, when Shen Heng pinned him against the wall in the stairwell and even locked the door behind them, Zhai Yao still maintained a light-hearted demeanour, joking with a mindset of rescuing a wayward youth, “Want to kiss me? Wait until you break into the top 100.”

Shen Heng’s breath hitched ever so slightly, his gaze deepening with a mysterious intensity. “I’ll just get the top rank instead. Would that be enough to bed you?”

–

【Notes from Author to Readers】
【Cover Authorized^3^】
1) This story features mutual first-love (MC & ML are each other’s first love), 1v1; HE.
2) Kissing will be after the age of 18.
3) Smoking is harmful to health; the protagonists will quit smoking later.
4) Mutual redemption. The main characters influence each other, gradually growing mature and strong together. They aren’t perfect characters; they have flaws.
5) The story takes place in a very inferior and lacking-in-standards high school. In the early stages, all teachers and students are deliberately underperforming, but later, they will grow collectively.
6) Realistic, not purely sweet and refreshing. <<less

Xia Ruyan had an unnatural death, but by chance, she was chosen by the Lord God and granted her a system. In order to resurrect,... more>> she has to travel through the world of novels to complete various missions, but why is there an immoral guy attached to each mission? <<less

This is a story in which a boy learns about duty, and a man learns about love. A s*ave boy plotted the encounter with the greatest general of the Northern Plains. He became the general’s best disciple, learning archery, combat, warfare, literature, and most of all, loyalty. He was his s*ave, his subordinate, his officer, his student, his champion, his adopted son, and his lover.... more>>

However, this is not a fairytale for the faintest of hearts. Here, absolute power is brought through sacrifice, betrayal, and bloodshed, and lingering attachment begins from conspiracy and espionage. Emotions and intent flicker between sincerity and deception, and truth lies between truth and lies.

But love is always true, for there will be no regrets.

“Anywhere you see from your steed, and everywhere the golden rays of the sun can reach, will be my home.”

“You are the legend of the steppes. For I shall also become a legend—one greater and more resounding than yours—When people remember you, they will also remember me!” <<less

As a game designer, Xia Ruize loves to play games, but he doesn't like to play games with lottery, because he is too lucky and has less fun.... more>>

Until one day,

Xia Ruize fell into a real infinite survival game, relying on excellent luck to survive in a desperate situation. He finally realized that being lucky was cool for a while, and being lucky has always been cool! <<less

72 Demons Lemegeton, a game facing server shutdown due to plummeting sales. Yeah, it’s the work of my late wife.... more>>

I will definitely make Faust happy. You join me too!
Faust is the protagonist of this game. I’m a scumbag who couldn’t keep my promise to my wife.

Before the server shuts down, I gather the last currency and try the gacha.

I came to meet you beyond fate.
I thought I would fail, but I pulled a character named Lucifer that wasn’t even in the catalogue. What am I supposed to do with this now that the server is closing…

And so everything ended.

[The service termination of Lemegeton is imminent.] [In 5 minutes, the service of Lemegeton will be permanently terminated.] [We sincerely thank the Demon Kings who have loved and cherished Lemegeton until now.]

After checking the server termination message, I fell asleep as if I collapsed.

But I thought it was over… It wasn’t. I didn’t expect a new beginning to be waiting for me.

Solaria, the main stage of Lemegeton, the continent of the sun. I woke up here again.

“Kill him!”
“Cut his throat!”
“Kill that bastard right now!”
…As Faust, trapped in a guillotine and waiting for my execution. <<less

The Tang family had two daughters.... more>>

Outsiders have only heard that the eldest daughter, Tang Luoqian, was beautiful and would be engaged to Luo Zhan, the young master of the Luo family, in the future and everyone envied her.

Few people knew that the Tang family has a youngest daughter who was blind, named Tang Ran.

Tang Ran’s sixteenth birthday present was a robot.

On the day the robot arrived, the whole family was in the front hall with her sister Tang Luoqian, preparing to welcome Luo Zhan, who was visiting for the first time. Tang Ran was alone in the side house, fumbling to see her robot.

Standing in the chaotic darkness, Luo Zhan spoke after a long time.

“Good evening, Master.”

With a good family background, a calamity-bringing face, and a top mind, Luo Zhan was the dream lover of countless girls in the AI field, but no one could stand next to him.

There was only one reason: Luo Zhan liked beautiful eyes.

Later on, Luo Zhan made a bet with his older brother to imitate a robot for the little blind girl from the Tang family.

—He never thought that he would fall for the little blind girl.

And then it spread that Luo Zhan had been beaten with the family rod by the old man of the Luo family in order to reject his engagement to Tang Luoqian, without uttering a single word.

Everyone was guessing who it was for.

A week later, for the first time, the Tang family threw a birthday banquet for Tang Ran, whose eyes had recovered. After the banquet, the little girl drank too much and hugged the stone pillar in the banquet hall, whispering that she wanted to see Luo Zhan.

The bystanders mocked when they heard, “The young master of the Luo family doesn’t even consider Tang Luoqian. She’s just a half-blind girl who thinks she can see him just because she wants to?”

Before finishing his sentence, Luo Zhan ran in from outside in a wretched state.

The young master of the Luo family, who was usually in high spirits, panicked and fell to his knees, at a loss to kiss the girl’s trembling eyes…

“Don’t cry.”

“Will you marry me, Ranran?” <<less

Today, I am a substitute for your fiancee. Tomorrow, I’ll become your sister-in-law!... more>>

Mu Mingtang is the substitute of the male lead’s first love. After she lost her family, she was adopted by the Jiang family and eventually became engaged to the male lead, the Prince of Jin.

Understanding very well that she was only a substitute, she removed her claws and fangs and turned herself into an imitation of the Prince of Jin’s first love. She couldn’t speak or laugh as she wished, she was prepared to live in the shadow of another woman for her entire life… until one day, the real Miss Jiang returned.

The real Miss Jiang was reborn. When she learned that she was the male lead’s first love, she immediately returned to fight for her engagement and identity.

In order to please his first love, the Prince of Jin gave the substitute to the Prince of Qiyang, who had become a dying madman. She was just a low-quality fake, anyway. If she dared to anger his first love, he would turn her into a childless and powerless widow for the rest of her life.

Mu Mingtang, the target of their mockery, finally snapped: Okay, since you gave me to another man, I’ll make you bow and call me sister-in-law!

However, none of them expected the Prince of Qiyang, the God of War, to actually wake up!

—

Xie Xuanchen is the son of the late emperor. The whole world once trembled beneath his feet, but one day, for a reason unknown to even Xie Xuanchen himself, his nature suddenly changed. He became cruel and bloodthirsty, leaving his father with no choice but to pass the throne to his uncle.

Eventually, Xie Xuanchen was unable to resist the illness and fell into a coma.

When he woke up again, there was a beauty standing before his bed, looking at him in surprise. Then, for the sake of his domineering little princess, he revived his name as the God of War, reclaimed the throne, and united the world.

I once captured the world to satisfy my own ambition. Now, you are the reason for my ambition. <<less

I am a healthy skill-based broadcaster.... more>>

I don't hate priests.

It's not that kind of broadcast.

What?

Clarify the controversy that's been posted on the community?

Me? <<less

Li Qingzhou, who had been sick for many years, died and was systematically bound to an old romance novel, where he became the villain.... more>>

This villain was beautiful, but had a gloomy personality and was wheelchair-bound with leg problems….

Li Qingzhou bursts into tears and rolled on the ground crying, “I won’t do it! I refuse!”

System: “Your leg will be fine as soon as you complete the mission.”

Li Qingzhou sat back up: “What mission? I’ll take it!”

The task: Find a lover for the male protagonist’s uncle Liu Bohuai to prevent him from ending up alone.

Then the system sent him into the book and left, but before leaving, it threw a gold finger to Li Qingzhou, however it fell on the wrong person…..

Since then, Liu Bohuai has been able to hear the voice in Li Qingzhou’s heart and see the mood bubbles rising from the top of his head.

[A cold and beautiful demon lord with a heart of gold who is crazy but sick X a cultivated, elegant and noble man who no one dares to mess with and who believes in buddha-like indifference] <<less

In his last life, he was a superstar that dominated the entertainment circle. In this life, he is a rebellious second generation wastrel.... more>>

Confronting the aunt and uncle who wants to seize the family property and getting rid of those slag friends who only know how to eat and drink…

Rong Xu: To not speak out means to perish in the silence!

From starting out as a third-rate celebrity, he had to rely on his own efforts to rise to the top of the entertainment circle, aspiring to once again sit on the throne!

Their first meeting —

Rong Xu: Hello, I’m Rong Xu. This would be our first time meeting, I would appreciate your guidance.

Qin Cheng: !!! (…Aahhh, He’s so cute! I really want to sleep with him!) <<less

A man whose soul was traded among the gods without his consent was forced to go to another world.
He was told that he could have his wish fulfilled to make up for taking him there without his consent, and he asked for "chīto nouryoku o kure (give me a cheat ability / チート能力をくれ)".
However, what he was given was not a cheat powerful, game-breaking ability, but a moderately high position and a moderately high ability.... more>>

"Who asked 'chii to nōryoku o kure (Give me status and abilities / 地位と能力をくれ)'? I said 'chīto nōryoku o kure (Give me a cheat ability / チート能力をくれ)'!"

Starting from a mishearing of God, he struggled to make his life in the other world, and if he didn't have cheat ability, he at least tried to do something with knowledge cheat, but it seems that things are different in the other world...?

This is a tale of man who does not have overwhelming cheat abilities, but makes full use of his moderately high position and moderately high abilities to develop the remote area that has become his territory, while struggling moderately. <<less

After class placements were decided, the school’s two infamous ‘problem youths’ not only shared the same class, but the same desk.... more>>

They’re clearly good at studies, but pretend to be slackers. Fakers from head to toe who just keep walking farther down the path of their performance.

Heard through the grapevine about the two big brothers who always fight over the last place in class.

Basically, this is a serious comedy. About the little matters of growing up. <<less

Office worker Leon is reincarnated into a particularly punishing dating sim video game, where women reign supreme and only beautiful men have a seat at... more>> the table. But Leon has a secret weapon: he remembers everything from his past life, which includes a complete playthrough of the very game in which he is now trapped. Watch Leon spark a revolution to change this new world in order to fulfill his ultimate desire…of living a quiet, easy life in the countryside! <<less

Is there anything scarier than being born as a traitor's sister?... more>>

Euphil Raize, my half-brother from a different mother will start a rebellion and kill the royal family, including me.
That is why I will try my hardest to survive into adulthood and leave the palace safely before my brother started his rebellion.

"Mirthy, don't worry I will protect you."

Euphil held my 7 year old hand gently, his blonde hair twinkling against the sun rays. His handsome face was smiling at me warmly.

I don't need any protection from you is what I wanted to say but I couldn't say it to him, could I?!

Perhaps, have I happened to tame my brother too well? <<less

Tang Nuan, the cannon fodder supporting female in a sweet pampering novel, woke up after an accident and decided to get rid of her fate after she foresaw her tragic future in advance. The first thing she did was to break off the engagement with her wealthy fiancé. She felt that she knew the plot in advance and also knew the secret of her fiancé Ye Shuyan's mind-reading ability, so she would be able to quit the marriage smoothly. However, she did not expect Ye Shuyan's mind-reading ability limited to a three-meter distance would be an exception to her.... more>>

Ye Shuyan, who has always been with Tang Nuan out of responsibility, found that his fiancée was completely different from what he imagined after he had the mind-reading skills. He developed a feeling of admiration, so he, who firmly did not want to break off the engagement, and Tang Nuan started a series of battles of wits and courage.

The two protagonists redeemed each other in the struggle between breaking off and not breaking off the engagement, facing their feelings sincerely, and reaping sweet love and marriage. <<less

Mu Wan Qing was dressed as cannon fodder playing a female supporting role in a book about a reborn female protagonist.... more>>

The heroine was her amazing and talented cousin. She was reborn on the way to exile, and she devoted all her clan to help her ascend to the backyard of the Emperor.

And Mu Wan Qing’s whole family was used as a stepping stone and was destroyed on the road of exile.

Mu Wan Qing: I am so tired, let’s destroy it.

In the chaos of the house raiding scene, Mu Wan Qing hurriedly grabbed the marriage certificate with a swoosh.

During the breaking up of the marriage, Mu Wan Qing exchanged the marriage certificate for a mule cart and twenty taels of silver and started a long journey of exile.

In order to survive, she resorted to roasting pig trotters, making fried chicken, farming cotton, and breeding sheep.

Engaged in building water power, building cities, building cement roads, and creating a prosperous fortress in the south.

Accidentally played a big game, and the plot was really shifted…

The Reborn Cousin: Everyone is concentrating on building infrastructure, how can I play the script of the palace fight?!

At the palace banquet, the arrogant and arrogant frontier master sat alone while pouring the drink. There was a commotion at the door, and the beautiful and heroic first female assistant, Mu Wan Qing walked in surrounded by everyone.

The man put down the wine glass and quickly ran over, with his eyes full of love, he said, “Madam, I can’t eat without you.”

There was an uproar at the scene. <<less

There is a certain large country in the central plains of the mainland. In the imperial court of its emperor, there is a girl. Her name is Maomao, a pharmacist from the pleasure district, who is currently working as a maidservant in the inner palace. The girl, who surely can not be considered a beauty, is keeping a low-profile waiting for her contract to end. She is confident that she will not be “visited” by the emperor. During that, she learns about the short lives of the children of the emperor. Maomao, hearing that the two surviving children are critically ill, begins her investigation for the cause—.... more>>

Set in the middle ages of the East, the “Food Taster” girl continues to solve difficult cases in the imperial court one after another. <<less

The protagonist, Choi Joon-ho, who had lived his life as a ruthless villain, indulging in power and bloodshed, one day returned to the past when... more>> he was an unemployed shut-in. He decided to turn his life around and use his strength for good, facing various challenges and obstacles along the way. <<less

Chi Xiaochi: fourth-rate citizen at birth, three-time award-winning film emperor, second-rate temper, first-class looks.... more>>

He crawled his way out of hell on hard mode to become a winner at life.

Then, he was smashed into a vegetative state by a chandelier.

061: Hello, here’s a brief rundown on the scum gong reconditioning system. This system measures the regret level of the scum gong. Every time their regret level reaches one hundred points, you will be able to leave the current world. A friendly tip, usually, through dedication and self-sacrifice, our employees slowly foster a sense of dependency in the scum gongs, gradually making it so the scum gongs can’t live without them.

Chi Xiaochi: How many regret points is a complete loss of reputation and standing worth? How about a fall from grace? Or wanting something but never being able to obtain it?

061: …… <<less

The Prince of Su Wang, Chu Ba Ning is not famous because of his great status and power, but because legend has it that whoever becomes his wife will be cursed to death, with no children to inherit his fortunes.... more>>

Ever since the Emperor betrothed Lu Shao Qi to Chu Ba Ning, everyone had predicted that she will not be living a long life. Even the biggest casino in the capital city would gamble and make bets about how she would die. The side-concubines gifted to the Prince of Su Wang would also cry and kneel to the ground to hug Lu Shao Qi’s legs, begging for her to not drag them to death with her.

Lu Shao Qi complains: Heavens! Is it easy to find a virtuous wife like me? Such a fortune and you don’t know how to appreciate it! <<less

"Pretend to be my lover and join the social circle."... more>>

Selena, the top star that had the entire world's attention, was suddenly warped to Northern Duke's land during an accident while filming. Kalcion, the Northern Duke that saved her from the infernal beasts, offers Selena a chance to go back home in return for collecting information in various social circles by pretending to be his lover. Selena quickly accepts Kalcion's offer, but…

"Why in the world can't you do this!?"
"Don't you think that the answer to that should be obvious to you, the actress, not to me, the duke?"

There was a critical problem. The Northern Duke's acting skills are horrible!

"…Let's change the plan. I'll seduce you instead."

And thus the contractual relationship between the two started. Will Kalcion's acting skill improve first, or will he start to have true feelings for Selena instead? <<less

Palcemith. A kingdom blessed by the dragons.... more>>

I remembered this was the world in the game I had played in my previous world, [The Dragon and the Sacrificial Priestess]. But I had reincarnated as the Prime Minister Anderheim who would be led to ruin with his villainess daughter Julieta.

However, now that my memories have returned, I do not intend to give up that easily.

Making full use of my memories from my past life, with my daughter, let me show the capture targets how to turn the tables. <<less

Fortunately, it’s still in my childhood day’s, not to severe yet. To prevent worsening of condition, I must stick close to treatment, the villainess Rachel.... more>>

“Never come near me again”

”I hate noisy and chaotic things”

”We don’t need that , so just leave”

…..well, it’s not easy to stick by sharp tongued villainess. Still I destroy the original work diligently to survive. But it seems we couldn’t completely avoid the original work, and we have to part away.

Ten years later. The caring villainess sends a handsome bodyguard, worried about my safety.

”You’ll make my face explode. Have you fallen for me”

But this man somehow remind me of Rachel. But his personality seems different …. Maybe it’s just my imagination?

….Or so I thought.

”So are you going to have contact marriage, you’re holding the hand like this once you’re married.”

As I stutter in surprise, he closes the distance between us. I can feel his breath.

”You should also kiss.”

His face up close is clearly that of man’s.

Could you do this with someone else.

Wait a minute.

Wasn’t he supposed to be villian?! <<less

In the winter of three years ago, the first locked room mu*der in Japanese history was committed.... more>>

All of the evidence pointed to the defendant. It was certain they were guilty. And yet, they were found innocent and released. Why? Because the crime scene was a perfect locked room no one from the police or the prosecutor's office could solve.

"Since the room was locked, it was impossible for the defendant to have committed the mu*der. It's no different than if they had a perfect alibi." That was the argument of the defense, and that was the argument the judge sided with.

The ruling sent a ripple throughout Japanese society. No matter how suspicious you were or how much evidence you left behind, as long as you managed to create a locked room that no one could solve, you were immune from prosecution. With the common anti-mystery fiction talking point "there's no reason anyone would ever actually commit a locked room mu*der" completely overturned, the rate of locked room mu*ders in Japan skyrocketed.

When the police proved unable to deal with the surge of locked room crime, the Ministry of Justice published an official categorization of all known locked room tricks as an investigative aid. When that proved insufficient, Division Zero of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, a police division dedicated solely to solving locked rooms, was created. When that still proved insufficient, locked room detectives, private investigators specializing in locked rooms, were officially licensed by the state and authorized to participate in police investigations. Calling a locked room appraiser, someone specializing in searching buildings for secret passages, is now a common first step in criminal investigations.

On the other side of the spectrum, locked room agents, assassins and crime planners specializing in locked room mu*ders, have become some of the most notorious criminals in Japanese history, and even a cult worshiping the scenes of locked rooms as a way to purify the souls of the deceased has made rapid inroads into Japan.

The protagonist, Kasumi Kuzushiro, is an introverted, somewhat cynical high school student who loves mysteries. Kasumi often finds himself dragged along on bizarre journeys by his flighty childhood friend, Yozuki Asahina. Due to their staggeringly bad luck, these trips often leave them in the wrong place at the wrong time to be caught up in locked room mysteries. Fortunately, another of Kasumi's childhood friends, Shitsuri Mitsumura, is the greatest locked room expert in the world, and can always discover the truth.

Hm? How did a high school girl become the greatest locked room expert in the world?

It's simple.

She's...

Volume 1 was the grand prize winner of the 2022 This Mystery Is Amazing! awards. <<less