In the tides of time, humankind has lost their position as the wisest of all creatures. The Steel City that suddenly rose in the center... more>> of the eastern lands and a man-made god, ‘Father,’ have replaced them. Mechs have taken over the world of this petri dish, Astrolabe, that the ancient Creators have left behind. One day, a young human s*ave named A-Ka finds a black-haired male on a beach of Desolate Sea… The world of Astrolabe is about to reboot, so what will become of the future of the humans, androids, and mechs? <<less

“Nobody’s going to buy me emeralds. Nobody’s going to give me babies. Nobody’s going to save my life.”... more>>

—Lawrence Block, “Eight Million Ways to Die”

I could finally be liberated.

***

It had been more than a decade since Shi Wen, an alpha who became an omega for the man he loved, had been suffering in the quagmire of the world and his partner's indifference and disgust. As he was dragged into the darkness of death, he dialed his partner's number. "I don't regret it." But all he got in response was the hung-up tone.

No one saved him.

***

Shang Yu indifferently hung up the call. Anyway, he would see him soon after that person's gland removal surgery.

He never thought that that would be the last. <<less

As a new anchor of StarTV, Yu Yan’s ruthless tr*sh-talk, natural rifle-shooting skills, and character of never searching houses earned him a big crowd of fans.... more>>

He felt like he was a good anchor who treated all fans of his stream equally—you can suck at the game, you can get knocked down, but if you want the gun in my hand, sorry, no way man.

Until he heard the voice of the streaming platform’s Big Boss.

Yu · ultimate voice-con · Yan: I’m not familiar with this game, swap my Kar98k for your Mini-14.

Yi · brand new noob · Chen: En.

Friend: Daddy, I want to snipe too!

Yu Yan: I think this frying pan suits you very well.

Not-a-very good gamer but dripping with money and looks Big Boss vs Cute, super good tr*sh-talking gunslinger voice-con Anchor. <<less

Xue Xiao was a diligent and hardworking background actor. Then he offended a big name in the circle and became unable to receive new acting roles.... more>>

He thought he would never be able to realize his dream and become an excellent actor like Shen Tingyan until he suddenly received an email one day.

[Hello, you have passed the audition for ‘Studio Superstar.’ Please be on time…]
This was an actor talent show created by the largest media platform in the country. A new starting point was laid out in front of him.

Here, he went from being unknown to becoming the brightest star on the big screen.

At the same time, he also touched the star that belonged to him.

—

Shen Tingyan was one of the four mentors of the show ‘Studio Superstar,’ and his first impression of Xue Xiao was that of a shy, studious contestant who carefully watched every scene with wide eyes.

The second time he saw Xue Xiao, he found that even if this young man had no one to act with him, he could use the little flowers on the roadside, the air in front of him, or the kitten taking a nap in front of him as his scene partners to practice his lines diligently. There might be a bit of shyness, but he was entirely focused once immersed in it.

The third time he saw Xue Xiao, the young man was lying in a corner of the studio and sleeping in a daze. The script he held in his arms was full of his previous comments on the scene, and a cute chibi version of a person was drawn next to it.

This little person inexplicably looked like him, which made Shen Tingyan fall into deep thought.

The fourth time he saw Xue Xiao…

The little guy was peeking at him.

Once Xue Xiao was caught, he buried his head in a panic and pretended that nothing had happened. However, his ears were so red that they seemed to be dripping blood.

Shen Tingyan stared at the crimson color, paused, and drew a horizontal line on his script.

He inexplicably decided that he would make a note of it every time he caught Xue Xiao peeking at him in the future.

Then he found that he had drawn a full ten ‘正’ characters in just one day.

Shen Tingyan finally couldn’t help laughing.

—

Xue Xiao’s starting point was a passerby corpse on the battlefield.

Later, he became a dejected young man drunk by the side of the road, a high-spirited young general, a lonely mute, a dissolute wastrel…

He ran all the way to the brightest night sky. On the day he stepped on the Best Actor’s podium at the age of 25, the one who handed him the trophy was Shen Tingyan, who accompanied him all the way.

Shen Tingyan asked him with a smile, “What do you want to do most now?”

Xue Xiao faced this man, pursed his lips, and smiled. “I have already obtained what I want most.”

“What about you?”

“I want to hold the star in my hand now,” the man said. <<less

One day, Li Yu transmigrated into a fish. Furthermore, this fish even had a master. This master was the sinister and terrifying, mute tyrant from a novel. The system gave Li Yu a task. If he wanted to change back into a human, he had to obtain the tyrant’s heart. ... more>>

Li Yu full of tears: System, please wake up. I’m only a fish. He can’t even speak. How can we interact?

System: Stop jabbering. To take down the tyrant, you must attack his heart.

Li Yu: Can I ask, does the tyrant have a heart–

Li Yu did his best to blow bubbles at the tyrant, but ended up being captured by the tyrant and raised carefully in a huge, ginormous…… fish tank. The life of a fish was filled with all sorts of blessings.

Everyday, Mu Tianchi watched the little carp swim around happily, pondering when this fish would finally transform into a human.

The little carp didn’t know. It’s not that the tyrant had no heart, it’s just that he already gave it away to the little carp that accidentally saved his life. <<less

Outsiders all say that Xie Zhongxing had hit the jackpot marrying the prince of the Qin Enterprise, Qin Zhongyue, even being treasured and favoured for five whole years. They were well-recognized as a loving couple.... more>>

However, they didn’t know that Qin Zhongyue had a lot of dissatisfaction with this marriage. He complained to his good friend, “He micromanages everything. Won’t let me drink or smoke, won’t let me go clubbing, and he even set me a 10pm curfew!”

“I have to hand over all my salary and bank cards and he would only give me a hundred yuan a day! Only if he is in a good mood, he would give me a few hundred more!”

Qin Zhongyue felt angry and wronged, “And I even have to wait on him!”

“If I ever get the chance to do this again, I will never marry him! I used to get eight million yuan a month as spending money!” The prince said this to his friend.

The day after he said this, Qin Zhongyue found himself reborn to the time when he was seventeen.

The Xie Zhongxing at this time was eighteen years old and poor to the point where he only had one set of old clothes to wear, holes in his socks and a pair of dirty shoes with its soles peeling off. Even if he had a nice-looking face, he was despised and looked down upon, and known in the school as a pauper.

When Xie Zhongxing’s parents came to handle the withdrawal procedures for him, Qin Zhongyue only then found out that he was a study tyrant ranked first in his grade, receiving scholarships every year, and that he was a seedling with good prospects the school had high expectations for and not the ‘useless high school dropout who didn’t like to study and only has money in his eyes’ as claimed by his younger brother.

Qin Zhongyue couldn’t bear the sight of this. He pulled Xie Zhongxing into his arms, angry, “Continue studying! Our Qin family has never had a top scorer before, you must keep studying!”

Xie Zhongxing raised his eyes and looked at him in confusion. The look in his eyes seemed to ask: Who are you?

Qin Zhongyue thought of Xie Zhongxing’s dictatorship after their marriage and shuddered. He then maintained a look of righteousness, “I am just a kind-hearted person who does not wish to reveal his name!”

Later, Qin Zhongyue asked Xie Zhongxing shyly, “If we get married, can you give me a thousand yuan a day as spending money?”

Xie Zhongxing, “?”

Qin Zhongyue, “…..Five hundred is also okay.”

NB: The actual title is literally “The Sand Sculpture Gong was Reborn”. Sand sculpture (沙雕) is a homonym for 傻屌 (Sha Diao) which is a derogatory term for an idiot/a fool. Sand sculpture is often used with a more humourous/joking intention to describe something or someone as silly or foolish. <<less

In the fourteenth year of Chenghua, the imperial harem had one Consort Wan, just as the Western Depot had one Chief Eunuch named Wang Zhi. Crown Prince Zhu Youcheng was barely eight years old, and it was uncertain whether he could grow to adulthood without a hitch.... more>>

The Emperor was mediocre, and feckless. Eunuchs deceived those above them and kept those below them in the dark. Court officials patched up leaks left and right. Those doing evil were arrogantly savaging, and those doing good were helplessly sighing.

With the ways of the world like this, how could the ways of the Heavens possibly be just?

That year, Tang Fan transferred into Shuntian Prefecture from Hanlin Academy, taking up a post as a sixth-rank Judge. <<less

The vastly differing world views of the male and female lead –... more>>

The purpose of food:

Female lead: To fill my tummy!

Male lead: Art!

The impression they have of each other:

Female lead: Impossible!

Male lead: Too s*upid!

Is there a possibility that you would date the other party?

Female lead: Who, who wants to get together with this peculiar weirdo!

Male lead: She’s so s*upid, I’m the only person capable of accepting her.

This is a story about how an arrogant and cold male idol successfully PKs the female lead’s black-bellied childhood playmate before bringing the female lead along in his domination over the world of gourmet food. The male lead is an extremely talented chef; however, he suffers from blindness – thus, his other senses are all hypersensitive with the exception of his sight. With his perfect sense of taste and his ability to accurately determine people’s attitude and feelings through their vocal tone and their breathing, he is better able to discern the truth and people’s real underlying intentions when compared to the common man. <<less

Li Cheng is an omega, but he is thoroughly like an alpha.... more>>

He regards teachers like friends, is unrivalled in the swimming pool and also has 80 betas as his lil’ brothers.

One day, Li Cheng loudly declares ⸺ He’s determined to win the campus male god alpha Xiao Yiheng over. He must become his!

“Xiao Yiheng is smart, handsome, and tall! Moreover, he has long legs and a perky butt. His strong XX capability can be seen with just a glance! Only this kind of alpha is worthy of me!”

Long-legged, perky-butt, and has strong XX capability Xiao Yiheng: “……”

To show his determination, Li Cheng proclaims that he would give him a love bento every morning.

The next day, Li Cheng stayed up all night playing games and can’t get up.

The third day, Li Cheng danced the night away with others and can’t get up.

The fourth day, Li Cheng fought with the gang from the neighbouring school and can’t get up.

Then came the fifth day… The sixth day… The seventh day…

Just when Li Cheng is just about to forget his plan of courting the male god, Xiao Yiheng obstructs him inside one of the locker room’s cubicles before his swimming training.

“Xiao Yiheng, w-what do y-you want with Laozi?”

“Because I was waiting for your lunch box, I haven’t eaten breakfast for a whole week.” Xiao Yiheng had a cold expression. With a fake smile, he continued, “But… Your pheromone smells quite delicious.” <<less

Set in early-20th century China, this story takes off in the port city of Tientsin (Tianjin) that is divided into lands called concessions and owned... more>> by several foreign powers. Shen Liangsheng is a charismatic and cunning playboy, a son of a rich businessman, who has profits as his top priority. He meets Ch'in Ching, an average school teacher who appears mild but actually holds a patriotic heart for his home. The two cross paths and sparks fly. But will their love hold strong through the imminent forces that will tear the country apart...? <<less

In her previous life, Qi Ying had been saved from the bandits’ cave by the General, and subsequently became the General’s concubine. The General never lost a single battle, and songs praising him spread far and wide. In the end, however, the General was fatally wounded, and died on the battlefield. When news of the General’s death reached Qi Ying’s ears, she hung herself from the beams without a moment’s hesitation — only to discover, upon waking up, that she has transmigrated to become a 17-year-old deaf and mute Qi Ying.... more>>

The youthful girl is neither able to hear any sound, nor is she able to speak; and yet, her eyes were as beautiful as the pure, white moonlight, and her character was extremely easygoing. One day, she met a cold and aloof male youth, whom everybody was afraid and wary of — her General.

The Ji Rang in everybody’s eyes:

Horridly short tempered! Extremely rich! It’s best not to cross paths with him!

The Ji Rang in Qi Ying’s eyes:

The General is simply executing Heaven’s will and punishing the evildoers! The General is simply robbing the rich to feed the poor! The General is superb and amazing!

Ji Rang pressed Qi Ying against the wall:-

Qi Ying: “Oh, when a boy presses a girl against the wall, he has every intention of kissing her, mua~!”

Ji Rang: ???

“Ji Rang, did you really bring your girlfriend along to spectate our fight? Are you looking down on me right now?”

“I’m not looking down on you. I just want to let my little fairy observe how I punish evildoers and reward kind people.”

Everyone’s afraid of Ji Rang;

Nobody loves Ji Rang, except for Qi Ying. <<less

Jiang Ying, a controversial second-generation celebrity, loves nothing more than collecting dirt on other stars.... more>>

Qi Zhu, a controversial actor. His hobby? Counterattacking trolls, tabloids, and anti-fans.

Classmates from elementary school to high school, they fit the mold of childhood sweethearts. And yet they were more like fire and ice: utterly incompatible.

Back in high school, they fought while reviewing test answers. On set, they fought over their scripts. For better or worse, the two were in contact every single day. Their QQ streak has never been broken.

By chance, Qi Zhu discovered his own dirt in Jiang Ying’s possession.

Qi Zhu: ?

Jiang Ying: Don’t you know? Your scandals are way cuter than you.

Jiang Ying thought they would bicker for the rest of their lives.

Until, one day, he came across a new ship on Weibo: ZhuiFengZhuYing.

And a supertopic to match: ZhuYingYaoHong.

Soon after Jiang Ying was born, his parents held his zhuazhou ceremony. Among the items they set out before him, Jiang Ying crawled to the keyboard.

Ever since his youth, Jiang Ying had never lost an argument.

In a popular squabbling app that randomly matched users with differing opinions, prompting them to fight, Jiang Ying could handily defeat any opponent.

After spending three years on the app ‘Fight!’, Jiang Ying reigned as king of the leaderboard.

Out of the goodness of his heart, to benefit society, Jiang Ying took an apprentice who clearly didn’t know the first thing about dissing people. He worked hard to train up his little apprentice until the kid could diss and roast as fiercely as the king.

It was only later, when he was pushed down in bed and [redacted] by the typically cold and taciturn Qi Zhu, that Jiang Ying realized Qi Zhu had somehow learned every trick in his book. <<less

“Don’t get the wrong idea, okay. I definitely don’t like people such as you!”... more>>

This template tsundere phrase marked the beginning of mine and Aotsuki Miyuu’s story. Because of her cold and indifferent attitude, she always stands out negatively in class. However one day, we ended up talking more and more with each other, and I started to see the warmth behind her cold words. Why is she so distanced and unaffectionate towards people despite being so kind? That seems to be related to her past that I don’t know about…

This is a story about love, telling the coming along of a boy and girl until they finally act affectionate towards each other. <<less

You think too much, cultivation is not like this…... more>>

When Kong Hou steps on the path to cultivation, she learns that all xianxia stories are full of lies.

A relaxed cultivation story.

Kong Hou: a traditional musical instrument like a harp. The female protagonist’s name. <<less

Yan Suizhi, the young and accomplished dean of the interstellar Maze University’s law school, wakes up in a body that has been gene-modified to resemble... more>> that of a twenty-something-year-old. He had supposedly 'died' in a premeditated explosion a few months ago but someone had managed to save him. In his search for his saviour as well as his mu*derer, Yan Suizhi encounters his former student, Gu Yan, who is now a successful lawyer at Southcross Law Firm. <<less

Student council president junior top x delinquent senior bottom... more>>

Campus setting, pseudo(?) power couple. A story between an honor student and a delinquent.

Two people who didn’t get along f*cked each other until feelings are formed. One of those commonly seen dog blood story types. <<less

As the grandmaster of demonic cultivation, Wei Wuxian roamed the world, hated by millions for committing acts of necromancy. Overthrown by the powerful clans he had attempted to subjugate, Wei Wuxian is supposedly killed by his shidi in order to save the cultivation world. ... more>>

Restored to life in the body of Mo Xuanyu, the local cut-sleeve lunatic, in order to exact revenge on his abusive relatives, Wei Wuxian quickly finds himself spiralling back into his old life when he’s taken away by the cold-hearted, stern, and ultimately quite boring Lan Wangji – who might be harbouring warmer feelings than contempt. Perhaps of the…romantic kind?

But despite his new beginning, Wei Wuxian begins to unravel a decade and a half long mystery that is set to undo the very fabric of the cultivation world as they know it.

A mysterious, action-packed thriller of a ride, this is a journey you won’t want to miss! <<less

Is there a possibility, that love doesn’t exist in the world?... more>>

Adapted into a movie, Better Days with Jackson Yi and Zhou DongYu. <<less

“Until the day humanity falls.”... more>>

In the year 2020, Earth’s magnetic poles disappeared and humankind was nearly wiped out by cosmic radiation. Within the span of a hundred years, living creatures began to mutate and devour each other while the remaining humans, numbering in the tens of thousands, struggled bitterly in their man-made bases.

In the Abyss, home to the mutated xenogenics, there lived a sentient little mushroom. Because it had been nourished by the blood and flesh of the deceased human An Ze, not only did it take on a similar-looking human form, but a similar name as well: An Zhe.

An Zhe is determined to go to the human base to search for his spore, which had been harvested by humans. Once there, however, he faces the omnipresent risk of discovery and certain death as he tries to keep his non-human nature hidden from the Judges, whose responsibility is to inspect for and eliminate xenogenics like himself. And of all the Judges, Colonel Lu Feng is the most perceptive and merciless—as soon as he determines that someone is a xenogenic, he will execute that person on the spot.

But An Zhe’s mutation goes undetected by Lu Feng’s eyes, and so a tale of humans and xenogenics unfolds…

Silver Award winner at the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards for Chinese Science Fiction. <<less