The Supporting Male Lead Doesn't Want to Be Arranged

[Upcoming novel: How Could That Possibly Be My Character?! Please bookmark!]

After dying from overwork, Huo Jiu transmigrates into an old-school Mary Sue novel with a universally adored protagonist-as its malicious cannon-fodder character.

According to the original plot, after Huo Jiu's alcoholic father dies, his biological mother, who married into a wealthy family, brings him into her new home. He becomes the bottom male lead's older stepbrother.

Then, jealous of everything the male lead has, he schemes relentlessly to harm him, deluding himself that he can steal everything from him. Eventually, his plots are exposed, his furious stepfather throws him out, and the male lead's admirers take vicious revenge on him. His life ends in a miserable death.

Newly transmigrated Huo Jiu: "Thanks, but I'll pass. I'm not interested in acting out this plot."

Unfortunately, Huo Jiu discovers that he cannot escape the plot's control.

As a character in the story, whenever Huo Jiu does anything that deviates from the plot, the entire world reloads from a save.

Then Huo Jiu makes a delightful discovery: he has suddenly gained a whole lot of extra time-

As a workaholic whose motto is "If work hasn't killed you yet, work yourself to death,"

Huo Jiu has found the perfect way to indulge his addiction to work.

He uses the time gained from reloading to study hard, work diligently, and screw people over in all sorts of creative ways-wait, no. Even if he works himself to death, he'll revive with full health the very next moment and start again.

Thrilled, Huo Jiu exploits the plot's bugs.

What he never expects is that, somewhere along the way, he works so hard that the endlessly reloading original plot crashes completely.

Everyone knows Huo Jiu is despicable, scheming, vicious, greedy, jealous, and fickle-that he possesses every rotten quality humanity has to offer. Yet they still cannot stop themselves from following his every move.

Also known as Building a Career in an Old-School Novel and The Plot-Controlled Villainous Supporting Character Refuses to Give Up.

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How Could That Possibly Be My Character?!

On the night of his eighteenth birthday, Wenren Li has a dream.

He dreams that he isn't his parents' biological child at all. Two babies were switched eighteen years ago, and his real parents are a pair of gambling deadbeats, hounded by creditors over unpaid loan-shark debts. Dragged down by his family, the true young heir barely makes it through high school and has to start working at eighteen.

When the truth comes out, the true heir is brought back into the wealthy family. But Wenren Li, unwilling to give up wealth and luxury, refuses to leave. Exploiting his adoptive parents' trust, he constantly frames and ostracizes the true heir, ultimately driving him into depression and death.

Waking up, Wenren Li puffs up with rage like a pufferfish: "How could that possibly be my character?! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻"

Fuming, he drags his parents off for a paternity test. Upon learning that he really isn't their biological son, he furiously tracks down the true heir and shoves him back into the family home. Then, ignoring his adoptive parents' objections, he angrily packs his bags and leaves-

Back with his birth family, Wenren Li looks at his hopeless gambling parents and furiously unsheathes his claws. "You're parents too! Why can't you learn a thing or two from other people's parents?!"

Scratched and battered all over, the gambling parents tearfully pull themselves together and work hard under their bristling son's relentless pressure. After a difficult struggle, they finally amass a fortune in the hundreds of millions-just before their furious son can become a self-made tycoon himself.

During interviews with reporters-

His gambling parents weep. "This isn't supposed to be my character."

The true heir, who only wanted to hone his craft but was forced to become a domineering CEO, weeps. "This isn't supposed to be my character!"

A certain someone, who originally just wanted to kick his rival while he was down and humiliate him, only to be forced to inherit the family business, weeps. "This isn't supposed to be my character!"

His childhood friends, who only wanted to help a friend through hard times with a little financial support, yet somehow became leaders in their respective industries, weep. "This isn't supposed to be my character!"

Hearing his friends and family sob about the inhumane oppression they've endured, Wenren Li bristles and flips the table. "Nonsense! How could that possibly be my character?!"

Upcoming Novel No. 2

Rebirth of a Pretty-Face Cannon Fodder

Only after his death does Wen Yu discover that his miserable life was nothing more than a game other people played out of boredom.

A group of rich heirs put up ten million for a wager: they want to choose two impoverished students, make them rich, and see whether sudden wealth will corrupt them. Wen Yu, exquisitely beautiful but inexperienced, and Luo Xiu, clean-cut, hardworking, and positive, become their first choices.

Naive and shallow by nature, Wen Yu is dazzled by the big city's splendor the moment he arrives. As expected, he walks straight into the gilded cage they have meticulously built for him. Lost in material desire, he forgets himself completely, ultimately losing his reputation and meeting a miserable end. Unable to repay his debts, he jumps from a building and kills himself.

Luo Xiu, meanwhile, uses the money to build a career and help others, eventually becoming the founder of a publicly listed company. His enterprising spirit and optimistic personality also win him everyone's affection and romantic attention.

When Wen Yu opens his eyes again, he has returned ten years into the past. He has just left his mountain home and set foot on his university campus. This time, he will live a grounded, honest life and earn success through his own efforts.

Everyone thinks Wen Yu is merely a pretty face, with nothing to offer beyond his looks. Even when he gives his all, he still seems clumsy and laughable. Yet everyone has to admit that, when this pretty face gets serious and works hard, he's so beautiful they cannot look away.

Faced with everyone's admiration and growing attraction, a certain large predator plants himself beside the beauty and bares his teeth in warning. "Pretty, isn't he? Mine!"

Theme: Even with countless restrictions, keep striving to live your life.