I Became the Male Lead's Stepmother After Transmigrating - Chapter 20

The end of the world has come, the world order is in chaos, and human morality has declined.Li Yu, a cold man, was reborn and won a 30-million bonus at the start of his new life. He built a god-level base and hoarded resources.While others were struggling on the brink of starvation to death, Li Yu was enjoying himself on the rooftop, having a barbecue and drinking beer.

Themes: Black Market Trading, Global Crime Networks, Boundaries of Human Nature and Morality, The Struggle Between Truth and SurvivalStory Background:In a modern metropolis, the surface level of prosperity conceals the darkness and corruption lurking beneath. Ethan, a highly skilled detective, spends his life navigating the shadowy corners of the city, uncovering the hidden secrets buried beneath the mundane facade of everyday life. When he is drawn into what initially seems like a simple suicide case, he becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving the global black market, power struggles, and transnational crime.Main Characters:Ethan (Protagonist): A seasoned, calm, and intuitive detective who excels at finding the truth in complex cases. On the surface, he is a quiet, solitary man who prefers to avoid social interaction, but deep down, he is haunted by unresolved cases from his past. Faced with dark forces, he is both determined and full of doubt.Lila (Female Protagonist/Key Ally): Ethan's investigative partner, an intelligent and resourceful intelligence officer with a mysterious background. Her past is also shrouded in secrecy, and she seems to have an undisclosed connection to the “Black Angels” organization. She provides crucial assistance in Ethan's investigation, but her motives remain unclear, casting suspicion on her true intentions.Victor Saville (Antagonist/Main Adversary): A charismatic yet dangerous businessman, who appears to be a successful entrepreneur but is, in fact, one of the central figures of the global crime syndicate “The Black Angels.” Cold-hearted, clever, and ruthless, he controls a global black market network, overseeing arms trafficking, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. He is not only a key figure in Langley's death but also the biggest obstacle in Ethan's investigation.The Mysterious Woman (Key Character): An elusive woman who repeatedly appears during Ethan's investigation, warning him not to delve deeper into Saville and the “Black Angels” organization. Her identity is unclear, but it is evident that she holds vital secrets about Saville and his network. Her appearances leave Ethan bewildered—whether she is an enemy or his only ally remains uncertain.

Zeph was your typical no-life gamer; always grinding, raiding, and flexing his perfect builds.Then one night, during a particularly intense game, the power cut. Some weird face wheel popped up, rolled like a gacha, and handed him a card: [Primordial Architect].Next second? ZAP. He had been electrocuted to death!Alas, respawns were real after all. Zeph woke up as a scrawny 13-year-old in a broken world where reality itself ran on game-like rules.People “awakened” to Systems, Classes, and Skills—power granted by the world itself. Those who adapted became superhumans. Those who didn’t… well, they didn’t last long.Three years later, the kid everyone thought was dead has become a legend in the ruins; taller, sharper, crueler, and carrying more memes than mercy.But on his sixteenth birthday, his System finally awakens. Pretty standard. Nothing flashy. Everyone gets something like it.Until…[Secondary Core Detected][Primordial Architect – ACTIVE]And then it happened.One breath = One Skill Point.Another breath. Another point. Endless power.While the rest of humanity bleeds for scraps, Zeph just… breathes. And the world? It’s about to choke on what he builds.⸻Genre: LitRPG | Tags: OP MC, System, Gamer Reincarnation, Post-Apocalypse, Genius Mc, Anti-hero

# FOLLOWERS Her mother was a top actress while her father was a famous director. After Ning Youguang played a cameo role in her father’s movie at the age of seven, the entire entertainment industry waited for her to grow up. Her debut could possibly be the most awaited highlight within the industry. This was in part, thanks to the reality show, The Prosperous Beauty, which was one of the highest-grossing TV shows at that time. It helped to garner millions of fans on Ning Youguang's anonymous blog. Yet, Ning Youguang didn’t want to be a star or appear in the limelight. She only wanted to make an honest living as a doctor and accumulate merits in her life, so that she would not have to suffer an early death once again. Wouldn't it be much better if she could enjoy a regular and disciplined lifestyle where she could spend time planting flowers, raising cats, and living to a ripe old age? She never had a chance to do any of that in her previous life! But Youguang never imagined that she would meet Shi Wangyue. He was one of her patients in her previous life, who had not been cured of his ailments due to her premature death. When her mother brought Shi Wangyue, who was also her half-brother, on a reality show, he appeared distracted. Host to him, “Are you speechless because you are awe-struck by all these beautiful ladies?” Her younger brother looked at the female stars who were dubbed as ‘Prosperous Beauties’ on the show, and said with disapproval, “They’re okay. They only possess one percent of my sister’s beauty.” Everyone was shocked, and this created an uproar in the entertainment circle. It also became the #1 trending topic on Weibo’s hot search. Her mother couldn't agree more with her younger brother’s words, “My daughter is absolutely amazing.” One day, a photo of Ning Youguang was accidentally leaked to the public. Haters of Shi Wangyue proclaimed, “Bro, we’ll never laugh at you again. Is this a beauty that humankind deserves to have among us?”