Riley Ross - Chapter 53: Harmless

Zhao Yi woke up to find himself in a romance novel set in a Mystical World, where he became the supporting male character driving the plot between the male and female leads!And he’s not just an ordinary supporting character — he’s the sixth prince of the royal family, rich and powerful.However, the female lead, who is supposed to be his fiancée, falls in love with the male lead — a young monk who possesses a ring which contains his master’s soul serving as his golden finger.This time, no longer clouded by love, Zhao would do whatever it takes to get his revenge.

After losing his parents to an accident, Haruto is thrust into a state of depression. Realizing he never had the power to change things, he eventually took his own life. Before moving on, he’s selected by beings greater than his understanding to balance out a world suddenly facing peril. The world of Mordell, where demon-like creatures and beasts roam, and Guilds of ability users called Warlords are the force to combat these creatures. Armed with the power to change things, he has the choice. Continue living in despair or accept his second chance and become a true Warlord.

Crossing into another world, Shen Yuan unexpectedly picks up a mysterious Turtle Shell in the river, activating the [Daily Hexagram] system bound to his family.[Today's Hexagram · Auspicious]: You pass by the Black Water Pool and unexpectedly encounter a Centennial Blood Toad shedding its skin. The shed skin has extremely high medicinal value and can be sold for two hundred Patterned Silver taels.[Today's Hexagram · Great Ominous]: A Barbarian Race scout team sneaks into Hidden Dragon Mountain. If you go into the mountain to chop wood, you will encounter bloodshed.[Today's Hexagram · Auspicious]: You take your son to hunt in Hidden Dragon Mountain and will have a good opportunity.[Today's Hexagram · Great Auspicious]: You spend a fortune to purchase a piece of land from the County Government, which hides a Lower Grade Spirit Stone Ore Vein.

Elara’s first life crashed hard. Cruel tricks ruined her name, broke her dreams, and turned the whole entertainment world against her. Friends betrayed her. Lovers sold her out. Everyone she trusted stabbed her in the back. The pain piled up until she felt trapped with no way out. One night, she couldn’t take it anymore. She walked to the river and ended it all in the cold, quiet water.Later, proof came out. Messages. Recordings. Everything showed she had been framed. People posted apologies online. But it was too late. She was already gone.The universe, though, clearly has a twisted sense of humor.Because somehow, Elara came back. She woke up in her own past, every awful memory still sharp in her head. Right then she made a promise she would never break: protect her gentle grandfather no matter what, and never let anyone push her to that dark place again.This time she steps into the entertainment world with her head high. She trains harder, sings better, fights smarter. The same people who once crushed her? Now they get to feel the pressure.Love? Not happening. Her heart is locked tight. But why is it that as she rises and shines brighter, handsome, powerful men start circling her—guys who never even glanced at her in her previous life were now hovering around her.The actor smiled at her during a press interview, leaned closer, and said softly, “We should have dinner sometime.”The footballer sent flowers so big they blocked her room door.The surgeon she met at a charity event checked her pulse and then forgot to let go of her wrist.The singer she collaborated with kept calling her name during rehearsals, as if the mic could not hear him well enough.Elara stared at the ceiling that night and sighed.She only wanted to sing. Why did everyone look like they wanted to adopt her, date her, or both?But the worst one came after the concert.The lights had just gone off. Her ears were still ringing. Sweat clung to her neck. She had barely stepped backstage when a shadow blocked her path.She looked up.The CEO of the greatest company in Aurelia stood there. The same man who once said her voice was “not worth investing in.” The same man who did not even know her name before rebirth.Now he held her wrist lightly, but firmly.“Let’s talk,” he said.Elara blinked. “About… sponsorship?”“No,” he replied calmly. “About marriage.”Her brain froze.“…What?”“I will give you everything,” he continued, as if asking for a glass of water. “Resources. Protection. Freedom to sing. Become my wife.”Elara stared at him, her mouth open, her thoughts running in circles.This was not how it was supposed to be.Why was the world now skipping steps?NB:This story takes place in a fictional world. Aurelia is a country. Solmere, Veston, and Starfall City are the three capital cities of Aurelia. Other cities, such as Lorien and Crelou, are smaller cities.