Smiling Under Lanterns - Chapter 631 - 217: The Bird_3

Xu Shulou dreams she’s a character in a bizarre storybook.The male lead is Long Aotian, a man with a “Dragon Overlord” script: treasures fall into his lap, beauties vie for his heart.The first heroine is his delicate junior apprentice sister. The second, the Demon Sect’s saintess. The third… the fourth…Where does Xu Shulou rank? She flips through the plot and realizes—despite being Long Aotian’s official fiancée, she’s nothing but a disposable pawn.In the story, her sect elders dote on her fragile junior sister.“Shulou, yield this treasure to your sister. She’s weaker and needs it more.”“Shulou, don’t be unreasonable. Your gentle sister deserves care.”Even Long Aotian prefers the junior sister. He’s a flirtatious mess, forcing Xu Shulou to compete with other women, her jealousy twisting her into a villain. Meanwhile, the junior sister blossoms into a pristine lotus.But Xu Shulou refuses to play along.When the script demands she and her junior sister be kidnapped, Long Aotian saves the “weaker” girl, saying, “Shulou, you’re stronger—you’ll understand.”In reality? Long Ao Tian arrives just in time to see Xu Shulou slaughter the villains, scoop her sister into her arms, and vanish into the sky—without sparing him a glance.When demons attack, the story expects Long Aotian to leave his fiancée and lovers in the sect’s care. The elders protect only the junior sister, letting Xu Shulou be humiliated.In reality? The elders sneer: “Our senior sister dominates the cultivation world. Why would we need you to worry about her?”When the story’s Long Aotian coaxes the Demon Saintess into betraying her clan for him…In reality, the Saintess timidly asks Xu Shulou: “You’re a righteous heroine. I’m a hunted demon. Why would you want to befriend me?”In the script, Xu Shulou claws at other women in jealous rage.In reality, she’d rather live in peace—until Long Aotian pushes too far. Then she draws her sword.In the story, Long Aotian reigns supreme, surrounded by beauties.In reality, Xu Shulou steals his allies, hoards his treasures, and occasionally beats him up—while he sulks.“My sword saves the world and shields the innocent. It’s not for fighting over men.”“See? Dreams lie. I’m the one holding the Dragon Overlord script.”

Aether Moirai was never meant to be free.Born from the final spark of the Abyss—a forgotten god’s last act of rebellion—he is the last vessel, a boy whose powers grow stronger the more his mind fractures. Bound by the Codex, a system that can rewrite history itself, Aether is hunted by worlds that fear what he might become.The Infinite Library has always been his home—a labyrinth between worlds where every book is a living realm, and every story is a battlefield. But when the tales begin to warp, birthing monsters and rewriting entire histories, even the Library’s endless shelves can’t protect him.To survive, Aether must step into dangerous books where myths breathe, legends bleed, and the wrong choice can erase you from existence. Each journey brings him closer to the truth of his creation—and the author who penned his fate.He is not the hero of these stories.He is the flaw in every one of them.

【Arranged Marriage, Love After Marriage+Sweet Pampering+Blessed Pregnancy+Clean Hands+Child Rearing Daily Life+CEO+Beloved Wife】Caden Hawthorne, the head of the Hawthorne Family, is a paranoid and domineering figure, ruthless and decisive in business battles, navigating both the underworld and high society. Due to his consistent wearing of Buddha Beads, he is known in the underworld as “The Patriarch.”Everyone says that the heir of the Aethelgard Circle's wealthiest Hawthorne Family is a faithful monk-like figure, sexually abstinent and cold, never tempted by beauty.Until the arrival of Vivian Lynch, the Lynch Family's adopted daughter, unloved by her parents and burdened with a leech of a spoiled younger brother.After their one-night reckless encounter, it was assumed their paths would not cross again, but surprisingly, a little over a month later, she was pregnant — with twins.She was brought into the Hawthorne Family, marrying Caden Hawthorne for the sake of their children, becoming the envy of all as Mrs. Hawthorne.Initially, Caden tossed her an agreement, coldly stating, “After the children are born, we'll get a divorce.”Later, her true lineage was revealed, and Caden was slapped in the face by his own actions, desperately clinging to her leg, crying, “Baby, I was wrong, please don't leave me.”One day, Caden was supporting a heavily pregnant Vivian in front of the reporters, announcing, “That's right, we're having a second child.”Vivian, aggrieved and holding her pregnant belly, her eyes tinged red, angrily retorted, “Get lost! Who wants to have your child, you jerk?”Henceforth, the abstinent Patriarch descended from his pedestal, transforming into a doting husband, insatiable in his affection.【Paranoid, abstinent heir of The Aethelgard Circle VS gentle, soft, truly blessed heiress】