After finishing a tragic novel where the villain is betrayed and killed by his own beast husbands, Li Wei does what any reasonable reader would do. He rants about the ending.

Then he gets hit by a car.

When he opens his eyes again, Li Wei finds himself inside that very novel, reborn as Su Ningyan, the future villain destined to walk a path of madness, war, and blood.

Ten years before his fall.

Ten years before his death.

In the original story, Su Ningyan’s unstable phoenix beast core drives him toward forbidden power, turning him into a feared villain who ultimately dies at the hands of the men he loved most.

This time, Li Wei refuses that fate.

He will avoid the villian arc.

He will heal his beast core.

And he will stay far away from the four terrifying beast princes who will one day become his husbands.

Unfortunately, fate has other plans.

The academy meant to heal him becomes a battlefield of tension, rivalry, and instinctual bonds. The beast princes notice him far too early, and the more Su Ningyan tries to escape the plot, the tighter destiny coils around him.

Because in a world ruled by beast bloodlines and ancient bonds, some connections cannot be severed only delayed.

And the husbands who once killed him… may not be willing to let him go again.

****

Excerpt

Su Ningyan didn’t know where he was.

At first, he thought he was dreaming. His body felt warm... too warm... and the scent in the air was unfamiliar, sharp and clean, like lightning after rain.

He turned onto his side.

And froze.

A pair of golden dragon eyes stared back at him from inches away.

The man was breathtaking. Long black hair spread across silk pillows, sharp features sculpted as if carved from jade. His presence alone pressed down on Su Ningyan’s chest, heavy and suffocating.

His face went pale. “What the—”

“You’re awake.” The man smiled faintly.

Jun Haoxuan. Azure Dragon Clan. Future Beast King.

And, according to the book, one of the men who would eventually become his husband.

“Did you sleep well?” Jun Haoxuan asked calmly.

Su Ningyan’s eye twitched. He was supposed to be avoiding them.

So why was he waking up in the dragon prince’s bed?

Qinghe let out a heavy sigh and handed the scroll to him. "I suppose we'll wait and find out."


Ningyan accepted it. "And if it's a threat?"


Qinghe's lips twitched. "Then Lan Meishan dies."


Ningyan didn't react. Not a flicker. Not a breath out of place.


Qinghe watched him closely, clearly gauging his response. Finding none, she turned away and added as she walked off, "Give it to Wuhen. I have no interest in reading it."


Meanwhile, Lanyin stepped closer, smiling faintly. "She likes you."


Ningyan snorted. "That's her liking me? I still have nightmares of her trying to kill me back in Sunland."


Lanyin's gaze dropped briefly to the scroll in his grasp, then lifted back to his face. "Lan Meishan is your friend, isn't he?"


Was that what they were supposed to be? Was whatever he had with Meishan meant to stay hidden?


Chapter 78 - I Am Not A Hero (1)