Blossoming Path - Chapter 22: Crimson Lotus Purification

“The missing ingredient is a test subject with Royal Blood...”Raven Kyzer, a Commoner boy, grew up in an orphanage along with his twin sister, after losing their mother at a young age, having never met their father.After being discovered to possess Royal blood, the twins are abducted by the Church of Persona. Raven is used as a test subject in an ancient form of Forbidden Magic, known as the Homunculus Ritual, while his sister goes missing in the clutches of the church.The Homunculus Ritual is conducted to turn Raven into a powerful but mindless Monster, a loyal weapon for the church with no sense of free will...but something goes wrong, the ritual fails to destroy Raven's mind and he escapes the clutches of the church.Furious at being turned into a Monster, Raven swears revenge against the church, determined to make them pay for what they did to him, as well as to rescue his sister from their clutches.But there's only so much he can do by himself, even with the new powers he gained through the Homunculus Ritual...that's when he has a fateful encounter with the nation's most wanted criminals, a group known as The Irregulars, who, like Raven, have their own reasons to despise and go after the church, as well as the corrupt Nobility that oppresses the Commoners.With their goals aligned, Raven decides to join The Irregulars, taking the first step on his long, arduous path to revenge...

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

Bai Jing transmigrated into a book and became the male protagonist’s first love. She sacrificed herself for the male protagonist and the female protagonist got all the benefits.

Bai Jing, who wore the book, said, “Hehe, who wants to be the Virgin Mary?”

The male lead: “Jingjing, as long as you accompany President Wang for drinks, our company will be rich.”

Bai Jing kicked him away. “Get out. You’re not fit to depend on me!”

The female lead: “Jingjing, how could you break up with him when he’s broke? You are too materialistic!”

Bai Jing smiled lazily. “Are you envious? I’m more beautiful than you. I have the right to be willful.”

Bai Jing wanted to start her own career, but the male and female leads kept chasing after her.

She could not take it anymore and found a handsome man to marry.

“Let me introduce you, this is my husband. I’ve liked him for a long time.”

The male protagonist was stunned. “G… Greetings, President Si.”

The female protagonist trembled. “Si… Si Qian…”

Bai Jing was silent.

The villain in the book was also called Si Qian?!

That night, Bai Jing forbade men from going to bed. “Divorce. I’m not interested in villains.”

“Sure.”

Si Qian leaned forward. “Before the divorce, give me one last night.”

The next day, Bai Jing didn’t manage to get out of bed successfully…

After countless “last night”, Bai Jing finally created her own technology empire.

Reporter: “Ms. Bai, can I ask you about your secret to success?”

Bai Jing held her aching waist and smiled mysteriously. “Treat every night as your last night.”

Persona:

Bai Jing: Beautiful and cool, technology big shot.

Si Qian: Handsome and mysterious, wise and powerful, deeply attracted by Bai Jing’s charm.

Tong Nian, a cosplay cover singer, falls in love at first sight with a man she spots at a Net cafe. Chasing him, she signs up for the MMO she saw him playing, albeit it’s a super high ranked account a friend acquired for her. Who could have known he was a pro gamer, moreover a legend in the gaming circle at that!