Nova Roma - Chapter 57 - Empire Gears

“Look at him,” someone snickered from a few rows over. “Smells like he sleeps in a dumpster.”“Probably does,” another voice added, louder this time. Nox just stared at his textbook, the words blurring. He had heard it all before.Then, Mark, one of the main reasons his life was a living hell, swaggered past his desk. Mark always had a smirk on his face. “Oops,” he said, not even trying to sound accidental, as a full cup of bright orange juice tipped over, splashing all down the front of Nox's already ruined shirt. The cold liquid soaked through instantly. Laughter erupted around the room. It was loud, clear, and mocking. Nox slowly looked up. His eyes landed on Ms. Joy, who was watching the whole thing. She had seen Mark deliberately pour the juice on him. He raised his hand, a small, tired gesture. “Ms. Joy,” he said, his voice flat. “He just poured juice on me. Are you just going to ignore it? Again?.” Ms. Joy looked at him, then at Mark, who was now theatrically wiping his hands. A small smile played on her lips. Then she chuckled. Just a little airy laugh.“Oh, Nox, don't be so dramatic. Boys will be boys, right Mark?” Mark puffed out his chest. “Yeah, Ms. Joy. He's just sensitive.” The class laughed even harder at that. Ms. Joy joined in, her laughter ringing out with theirs. Hearing them all, hearing her laugh, something in him finally snapped. It wasn't a loud break, more like a quiet, final click. He realized it then, with a cold, hard clarity. No one was coming to save him. No teachers, no police, no parents he never had. No one cared. If he wanted this to stop, he would have to be the one to stop it. He was the only one who could.His face remained blank, but his mind was suddenly very clear. He reached down slowly, his hand going into his worn-out school bag. The laughter died down a little as a few students noticed his deliberate movement, a strange stillness about him. He pulled out a gun.The classroom went silent. Utterly, completely silent. Mark's smirk vanished, replaced by wide, terrified eyes. Even Ms. Joy stopped laughing, her face paling. “What… Nox, what are you doing?” she stammered, her voice suddenly shaky. He didn't answer. He looked around at their faces, one by one. Fear. He saw fear now. Good. He was ready. He was going to make them all pay. He was going to end it, all of it.Just as he was about to raise the gun properly, a bright blue screen appeared right in front of his face. It was translucent, and only he seemed to see it. [Congratulations! You have met the requirements!] [1st Player Chosen!] [You have won the System!]

In her previous life, Yun Qin was set up by her stepmother and stepsister, dying a horrible death. After getting reincarnated, she held onto her pregnancy test report and held her waist as she approached the most powerful family in the capital—the Song family. Ninth Master Song, the eldest legitimate grandson of the Song family, was rumored to be cold-blooded and arrogant. He was temperamental and ruthless. However, he agreed to marry the woman who approached him and demanded him to take responsibility by presenting her pregnancy test report. When the news came out, the entire capital exploded in shock. No one believed that Ninth Master Song would truly love an illegitimate daughter with a lowly status. It was harder to believe that a crude illegitimate daughter with low intelligence would be able to secure the position as the Song family’s matriarch for long. Therefore, the entire country was waiting for their divorce and waiting to see Yun Qin make a fool of herself. However, after Yun Qin married into the Song family, she set up a stall on the street to provide fortune-telling services to anyone who wanted to find out about their fortunes or misfortunes, romantic fates, and future undertakings... Eventually, her fortune-telling that never missed stirred up discord among the influential families in the Capital City! The wealthy nearly broke through the Song family’s door just to seek out Yun Qin’s fortune-telling services. Simultaneously, the Song family’s fourth-generation grandchild crawled out from Yun Qin’s abdomen. Yun Qin’s real identity slowly unraveled—nobody dared to belittle her anymore. With each passing year, Ninth Master Song not only maintained the marriage with Yun Qin but both of them fell deeper in love with each other. Everyone started smashing their figurative bowls, saying, “We’re so done chowing on this bowl of dog food!”

Epilogue:

Yun Qin, “Hey, handsome man, I’m afraid you’ll be in a life-threatening situation today. Do you want to exchange some money for safety?” The famous surgeon in Capital City looked at her in disdain, turned around, and left. That night, the surgeon kneeled before Yun Qin, begging her, “Ms. Yun, please save me!”

Yun Qin, “Sir, darkness enshrouds your forehead. I’m afraid you’ve been entangled with bad luck and will soon lose your life. Do you want to exchange some money for safety?” The financial bigshot flipped over Yun Qin’s stall with a single kick. That night, the bigshot kneeled before Yun Qin, begging her, “O’wise one, save me, please!”

Male lead persona: Arrogant, cold, ruthless, and decisive

Female lead persona: After her reincarnation, she was smart and calm. She could see spirits.

“Listen, buddy, your cock was the last thing that got inside me, so unless I’m having some kind of miracle baby, yeah, you’re the father. Congrats.”—Raelynn had one goal that night—drown her sorrows in cheap whiskey after getting fired from her job. What she didn’t plan on was two surprises: one, a steamy night with a ridiculously good-looking stranger, and two, a $10,000 check for her the next morning. Jackpot, right?Wrong.Nothing could’ve prepared her for the biggest surprise of all—she’s pregnant. And the father? None other than Elion Vaelorian, the country’s richest and most powerful businessman, with a face that could melt ice... and a personality just as cold.What Raelynn doesn’t know is that Elion isn’t just any man. And the baby she’s carrying? Let’s just say it’s far from ordinary, and its existence could shake the foundations of the world she knows.

The emotionless Young Master Bo had finally gotten married. Rumor had it that the new Mrs. Bo was easily jealous and had set a family rule on their wedding night: Her husband was to return home every night, and no other females could be around him! Gradually, everyone in Jiang City realized that Young Master Bo's wife was a tigress!On their wedding anniversary, Young Master Bo brought his wife along for an event. Mrs. Bo was young, pretty, and delicate. Every time her eyes lingered at any man a second longer, her husband wouldn’t hesitate to destroy that man's company!Faced with everyone’s gazes, Mrs. Bo couldn’t help but decry, “Bo Jingyan, you've been ruining my reputation again!”Young Master Bo simply coaxed her solemnly. “You don’t know how fierce other women can be! Baby, you must protect me.”Mrs. Bo couldn’t help but flare up. In truth, he was the one who exerted strict control over her in private!