Smiling Under Lanterns - Chapter 764: Extra Five (Pei Tong): Portrait_2

Aurelia Holt had quietly sacrificed her career to be a stay-at-home wife for her husband, Blake Carson, so that he could work full time while also pursuing his dream of becoming a successful producer in the future.But on the night of their second wedding anniversary, she watched her husband come home with another woman in his arms. It was Stella, his first love whom he was never really over.“She is already upset, you don’t have to make her feel worse. Is it wrong to show care and concern for my friend?” He argued as he clenched his jaws and kept his gaze steady on my face.“She isn’t just your friend, she was your ex, your first love. And isn’t it so convenient that everytime she needs you or something happens whenever I just want to spend some time with you?”He had always chosen Stella over her, putting her needs and feelings above hers. And that night, she finally had enough.“All you ever care about is Stella!” I continued to yell so loudly that I could practically hear my voice ringing in my ears. “You always do this! You always choose her over me, you always put her feelings above mine.”I watched as a smirk tugged at Stella’s lips as she watched me argue with my husband over her. Blake walked to her side, wrapping his arm around her as she curled her fingers around his arm with a pitiful look.“Stop yelling, you are scaring Stella. Why can’t you be more understanding and stop being so self-centered? Not everything is about you!”The last thing she remembered was her running out into the pouring rain and the next thing she knew, she was asking a stranger to marry her. That stranger was Xavier Wilder, the billionaire CEO of one of the most successful companies in the country. But there was more to him that Aurelia didn’t know just yet, something he was hiding from her.Together, she vowed to make her ex-husband’s life a living hell. There were only two things he cared about the most―his reputation and his ego. And she planned to destroy it all, bit by bit.

Have you ever thought that the state of the world as it presently is, could revert to the laws of the ancients? When a series of strange incidents beginning with the disappearance of his friend led Luo Yuan to question the possibility of an apocalypse, he becomes embroiled in the midst of a global-scale chaos.

Evolution has turned the flora and fauna of the vast and bountiful Earth into something that had never been seen before. Coincidentally, the all-dominating Homo sapiens have ended up at the bottom of the food chain. From mystery to crisis, will Luo Yuan discover a means of saving humanity by racing to the top of the food chain? Or will he strive in accordance with the law of the jungle? It is the dawn of an age of the survival of the fittest.

- Description from Novelupdates

Contemporary college student Ye Leyao died suddenly from staying up late, and found himself transported into a world where several novels merged together, becoming the useless adopted son of the prestigious Huo family.The good news is that, apart from him, everyone else in the family is a big shot. Eldest Brother Huo is a legendary figure in the business world, Second Brother Huo is a top actor in the entertainment industry, and Third Brother Huo is a skilled esports player and boss.The bad news is, these big shots are all antagonists, and none of them have good endings.Even worse news is that, upon waking up, he finds himself in the middle of a cheap romance involving Second Brother, who is oblivious to the fact that the child in his lover’s belly isn’t his seed at all!Ye Leyao couldn’t help but scream inwardly: “Aaaaaahhhh—seriously? This romance-idiot still doesn’t know the child in his lover’s belly isn’t his?!”All eyes in the family suddenly turn towards him. The second brother even stumbles.Everyone: What?!The top-tier Huo family adopted a young troublemaker some years ago.Initially, nobody in the family paid him any mind. That is, until they could all hear Ye Leyao’s inner thoughts—Just as Father Huo brings his down-and-out friend home. Ye Leyao’s inner voice: “Oh, so this is the little seductress trying to seduce Father Huo, plotting to make Mother Huo and Father Huo divorce, and wrecking the Huo family?”Father Huo’s pupils dilate: “!” That night, before Ye Leyao can subtly hint to Mother Huo, the little seductress is personally “thrown” out by Father Huo.During breakfast at home, Eldest Brother Huo takes a video call discussing crucial shipment matters with his assistant.Ye Leyao perks up his ears, muttering to himself: “Why do I vaguely remember a typhoon changing course to pass through this route in a few days? Big Brother’s business deal is definitely going down.”Eldest Brother Huo: “…” He immediately changes the shipping route with his assistant. Sure enough, five days later, news came that the original route was hit by a typhoon.Afterwards, Eldest Brother Huo transfers five million into Ye Leyao’s account. Ye Leyao is astonished. Eldest Brother Huo tries to remain composed, saying calmly, “Take it, you’ve earned it.”Third Brother Huo isn’t home often. After the league ends, he brings his newly recruited team members home for dinner. Just as they enter the house, Ye Leyao stares keenly at his new teammates.Third Brother Huo is about to warn Ye Leyao against premature romance, when he hears Ye Leyao whispering in his mind: “They’re handsome alright, but unfortunately, they’re moles sent by the rival team.”Third Brother Huo: “!!!” That night, Third Brother Huo begins investigating and not only discovers that the new teammates are moles from the rival team, but also finds out that his most trusted assistant has been secretly gathering data on their team!A week later, another ten million appeared in Ye Leyao’s account.Ye Leyao, holding the money happily: “Third Brother, you’re more generous than Big Brother!”Just then, Eldest Brother Huo passes by: “…”As a supporting character in the novel, Ye Leyao’s biggest dream is to save up money and flee with his family of antagonists when they hit rock bottom. Little did he expect that all these villains in his family would not only avoid disaster but thrive in their careers, and he would end up soaring with them.

Jannah is a Countess in the Starlian Kingdom. She's known for her achievements in the battlefield, mercilessly ending her enemies and protecting her people.All for the peace and glory of the kingdom.“Run! They're swarming all over the place!”“Just leave! I already got bitten...!”“I can't leave without you!”However, all the blood sheds in the battlefield became useless when an outbreak befell the kingdom.Doom and betrayal hang in the air, following her like the plague.The apocalypse forced her to shed blood once again, under the guise of protecting her loved ones.Although, something happened that wasn't supposed to happen on her second run in life.[Initializing.....][System activated!][System scanning player's status...][Please enter your name:_____]“What is this thing in front of me? This thing didn't appear in my first life!”With chaos going around her, Jannah started her journey with a newfound thing called “system” to protect her people from the zombies.If you're not a fan of the list below then please click away.— Turtle progression.— Gore.— Same-sex relationships.— Questionable life choices (by MC).