Chapter Text
“A-Luo,” demure, Ning Yingying had sat beside him as she slowly ran her hands across his shoulders.
Luo Binghe had been irritable recently, and it had started to bleed into his inner chambers. His wives almost always finding excuses to leave him alone, though he couldn’t fault them after having nearly killed Sha Hualing when her temper had triggered his. It was only really his previous shijie who was able to approach him without any problems. Luo Binghe’s best guess is perhaps it’s because she’s been with him the longest, knowing him well enough and changing herself to his needs. A part of him distantly felt bad, that such a hyper and loudmouthed girl had become so quiet and compliant. Regardless, it was too late to change things, and thinking about the future sounded so boring an rather endless that it made his bones ache at the thought of it.
“Would you care to come with this first wife out into town? This one has seen that her husband has been locked in his own work for so long, perhaps some fresh air would do some good?” there’s a shy smile on her lips, hopeful despite the amount of times he’s refused this request for everyone else in the past. Slowly his eyes traced the watching eyes of the frightened attendant, and not for the first tme her felt his skin crawl with an irritation. The idea of more work only made it worse, and so quickly it felt like his temper had begun it’s burning.
…perhaps he really should take a break. “Alright, perhaps my wife is correct.”
That shy smile slowly grew into something delighted as she dipped in closer and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, husband. I am sure you will enjoy your time out.”
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They actually end up in a bookshop, Ning Yingying having wanted to find new kids books for the younger children. Left to browse, he couldn’t help but stare at the colorful spines with an air of boredom. Luo Binghe isn’t that privy to what he does and does not read in his free time. In the first place, reading isn’t in his list of interests when he has quite literally the mortal domain to rule and his plenty of wives to please and fawn over him. But, sometimes a book will find its way onto his desk or catch his interest as he goes about his day. Though now, displayed in the farthest corner of the library lays a rather rundown and used book. Abandoned to the poor conditions of the uncleaned corner of the shop.
This one in particular isn’t his favorite genre. It had no title, no summary, and so he read a few pages into it. It’s of the tragedy genre with a narrator who was rather pessimistic, but still somehow hilarious to read about.
The story painted a world without cultivation, a land of humans where life was far more advanced and their problems were solved with science. Its main character being one young master Shen Yuan, who had begun as someone proud in himself and his achievements. Into a first child with an unknown illness pushed aside from the limelight so that his genius younger brother and prodigy younger sister could stand where he could not. Part of Luo Binghe ached at that small similarity between him and the main character, the old resentment he held for those who talked down about him, and the crushing helplessness of being unable to fulfill such an impossible roll with what little he was given. Just as Luo Binghe had been put at a disadvantage by his former shizun, the once immortal Shen Qingqiu, he read about how Shen Yuan had been repeatedly left behind with little to no love or connection with his family.
But that wasn’t what made the story sad. The tragedy was not in his situation. No, it was in his actions. No matter how much he was belittled and forgotten, Shen Yuan made an effort that none of the others deserved, attending ceremonies his siblings won, following any and all orders his parents ever chose to give him. If not that, then he diligently stayed silent, hidden away in an apartment his parents bought for him long ago as a coming-of-age gift after he showed no promise in his future due to his illness.
The tragedy was in the days in which his siblings would come to him burnt out, wanting comfort in which their parents and the public could never give. In the smiles that Shen Yuan would generously give them as he hugged them back and gave them words of encouragement and love that he repeatedly told them they deserve. The tragedy was in the moments after his siblings left, refreshed, and smiling back. Where Shen Yuan’s smile would fall ever so slightly though the tears would fall just as they close the doors behind them. Where the words Shen Yuan gave his siblings would never be given to him in return, and the smiles and reassuring hands on his back would never be there as he allowed himself to shatter on the floor of his bedroom. All this because he couldn’t help but love them with everything that he had despite all his quick-witted replies and sarcasm about not needing them to live a good life.
There is the downfall, that any tragedy would bring about to its main character who could do nothing but love and hold denial and a wish that one day he’d have a place with his family again. Where his health dips so low that death itself felt like it would accompany his next dream. Shen Yuan survived, but from it he was brutally reminded that he no longer had anyone, despite how many people smiled his way, and from that he snapped. He turned his siblings away who eventually came knocking, broke any and every bond that he had. Shen Yuan despised the world and infinitely more so for the ones who brought him into it. Those few days where he was left alone to choke on his own vomit, crawl across his own home for water and fought a near inevitable fate had taken his will to love. Had trampled over it and stained it in his own coughed up blood as he scrambled to live for just another day and prove to them that he will not fall to his own illness.
For most tragic or sad genres, Luo Binghe had always chosen to stop reading by the end of the first chapter at the most. Finding no pleasure or interest in sympathizing with another, just to be handed such meaningless endings. But something about Shen Yuan made him want to see how this all ends. Maybe it’s because they were in such similar situations, or perhaps Luo Binghe truly just saw him as an interesting character. Whether it be the inevitably sad ending or a suddenly content note, Luo Binghe wanted to know how it ended. Then, after a few days of reading obsessively, ignoring the court and his doting wives, and finding solitude in his room, Luo Binghe got to the ending.
It was horrendous.
“Stupid author! Stupid book! How can you give someone like Shen Yuan such a lackluster ending?!” the book had met its demise under his unrelenting grip, crumpling and burning from the force of his demonic energy. Tragic! It was tragic that such a man so kindhearted would be killed with something as simple as food poisoning! Forget the genre, this was just too sad! It could not bring tears to even an empath. If it did, it would be because of how pitiful the ending had been! An open ending would have been better! Of course, the main character’s declining health and missing senses had been the biggest contribution to his ultimate demise, but Luo Binghe refused to believe that such a pathetic ending was fitting for someone like Shen Yuan.
If Luo Binghe could, he’d change things for Shen Yuan, give him the life that he deserved, because that sure as hell wasn’t it. Not with a family who only ever looked his way when they needed him, nor a world that overlooked such a brilliant man who strived in the subjects they did not desire-
[New user has been detected. Activation Code: Stupid Author! Stupid Book!] the odd box before him was not solid, his hand phasing through it’s surface no matter what energy he infused into his hands or objects. What is this? It didn’t help that there was an odd monotone voice that accompanied the words as well, slightly grating to his ears.
“What is this?”
[Welcome to the System. During the opening of the You Can You Up system currently in its development phase, we wish to provide you with the best experience. It will be our sincere hope that during the process, you will achieve what you have stated: to transform a piece of stupid writing in accordance with your wishes into a satisfying ending. We wish you happiness.]
What exactly did that mean? You can you up? None of that made sense! It didn’t seem that the odd text was done, however, as it blinked once more and resumed creating texts.
[Reverse My Isekai!.....DOWNLOAD COMPLETE]
[Rendering…COMPLETE]
[As the current head source of this WORLD is not available to transfer to a new WORLD without collapse in the system. A new mod has been added as accommodations! We look forward to your continued cooperation!]
“…”
What just happened?
“A-Luo?” there’s a tap to his shoulder, inquisitive eyes pointed to the book destroyed in his hands. The words that had been hovering before him had now disappeared. “Was that the book you’ve been reading? What happened?” knowing her well despite how much Ning Yingying had learned to cover her reactions, Luo Binghe could see a hint of amusement in the way her eyes crinkled just slightly.
“…this one has found the ending to be rather…lacking.” Disappointing? A waste of time?
There’s a hum, “then, would this husband care to join me to town once more? Perhaps you can find a new book that would fit to your liking far better.
The last time he agreed, he had found this book. Perhaps, as he investigated the ashes of the book, he could find a new copy and another one with a better ending. This had all been more amusing than anything had been in the past few years. It felt nice to have something new to distract himself from the mundane world around him. “Alright, this one will join you once more.”
-----
The bookstore had nothing else interesting in it, much to Luo Binghe’s disappointment. Having ironed through the place, he still found nothing and was left slightly irritated as he and Ning Yingying made their way through town. The people kept a wide berth around them and he was slightly grateful for his natural intimidation because anything really could make him flip so easily.
“A-Luo, I’d like to go to the local doctor. He may have medicine that can help with the recent migraines I’ve been having.”
Glancing down, he noted the exhaustion in her features, bruising eyes, and a pallor far lighter than her usual. When did this start to happen? “Could this one not just heal you with his blood?” it would be an easy fix, “Is your cultivation suffering?” How else would she fall so sick?
There’s a dismissive shake of her head, “no need to use your blood for this humble wife. It has merely been a busier few months with the work of looking after children after the injury of some of the wives.”
It didn’t really have to be said, but Luo Binghe knew fully that this was his fault. Despite the distraction of the book, there have been situations in which he had been overly aggressive in bed or even in court when the wrong words have been said. It has been a miracle that none have died in his attempt to control himself, but Xin Mo has grown bored and Luo Binghe had no plans of ceasing his use of it or destroying it. If he’s angrier then so be it.
Someone clips his shoulder on his way into the doctor’s shop, “oh, sorry! I didn’t see you there.” Turning around with something harsher on his tongue, Luo Binghe was cut off before it could come out.
[System Activation: SUCCESS]
[As are privileges of the current user, no points will be available for distribution. However, final goal has been concluded to be of proper compensation: Permanent inclusion of mod!] What? What? None of that made sense!
In front of him stands a familiar man he saw in the book’s illustrations, though the art did no justice for this smaller man…cute!
[Shen Yuan: Young master of the Shen clan]
The other man stared back at him in confusion, shrugged and bowed modestly, “apologies once more. Have a nice day.”
“…right.” Staring blankly, Luo Binghe took a moment to comprehend the situation and turned back to Ning Yingying who had been watching him. He shook his head to the worried frown and entered the shop fully, closing the door behind him. Standing beside Ning Yingying as she ordered her prescription, mind wandering despite his usual ability to control it.
Somehow, Shen Yuan exists now and whatever this odd entity may be, it brought a fictional character to life. Why? It mentioned that it wanted ‘to transform a piece of stupid writing in accordance with your wishes into a satisfying ending,’ how exactly was he to go about doing that? Why would he even play around with what is most obviously a game to whatever this entity is?
Though honestly, this really was becoming interesting.