Winning the Male Lead - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Playboy (1)

“Quietly lying inside the velvet box is a rare and beautiful emerald, exuding a dazzling and captivating brilliance. Its pure, natural luster surpasses any mechanical polish, much like the love that transcends social class between Shen Le Tian, the scion of the Shen Group and the third-tier star Yu Miao” –Smallpox Entertainment News.

Piece of motherfucker…

Le Tian, the main character of the news report, stared at the emerald in the news’ photo and inwardly cursed wildly, I know that I’ll be cuckolded, but there’s no need to make the whole situation description this ridiculous, right?

*TL/N: emerald is green, green is the meaning of being cheated on or cuckolded, for example wearing green hat.

Moreover, red velvet box with green looks like crap, such a dog shit, stupid aesthetics.

System: “Wanted criminal no. 0, please mind your language. Using too many vulgar and censored words will be blocked.”, while highlighting Le Tian’s identity as a criminal not to be arrogant.

Le Tian snorted lightly, “When did I use any vulgar words?”

The system accurately repeated, “Motherfucker, stupid, dog shit.”

Le Tian applauded, “Well said!”

The system was speechless, feeling that Le Tian was being mischievous again.

Le Tian keenly remarked, “You want to electrocute me again? With electricity prices so high now, be careful, I might complain about you wasting the Alliance’s resources.”

The system calmly replied, “I won’t electrocute you. You just keep slacking off, and you’ll end up in Spiritual Exile if you fail to complete the mission in this world.”

This time, Le Tian complied.

—

As the guardian of the romance world, Le Tian fought monsters and leveled up from passerby A, B, C, D, and then, for the first time he became supporting male lead, only to crash that world.

Continuing to repeatedly crash and destruct several worlds, the Alliance mobilized its top-level system to pursue Le Tian. It took crossing seven worlds before finally apprehending Le Tian, who was playing and enjoying the role of young master “Shen” Le Tian in this particular world.

The system didn’t waste time talking to him and directly sentenced him to the following punishment: Starting from this world and onwards, Le Tian must fulfill the task of taking on the identity of the female lead’s husband (or boyfriend) and wear a ‘green hat’ as imposed by the male leads, until the worlds he caused to crash are restored to their original states. In other words, Le Tian has to be a steppingstone for male leads.

Le Tian, who had been living carefree as a young master “Shen” for over three years in this world, was defiant and refused to comply. The system, however, truly didn’t want him to dead by electrocute him first, thus informed him that if he didn’t comply, he would be sent to Spiritual Exile. Spiritual Exile is an extremely cruel punishment, throwing their mind into an empty void and keeping the mind of punished people highly awake through regular stimulation. Normally, an average person can endure it for at most seven days. But for someone with mental strength B-rank like Le Tian’s, going insane would take only about three days.

Being consciously insane is more terrifying than going insane unconsciously.

Le Tian had no choice but to yield.

“Aren’t we about to get engaged?” Le Tian pointed to a photo in the newspaper showing him and Yu Miao together. In the picture, he stood shoulder to shoulder with Yu Miao. His face was clearer, wearing silver-framed glasses, looking down at Yu Miao with a motion of unruly smile at the corner of his mouth. His features were faint and exquisite, while Yu Miao hung her head, revealing only a soft and blurry profile. They looked like a perfect couple.

Le Tian sighed, “I’m really handsome. Even the picture they capture is exuding my noble air from such a deadly angle. I have to admit, I’m truly a rare specimen in this world.”

The system couldn’t be bothered and just warned him, “Hurry up and make Shen Lixing have contact with Yu Miao.”

Shen Lixing, Le Tian’s uncle and also a man admired by the system in every aspect over Le Tian, was the perfect candidate for wearing the metaphorical ‘green hat’ for Le Tian.

Le Tian lazily replied, “What’s the rush? We’re just about to get engaged. The relationship isn’t stable enough yet. There’s a proper way to do things. You didn’t catch me in seven worlds because you were way too anxious.”

The system, prodded at its sore spot, restrained the urge to electrocute Le Tian and quietly told itself:

Don’t get angry. If you get sick from annoyance, no one will stand in for you. You are a noble system, and you don’t have to argue with anyone.

Unaware of the turmoil within the system, Le Tian tossed the newspaper aside and happily went upstairs to look for Shen Lixing.

 —

The study door was closed. Le Tian pushed it open without knocking. Shen Lixing wasn’t there, the desk was piled with documents and an unfinished cup of coffee. Le Tian stared at it for half a minute. Absentmindedly, he walked over and picked up the coffee cup.

The cup was exquisite, with thin walls and a milky white body emitting a faint jade-like glow. There was a light coffee-colored lip-mark on the rim. Le Tian stared at the mark blankly.

How revolting, Shen Lixing even has a good lip-mark.

Shen Lixing is a man that appraised by the system, surpassing Le Tian in every aspect: more handsome, richer, larger and bigger, has a great personality, and living better. In the world of romance, the female lead should always come first, and no one should wrong her.”

“Le Tian?”

Just as Le Tian was lost in thought while holding the cup, a familiar voice sounded behind him. He turned around calmly. Shen Lixing was still wearing the black shirt he had worn to work during the day, with his loosened tie. His short hair fell casually on his forehead, exuding a lazy elegance with a touch of nobility.

Although Le Tian had been with Shen Lixing for three years, he can’t help but consistently feel astonished at the fact that Shen Lixing is more handsome than Le Tian. A mischievous smile appeared on Le Tian’s face as he raised the coffee cup and playfully blinked.

“Uncle, aren’t you worried about going bald from staying up late?”

“Things are almost taken care of,” Shen Lixing smiled faintly, walked over, naturally took the cup from Le Tian, and had another sip of the cold coffee. He unfastened the top button of his shirt, revealing a hint of weariness, and asked Le Tian, “How are the engagement preparations coming along?”

Le Tian didn’t want to discuss this with him, so he evaded the issue, saying, “Don’t drink too much coffee or you won’t be able to sleep later.”

Shen Lixing had always doted on his nephew. He immediately put down his cup of coffee and reached out to ruffle Le Tian’s hair.

“It seems like you’ve really grown up. You know how to show affection now.”

Le Tian lowered his head and let Shen Lixing ruffle his hair obediently. Outside home, he was a domineering playboy, but at home, he was a sweet nephew, and he managed to wrap Shen Lixing around his finger.

—

When Le Tian fled to this world to escape the pursuit of the system, he was already eighteen years old, a world-class idiot. Instead of enjoying his life as a rich man’s son, he ran off to seek independence. Although Le Tian was not actually an idiot, he promptly returned home to cling to Shen Lixing and call him “Dad”.

The truth was, Le Tian had a reason to run. He was not Shen Lixing’s real nephew.

The matter was rather complex. In short, Le Tian’s mother had cuckolded his father, who was Shen Lixing’s deceased older brother.

With a twelve-year age difference, Shen Lixing was much younger than Le Tian’s father. Soon after Shen Lixing’s birth, Le Tian’s grandparents died in a plane crash. As a result, Shen Lixing was raised by Le Tian’s father from a young age, and the bond between the two brothers was extraordinary. If Shen Lixing were to find out that Le Tian, the only seed left by his deceased older brother, was actually the result of his mother’s infidelity, the consequences would be unimaginable.

When Le Tian came of age and learned the truth from his deceased mother’s diary, he had no choice but to run away.

As the wanted criminal no. 0, Le Tian had chosen to live in the moment, indulging in dancing on the edge and acting like a pampered young master around Shen Lixing. His thought was that if things didn’t work out, he’d be dead and move on to another world. He just hadn’t expected to be caught by the system in this world.

Now, the situation was truly between a rock and a hard place. Le Tian could imagine how tragic his future in this world would be. He would not only lose his status as a wealthy young master but also be cuckolded by Shen Lixing.

This was outrageous! Why should this happen to me?

After ruffling Le Tian’s head, Shen Lixing let go and said softly to him, “Go to bed soon. Don’t worry too much about the engagement. Your uncle will help you.”

The word “help” deeply wounded Le Tian’s heart. He responded with a dejected “Oh” and left, casting a pitiful glance back at Shen Lixing as he reached the door.

Le Tian had a pair of droopy puppy eyes, with shiny black pupils, and with glasses that didn’t make him look mature. He looked more like a high school student, intentionally cute and naturally charming.

With a pair of Le Tian’s eyes fixed on him, Shen Lixing asked gently, “What’s wrong?”

“Uncle…” Le Tian mumbled in a subdued and aggrieved tone, “I don’t want to move out.”

Shen Lixing was stunned and laughed, “Who told you to move out?”

Le Tian looked up and pretended to be surprised, “Can I still stay here after I get married?”

“Why would I make you leave?” Shen Lixing’s warm laughter came, “Don’t overthink it. It’s late, you should go to bed.”

Le Tian bid goodbye to Shen Lixing, looking touched and obedient. In his mind, he boasted to the system, “He really can’t bear to let go of his adorable little nephew.”

The system remained silent— having the urge to retch but unable to do so.

Le Tian said excitedly, “To create favorable conditions for myself and to compensate, I’ve decided to go to the nightclub tonight to have some fun with the ladies.”

The system is unable to speak, “…”.

Before the system caught Le Tian, the original was potrayed as a playboy. Having been caught by the system, he had only “settled down” after meeting Yu Miao, the female lead in this world.

Le Tian dashed to the garage, already in his early twenties, yet his carefree personality remained. He sported a worry-free, generous, and smiling appearance, loved by all the servants and security guards in the Shen family from top to bottom.

A collection of limited edition luxury cars was neatly parked in an endless garage. “Which little darling should I pick today…”

Le Tian stroked his chin and pondered, “Ah, what a sweet dilemma.”

“The third car on your right is quite nice,” the system sighed softly.

A dark green Aston Martin.

Le Tian was now quite certain that the system was deliberately annoying him with the green theme.

Ignoring the system, Le Tian chose a fiery red sports car, in line with his flamboyant personality.

As the sports car roared to life, its engine’s dynamic sound cut through the night. Shen Lixing had just unbuttoned his shirt and heard the noise as he reached for the balcony railing. All he could see was the red tail of the car streaking towards the gate. Placing his hand on the balcony pillar, the tall figure cast a shadow like a giant net, muttering softly to himself.

“He’s about to be engaged, yet he still won’t settle down.”

—

Called as “Blue Moon,” the nightclub was the city’s largest and most upscale gold-digging establishment. It had a high level of privacy due to its membership system, and many aspiring models and minor celebrities had registered here to hook wealthy men, while the “wealthy men” were happy to spend money here.

Le Tian, a well-known playboy in the city, had recently made headlines, attracting the attention of many. He ordered a cold drink at the bar and leaned against the bar counter stylishly, while slender fingers rested on the rim of the glass, seemingly smiling at everyone who glanced his way.

“Let’s be honest, I’m so handsome. It’d be quite difficult for Yu Miao to cheat on me and cuckold me,” Le Tian complimented himself to the system.

The system sneered, “Heh, look behind you.”

Following the system’s words, Le Tian nonchalantly turned around, only to have his cold expression immediately cracked by surprise.

Fuck, who was that man hugging Yu Miao? Why is he not as handsome as me…