Zheng Xiaoguang was a huge fan of online games. Although she did not have much money to splash out on the games, she had a big brother to take care of her. With the help of her capable big brother, she always enjoyed herself when exploring the gaming world. One day, his big brother suddenly allied himself with another powerful and rich player Bluegreen-Clad, the gang boss of the League of Strong Families, and married her off to this Bluegreen-Clad without telling her beforehand. At first, she thought gleefully, "Well, lucky me. Bluegreen-Clad has been voted The Most Desirable Husband and Most Desirable Lover by the female players of this zone. By marrying him in the game and going around with the attractive title 'Bluegreen-Clad's wife', I'll surely court a lot of envy." Beyond her expectations, she got a lot more than that. She quickly became the target of malicious envy and the common enemy of nearly all the female players on the server Watery South. Gradually, a rumor went around. Zheng Xiaoguang was stunned and wondered, "What? It looks like that I am not a lucky heroin of a romantic story but a vicious girl who has stolen someone else's finance."
If someone asked Zheng Xiaoguang what the most exciting part about playing an online game was, she would immediately curve the corners of her lips up 45 degrees into a smile and replied that it was being protected by a capable big brother.
Zheng Xiaoguang's big brother was Blooming Pear Tree. He was the gang boss of the Matchless, which was a major gang on this server.
Blooming Pear Tree was quite a somebody in this zone. He was a highly-skilled player and always at the top of the PK (Player Kill) list. He often splashed out a lot of money on equipment in the shop without even blinking an eye. He was not only good at protecting his fellow gang members but also excellent at fighting and slaying monsters in instances. As such, Zheng Xiaoguang always felt great during a mission.
Nevertheless, this good feeling had ended abruptly last week.
Last week, her big brother had "sold" her to Bluegreen-Clad, the boss of another major gang called the League of Strong Families, as he wanted to ally himself with this Bluegreen-Clad.
Yes, Blooming Pear Tree had sold her out.
What Zheng Xiaoguang was playing was a 3D multiplayer online game named Shiny Sky Online. It was set in a world similar to ancient China, and thus the game characters were all dressed in ancient Chinese clothes. The operator of this game claimed that many stars played this game too, including the one who had become enormously famous recently. The server Zheng Xiaoguang played on was Zone 109 Watery South. Within this zone, there are three major gangs. They were called the Matchless, the League of Strong Families and the Sacred Temple respectively.
As this zone was newly opened, it was impossible to organize a powerful team here to slay some World Boss (a top-notch monster). The biggest problem here was the contradiction between the increasing number of players and the limited number of regions for them to upgrade levels. As such, the players, especially members of the three major gangs, competed fiercely with one another in this zone every day.
The happiest person was of course the game master, since the "Kill and Rob" equipment in the shop remained to be in great demand since Zone 109 Watery South had been opened a month ago. Such equipment included "Virtue Pills" which were used to change one's colored ID from red to white (as a way to cover up his or her crimes), and "Clairvoyant", which was used to check one's coordinates.
At present, these three gangs were similar in strength. In this newly-opened zone, most players were still working to gain levels instead of improving equipment. They usually used skills to fight and never backed off during a melee, which often broke out when they were busy gaining levels. Such melees prevented everyone involved from gaining levels smoothly, and thus no one could benefit from this.
To change this situation, Blooming Pear Tree, the gang boss of Matchless had a talk with Bluegreen-Clad, the gang boss of the League of Strong Families. They decided to form an alliance and work together to fight against the Sacred Temple. Blooming Pear Tree chose to ally himself with Bluegreen-Clad because he did not like the Sacred Temple's gang boss and his wife.
Blooming Pear Tree and Bluegreen-Clad avowed their commitment to their alliance just by sending a message on Public Chat channel to everyone that they formed an alliance now and their gangs would fight side by side and slay monsters together.
When Zheng Xiaoguang and Blooming Pear Tree discussed the alliance on YY①.
she illustrated her ideas with a metaphor.
"Such an alliance counts for nothing. It's similar to the relationship between a couple who call each other husband and wife but aren't legally married. They can hold a wedding ceremony and invite all their friends and relatives to the wedding, so that everybody know that they're a couple. However, when one of them suddenly becomes rich or something and starts to detest his or her partner, he or she don't have to apply for a divorce and can walk out on his or her partner directly. The one who's abandoned can only admit defeat. Without a marriage certificate, he or she can never safeguard his or her legal rights.
"This is nothing new nowadays."
She had a point. Ties between these two gangs were quite weak, as this was a newly opened zone, and players here were not familiar with one another and usually did not have any personal grudge against one another. The League of Strong Families could make an alliance with Matchless after a talk. It could kick Matchless out and form an alliance with the Sacred Temple in breach of its promise at any time. After all, the League of Strong Families and the Sacred Temple were not deadly enemies.
When that happened, Matchless would be placed at a significant competitive disadvantage no matter how strong it was.
Someone suggested merging the two gangs into one, but this suggestion was rejected immediately. The system of this new zone did not allow that to happen, and even if it was allowed, Blooming Pear Tree would never promise. He would rather fight against the League of Strong Families and the Sacred Temple on his own than disband his own gang to join the League of Strong Families. It was also impossible for Bluegreen-Clad to disband his own gang to join Matchless.
As such, Blooming Pear Tree suggested marrying his sister Flowing Light (Zheng Xiaoguang's game name) off to Bluegreen-Clad to strengthen the relationship between the two gangs. That was easy. They just needed a marriage certificate issued by the matchmaking god. Blooming Pear Tree believed that by doing so, he and Bluegreen-Clad would become brothers-in-law and Bluegreen-Clad would never think of forming an alliance with the Sacred Temple anymore.
"What a ridiculous idea. A marriage of convenience? Am I a princess of ancient times? Come on, I remember the Qing dynasty ended a long time ago," thought Zheng Xiaoguang. She hated political marriages. In her eyes, only some useless men in ancient times would choose to exchange some women for peace, and this was a shameful display of cowardice.
"Think about those poor princesses who were married away by her families. Their stories never have happy endings, and most of them were never able to come back," thought Zheng Xiaoguang. If she had been online at that time, she would have never agreed to marry Bluegreen-Clad.
If only she had been online at that time.
Unfortunately, she was not online when she got married off by his gang boss and when she was online the next day, she found that a "husband" had been added to her friend list and she had received a lot of Private Chat messages.
[Private Chat] Half a Cup of Lovesickness: You got married, Flowing Light. Congratulations. But why didn't you notify me in advance? I heard that you had a splendid wedding last night. Alas, I missed it. How could you do that to your friend? ﹥_﹤~~
[Private Chat] Cool Names Taken by Dogs: You're such a dumb*ss, Flowing Light. You told me that you would never get married. Liar!
[Private Chat] Mulberry on the Grave: Congratulations. I've sent you a wedding gift.
...
Most of the Private Chat messages were congratulation messages. Zheng Xiaoguang scrolled down the page and finally saw Blooming Pear Tree's message. "Hey, sis, I've found you a husband. He's a god-like player. You don't need to thank me."
"It was him. He logged into my account and did this ridiculous thing to me!" Zheng Xiaoguang thought angrily.
She had never taken it seriously when Blooming Pear Tree first suggested marrying her off to Bluegreen-Clad. Back then, she had even wanted to bet her big brother 300,000 taels of silver that the gang boss of the League of Strong Families would never agree to such an awkward "arranged marriage".
"Not to mention whether Bluegreen-Clad has a wife or whether he'll abandon his wife for this 'political marriage', as a gang boss, he must have a high enough IQ to understand that Matchless just wants to plant a 'spy' in his gang and bond the two gangs together. Matchless' intention is so obvious, only an idiot will agree to this marriage."
With this in mind, Zheng Xiaoguang had never paid much heed to this thing before. During the past few days, she had just focused on handling her must-do tasks and occasionally teamed up with her friends to gain levels. She never believed this thing until it became a reality. "Maybe Bluegreen-Clad is really an idiot," thought Zheng Xiaoguang.
She suddenly remembered the metaphor she had made up when talking with Blooming Pear Tree on YY. "I did mention 'marriage certificate' at that time. Maybe that inspired him to think of this ridiculous idea. Oh gosh, did I shoot myself in the foot?" Zheng Xiaoguang thought ruefully and felt that she really wanted to slap herself hard across the face.
In a fit of remorse, she earnestly typed a sentence and sent it to Blooming Pear Tree.
Note:
① YY: YY instant messenger is an instant messaging software typically used by online game players to communicate with one another.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
"I want a divorce!" Ryan demanded, despite the fact that he had cheated on her with his ex. ~ Serena is no longer the quiet, romantic lady Ryan Winters married and divorced five years ago. Now the CEO of Rocky's Designs, she is bright, unwavering, and unapologetic about her independence-a far cry from the woman Ryan remembers. When fate brings them back into one another's lives, Ryan is forced to confront the truth about their past, their newfound hot chemistry, and a surprising revelation; Serena has a daughter who may be his. But Ryan's girlfriend, Kate, isn't prepared to lose him again. She will do whatever it takes to keep Ryan in her grasp-even if it means destroying Serena's life and the corporate empire she has built. What happens when Serena's now peaceful life is being disrupted? Will Serena lose once again or will she seize this billionaire's heart?
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .