A Serpent's Tale - Chapter 243: Retribution (R18**)

Getting the [Boosted Gear] is expected for Issei. What if he gained it a month early and another one as well? Let the Games Begin... IsseiXHarem (if it wasn't, it wouldn't be DXD). Now has a TVTropes page! Getting the [Boosted Gear] is expected for Issei. What if he gained it a month early and another one as well? Let the Games Begin... IsseiXHarem (if it wasn't, it wouldn't be DXD). Now has a TVTropes page!

Qiao Zhenzhen spent a lifetime, only to later realise that she was the true heroine of a novel. According to the original plot, her life was supposed to be smooth sailing and blissful. But the envious transmigrated second female lead played her cards step by step, and took everything away from her!

After experiencing the divorce of her parents, and miserably failing the college entrance examination, she gets kidnapped along with her little follower of a male lead, Chi Shen. In the end, she came out as the only survivor.

Everyone believed that this was a blessing in disguise, not only was her life saved, but the pervert stalking her for the last three years was also gone! A freak like Chi Shen, who had a weird and eccentric personality, always stank of fish and grease, was better off dead. Everyone said that she ought to be grateful, but none of them knew he died protecting her.
Before he took his last breath, his dying words were-

“Don’t be afraid of me.”

That sentence, mixed with the smell of greasy fish and blood, flashed in her dreams every night for the next decade.

Reborn back into the senior year of her highschool, she walked to the youth in the corner, and in front of everyone’s eyes-

“Don’t hideaway in the dark if you don’t want me to be afraid of you.” The youth pursed his lips, his pale face steadily losing color.

Qiao Zhenzhen smiled: Be nice to me, and I shall allow you to stalk~

- Description from Novelupdates

Adeline Smith's life took a sudden and dangerous turn when her grandmother’s will named her as the sole heir to her massive fortune, leaving her uncle with nothing. But the rules that came with the inheritance only made her a target, as her uncles would stop at nothing to claim what they believed should have been theirs.When one of her uncle’s murderous schemes left her gravely wounded and on the edge of death, she was found by Enzo Laureati, an annoying, yet breathtakingly handsome man. What she did not know was that Enzo was no ordinary man—he was a vampire prince who had abandoned his world and royal duties to live among humans just for fun.The moment he saw Adeline, he knew she was his mate, as his heart that had remained dormant for hundreds of years suddenly began beating. But despite knowing what she meant to him, he felt no love or attachment toward her.Out of curiosity, Enzo saved Adeline’s life and proposed an unusual deal: he would become her fake fiancé, help her expose her uncles for trying to murder her, and secure her inheritance. But he didn't propose this deal because he wanted to help her, but because he was simply bored. Adeline agreed, unaware of the chaos that was about to come her way.At first, their partnership was nothing more than a random deal. Living with Enzo wasn’t easy, as he was infuriatingly confident, annoyingly flirty, and had a knack for driving her crazy with his nonchalant attitude.When Adeline finally discovers who Enzo truly is, will she see him as a monster or the man who had always protected her from her uncles? And will Enzo be able to embrace their mate bond, or will secrets tear them apart?(PS: I'm not sure if one would consider this novel slow burn, but the REAL romance between my MC and ML begins at chapter 74.) Thank you so much for supporting my book!

Richard Santamo, a Jobless, idling bystander, stumbles upon a mysterious blue panel that grants him access to advanced technology and skills beyond human comprehension. With the power to shape his destiny, he must navigate his newfound abilities while balancing everyday life, friendships, and his mother’s expectations. As he sets his sights on business, innovation, and self-improvement, Richard quickly realizes that knowledge and power come at a cost. Will he rise above his humble beginnings, or will the weight of his ambitions pull him under?-----------[ DISCLAIMER ] -----------Please note that the entirety of this book is a work of fiction. All characters, names, businesses, locations, and events depicted within these pages are products of the author's imagination or have been used in a purely fictitious manner. Any perceived resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, or to real-world companies, organizations, or institutions, is entirely unintentional and purely coincidental. The portrayal of any names, character traits, positions, or corporate entities in this narrative is fundamentally fictional and is not intended to represent, comment upon, or interact with their real-life counterparts in any way. Our aim is to provide an immersive story, completely detached from reality.Furthermore, neither the author nor the publisher intends to defame, discredit, or infringe upon the rights or reputation of any individual, company, or entity that may, by sheer happenstance, share a name or a superficial characteristic with an element found in this book. This creation is offered solely for entertainment purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be interpreted as factual documentation or a representation of real-life events, actual people, or existing circumstances. Its sole purpose is to invite you into a world crafted from imagination, with no ties to the factual world.