Rise and Slay: From Scandal Queen to Academic Genius - Chapter 16: Thought It Was a Variety Show, Turned Out to Be a Food Livestream!

The year was 2026, and the world wasn't what it used to be. Ever since the Abyss Gates cracked open three years ago, spilling monsters and dungeons across the planet, life had turned into a chaotic mess. Cities were half-ruined, half-rebuilt, and people clung to whatever normalcy they could find. Hunters—those brave or crazy enough to fight the monsters—became the new heroes. Everyone else? Well, they just tried to survive.Fin wasn't a Hunter. He wasn't a hero either.He was just… Fin. A lanky 19-year-old with messy brown hair, a chipped front tooth from a dumb skateboard accident, and a power that everyone called useless. Absorption. Sounds cool, right? Like he could suck up energy or steal someone's strength. Nope. All it did was let him “feel” things he touched a little more than normal. He could tell you the exact texture of a brick wall or how warm a coffee mug was—big whoop. No fireballs, no super strength, no flashy moves. Just a glorified touchy-feely trick.“Fin, you gonna eat that sandwich or just stare at it like it's gonna confess its life story?” Meg's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.He blinked and looked across the rickety table at his best friend. Meg was short, loud, and had a wild mop of dyed purple hair that she swore made her look “intimidating.” It didn't.

I was betrayed in my first life.A cripple, broken and discarded—I died after catching the one I loved in bed with the only person I ever called a friend.That was the start of real torment.When I woke up, it was in another world.A goddess stood before me.She told me I could go back.Back to my world.Back to everything I lost.All I had to do… was play my part.The side character.And I did.I followed the script.Played my role to perfection.They hated me.Mocked me.Used me.Again and again.But I kept going. Because I believed her.Because I wanted to go home.Then one day, I found out.The hard way.It was all a lie.There was no going back.There never was.She used me.Again.Just like everyone else.Thrown away like trash once I outlived my usefulness.That was the day something inside me snapped.And so, I made a vow.I would take everything from her.I would enslave every single heroine she chose.And I would kill the hero she placed all her hopes on.If she wanted to protect this world…Then I would burn it down.But the more I tried, the more things started to change.And then one day—I found one of the heroines.One of the hero's yanderes I had enslaved.She stood there, trembling, a knife in her hand.“You’re not going anywhere,” she whispered, eyes wild.“I won’t let them have you. You belong to me.”...What. The. Fuck. Is. Happening?!

The army drillmaster Yu Xiaoxiao (玉小小) [aka “Little Jade”] transmigrated from a zombie apocalypse world into the body of the eldest imperial princess. On her first day, she got hitched to young General Gu Xinglang (顾星朗) at the lowest point of his life: unjustly accused, imprisoned, and tortured. Ever since then, the valiant girl who only knew how to eat, sleep, and fight zombies tied her destiny with the brave general who was loyal, patriotic, stern, and taciturn.

With the country weak and enemies on all sides, the imperial palace is full of spying concubines, sycophant officials, and a fatuous, self-indulgent ruler. Beyond the court lies the populace suffering in dire poverty. Faced with these circumstances, General Gu only hopes that he can help the imperial court restore its discipline and give peace to the people.

But his wife and princess says, “Your wish is too grand. Let’s go take over the kingdom ourselves instead!”

“…….” General Gu could only remain speechless.

How does one become a royal favored by the annals of history? Yu Xiaoxiao is convinced that a truly good princess is one who dotes on her husband!

She was an illegitimate daughter in a wealthy family, with a lowly status. By chance, she discovered that her ex-boyfriend had sold her out. In order to hide, she accidentally injured him and fled in a panic. From then on, they were bound by an inextricable bond...