The Grand Duke's Soulmate - Chapter 20: A Smart Lady (I)

Plot Summary: This novel combines the popular “villainess” genre with the contemporary concept of VTubing, where the protagonist, a typical villainess character, becomes a VTuber—an online persona using a digital avatar. As she navigates her dual life, her influence extends beyond the virtual world, leading to increasingly violent and chaotic consequences in reality. The story delves into the psychological impact of living a double life and explores themes of power, manipulation, and the dark side of internet fame.Why Read It: The novel offers a fresh and thrilling take on the villainess trope by incorporating modern digital culture elements. It’s particularly appealing to readers who enjoy stories that explore the darker aspects of fame and influence, with a unique blend of fantasy and real-world issues. The narrative's intense and sometimes graphic nature sets it apart from more conventional stories in the genre, making it a compelling read for those looking for something different.

Ever since he was little, Xi Jia’s yin energy was strong, and every day he saw ghosts and ran into ghosts. One day, he accidentally broke the protection amulet. Celestial Master Ye Jingzhi happened to pass by and helped. Are ghost catching Celestial Masters all legit masters? WeChat official accounts, Taobao online shops, looking at gossip tabloids every day. Since then, Xi Jia has refreshed the lower limit again and again, and met a group of completely unreliable Celestial Masters. Binding spirits, doppelgängers, the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, the ghost market of Poyang… The door to a new world is slowly opening.

Set in an urban city with supernatural elements, this is a love story between Xi Jia, who has a body of extreme yin, and Celestial Master Ye Jingzhi, nicknamed the King of Hell. The seemingly weak Xi Jia, in actuality, can rip apart ghosts with bare hands; the seemingly cold Ye Jingzhi, in actuality, is shy and gentle. A marriage contract binds the fate of two people together. See how the two people overturn the heavens in the gossipy and wacky metaphysical world.

- Description from Novelupdates

【This story features a vibrant and outgoing female lead and a gentle and devoted male lead. It is a romance novel filled with pampering moments and post-marriage love.】Mi Jing, 27 years old, unmarried.She comes from an ordinary background, has a warm family, and loving parents.Shen Lingxing, a major shareholder of M Group, a private hospital director, and a second-generation government official.Despite being an eligible bachelor with such a prestigious status, he struggles to find a wife! Instead, he always shows up to blind dates pretending to be an ordinary doctor. After nineteen blind dates, the results are always the same—either the woman rejects him, or he rejects the woman.And Mi Jing has been a witness to all nineteen of these blind dates, ultimately becoming the one to end the streak.She asked, “Still haven’t found anyone suitable?”He responded with a simple “Hmm” and nodded.Then she asked, “What do you think about me?”He answered, “You’re pretty good!”So she suggested, “How about we get married?”Upon hearing this, he wasn’t overly surprised. Instead, he readily agreed, “Sure, let’s go get the marriage certificate later.”【The most heartwarming love story unfolds after twists and turns when she meets him at her most mature and beautiful years.】He was a regular customer at her coffee shop. At first, she didn’t really pay attention to him. But since the girls in the shop often mentioned him, she gradually developed some awareness of him.He liked drinking Blue Mountain coffee and often went on blind dates.In fact, she herself also frequently went on blind dates, although hers were not voluntary but driven by her mother’s pressure.One day, she ran into a particularly troublesome blind date. Coincidentally, he was sitting at the next table. In a moment of desperation, she pulled him over to pretend to be her shield.Another day, at a university classmate’s wedding, she ran into him again, along with her ex-boyfriend and the third party who had come between them back then.When faced with provocations from “the third party,” she held his hand and pretended he was her boyfriend—venting her frustration, though it cost her financially.…They were both at the age to be considered “older youth,” pressured by their families to frequently attend blind dates. With marriage as their ultimate goal, they hit it off instantly and decided to marry on a whim.【Scene 1】One evening, Mi Jing brought Shen Lingxing home for dinner.After dinner, Mi Jing and Shen Lingxing went downstairs together.“You…” Mi Jing was suddenly kissed by Shen Lingxing, leaving her wide-eyed and stunned.“Don’t move. Mom is watching.” Shen Lingxing held Mi Jing tightly and whispered softly in her ear.“My mom? Where is she?”“She’s on the balcony.”Shen Lingxing glanced at a black car not far away. Seeing the twisted expression on Mi Jing’s ex-boyfriend’s face, a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.

Yan Xi, a medical prodigy who obtained a doctorate at the age of 22, never expected to end up transmigrating into a novel. Her husband was the female lead’s fourth brother, Gu Shen. He was a bigshot in the business world who had suffered from disability from a young age and could only move in a wheelchair.

However, he was a handsome man full of schemes. Yan Xi became the cannon fodder wife of a bigshot in the business world.

Her first love, Zhang Ming, had stabbed her husband’s subordinate with a knife.

To force Gu Shen to release Zhang Ming, she had unhesitatingly to stab herself to threaten Gu Shen.

Eventually, Gu Shen released the man and gave her a large sum of money.

She took this money and eloped with Zhang Ming.

After that, Zhang Ming planned for a car accident that ended her life as they hit the road, which allowed Zhang Ming to conveniently take her money and run far away.

When she transmigrated over, Yan Xi found out that she had just stabbed herself with a knife and was in the critical stage of deciding her future fate! Therefore, when Gu Shen threw her the divorce agreement, Yan Xi decisively refused.

“Hubby, I won’t divorce you.” Gu Shen was surprised by her change.

“Have you thought it through? I’ve left you some real estate and cash. It’s enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life.” Yan Xi revealed a confident smile.

“I’ve thought it through. Zhang Ming stabbed your men with a knife. You should hand this matter over to the law. I won’t interfere anymore.” The surprise that Yan Xi’s change brought to Gu Shen did not end there.

After that, she tore off the mask of her hypocritical best friend and calmly dealt with her scheming family members.

She personally treated Gu Shen’s chronic illness for many years. Bit by bit, she managed to shock everyone around her who was once prejudiced against her.