NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5 - A Fusion of Multiple Novels' Worlds
Chapter 5 A Fusion of Multiple Novels’ Worlds
“How did it go, Siling? That bastard Qi Lin didn’t make things hard for you, did he?”
Yu Chen had been waiting anxiously outside her house. When he saw Wang Siling returning on her bike, he hurried over to check on her.
Wang Siling bit her lip, looking at her childhood friend who had grown up with her.
Hardship?
Hardship was nothing.
To pay off the compensation for the scratched car, she had lost her first kiss. And that scoundrel had even played her with word games. That first kiss was just the beginning.
There were still 119 more waiting for her. But she couldn’t tell anyone about this—not even Yu Chen. She knew that with Yu Chen’s temperament, if he found out Qi Lin had bullied her, he’d definitely go fight Qi Lin, regardless of the consequences.
Forcing a smile, she said, “It’s nothing. Brother Qi Lin is friends with my brother. He just told me to be careful when riding next time and let me go home.”
Hearing that Qi Lin hadn’t asked for compensation, Yu Chen sighed in relief. If Qi Lin had insisted on the 12,000 yuan, it would have been a huge problem for Wang Siling’s family.
“That’s good to hear. But listen, Siling, Qi Lin isn’t a good person. Don’t get too close to him just because he let you off the hook. And stop calling him ‘Brother Qi Lin.’ He doesn’t deserve it.”
The mention of “Brother Qi Lin” clearly irritated Yu Chen, who hastened to warn her.
“Mm, I know.”
Wang Siling gave a bitter smile. She knew better than anyone what kind of person Qi Lin was. Yu Chen’s warning was meaningless now.
“Wait, Siling, why do your lips look swollen?”
Yu Chen finally noticed something off.
Her soft, rosy lips appeared slightly swollen, adding an unexpectedly alluring touch to her otherwise innocent face.
Wang Siling’s cheeks flushed as she quickly covered her mouth.
“Oh, I bought some spicy strips on the way home. I guess they irritated my lips.”
Her excuse was clumsy at best, but Yu Chen was too naive to notice. Besides, it was no secret that Wang Siling liked spicy snacks.
“I’m not feeling well. I’ll head inside now,” she mumbled before rushing into the house, leaving Yu Chen puzzled as he watched her retreating figure.
______
“Congratulations to the host for completing Option 3. Lan Yuxi’s diary has been delivered. Please check your inventory.”
After Wang Siling left, Qi Lin received the system’s reward—a pink, delicate diary.
The system followed up with another prompt.
“Special Notice—The host is currently in a world where multiple urban novels have merged. There are numerous protagonists. The host must disrupt their protagonist halos to avoid a tragic end.”
Qi Lin froze at the revelation.
So he wasn’t just a reborn individual tasked with revenge and rebuilding his life?
He was in a world where multiple novel plots intersected, and he was just another character?
“No wonder Wang Cheng went from a broke nobody to a wealthy success story who married the school belle. Turns out he had a protagonist template.”
“And me? A rich second-generation heir, sure, but I’m nothing more than the token villain—a lazy, spoiled brat who exists to glorify the protagonist’s righteousness. My fate was probably to die tragically for the sake of the story, right?”
Realizing the truth, Qi Lin sneered.
In his past life, he had been a carefree rich kid but was also generous and kind. He never caused trouble or took advantage of others.
And what had it gotten him?
When his family went bankrupt, no one he had helped before returned the favor. Even Wang Cheng, whom he had considered a brother, had humiliated him instead of lending a hand.
“And this is supposed to be ‘righteousness’? What a joke.”
Qi Lin had seen through the hypocrisy.
Protagonists could do whatever they wanted, and it would always be framed as righteous or heroic.
It was like the world of Journey to the West—monsters without connections were slaughtered, regardless of their innocence.
But monsters like the Roc King, who had devoured countless humans, were spared because they had a connection to the Buddha.
“Good and evil? They’re just chains used by the strong to control the weak.”
“Protagonists, huh? Let’s see how they fare without their halos,” Qi Lin muttered, his grin cold.
He tossed the diary aside without even opening it, started his car, and left the school.
______
“Little Lin, you’re back?”
Qi Lin parked in front of a villa with its own garden. As he stepped out, a kind woman in an apron greeted him.
“Aunt Chen.”
Seeing her, Qi Lin gave a rare genuine smile.
In his past life, after his family went bankrupt, he had seen the true colors of people like Wang Cheng. But not everyone had betrayed him.
When his family lost their home, and he was left penniless, Aunt Chen had taken him in, giving him food and shelter without asking for anything in return. She had even told him he could stay as long as he needed.
Now, with his new life ahead of him, Qi Lin vowed to repay the few people who had shown him true kindness.