The Masked Vampire King's Accidental Bride - Chapter 9 -- Confidence or pretense?

Xu Yiyang, who was only late in his life when he was middle-aged, returned to 1999 in a dream.

At the turn of the millennium and the turn of the century, he realized a truth:
Not only to be famous early, to start a business and make money, but also early!
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- Description from Uukanshu

I watch him, his green eyes brimming with concern as he gently massages my scarred leg. The sensation is both soothing and a stark reminder of my own inadequacy. The once-feared Crimson General, a symbol of power and invincibility, is now nothing but a frail shadow of his former self. I’ve been abandoned, left to decay in this forsaken place, my family and comrades long forgotten. Darkness had become my only solace, and I had resigned myself to it.Then he arrived, a beacon of light in my endless night. His presence, his care—it’s more than I ever deserved. Yet, I find myself clinging to him with an intensity that borders on madness. I hate that I need him so desperately, that his every action and word have become my lifeline. It consumes me, a torment I can't escape.“You don't have to do this. Please, don’t do this. I’m nothing. You deserve better. Leave. Please,” I beg, my voice trembling with raw anguish, the very words tearing me apart.He continues his work, seemingly unaffected by my pleas.“Why are you here? Look at me! I’m nothing.”Desperation and anger swell within me, mixing into a maelstrom of anxiety. I can’t comprehend the emotions coursing through me.“You're my alpha, where else would I be?” he responds softly, his gaze unwavering, as if my pleas were mere background noise.My heart races, torn between overwhelming relief and paralyzing dread. In that moment, I realize the truth: you would have to tear him from my cold, lifeless arms. I’m never letting go.General Thorne, betrayed and broken, finds new life and love with Omega Noelle, who nurses him back to health. Their deepening bond reveals Thorne’s softer side, offering a chance at happiness. Unfortunately, Thorne’s past soon catches up with them, threatening their newfound peace.

The whole world is subjected to a highly dangerous standardised exam called the Global University Entrance Examination. Answering questions by putting their lives at stake, they would live if they passed the test. Every month the exam will undergo reformation while, occasionally, it is random.

- Description from Novelupdates

Caleb Zane was a genius geneticist from Earth living a normal life until he met an unfortunate accident that claimed his life.But as fate would have it, he was given another chance at life in a magical world he could only imagine.Unlike what he saw and read in popular literature, he didn't score some rich family who would give him a good starting point.He did, however, get the ultimate gift of all....................[Host Detected...]“What...?”[Analyzing magic potential of host][#Error... #Error. No potential detected. Analyzing past memories...]Caleb watched with bated breath as the system did its thing...[Past skills analyzed. Creating suitable skill...][Skill created: Congratulations, host has awakened the skill: Genetic Manipulation.]“The fuck?”..................Armed with a skill unlike anything ever seen before, Caleb must explore its limits and carve a path for himself in his new world.He discovers shocking secrets of his new world and the origins of his transmigration as well as the reasons he got the genetic system.....................First thing first...This is a passion project of mine so updates will be inconsistent and will only be updated as and when I have time.If you find this novel interesting and wish for more chapters, show your support and maybe, I can write more.