Some quotes and thoughts on Binghe's birth + adoption, Tianlang-Jun, Su Xiyan, and the poor, unnamed washerwoman:

If it matters, the canon for this fic is The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System. You do not need to know this canon to enjoy this story. I know NOTHING of this canon beyond that it is about a transmigrator and I LOVED this story.

This is a very long story by a very considerate author who includes content warnings and optional spoilers via links to their tumblr. The spoilers are barebones and do not ruin any enjoyment.

Do you enjoy the following?

Women removed from the fridge

People being strong in different ways (Luo Jiahui's strength is her deep capacity for love and her willingness to stand by those she loves, even if it means going up against people others fear. I love her).

Character growth! (I hated the main character in the first few chapters. He is utterly spineless and cares little about the world beyond his own survival. But then, by building one single relationship, he starts to grow because he starts to care.)

A story centered on a found family sibling relationship. (Shang Qinghua and Luo Jiahui are the best siblings. They choose each other over and over again. Both have their own (slowburn) romances.

A well-plotted AU in which every deviation can be traced by to the transmigrator or the implications of the canon. (Even Luo Jiahui's age is eventually explained).

Relationships of various types that evolve, change, and grow.

Resolutions that happen when people communicate and trust each other. Conflicts when they don't.

Multiple interesting side characters. Even the most minor of characters have at least a quirk that makes them distinct from other people.

Plot holes get resolved! Stuff comes back! Things that seem unimportant early on return later as new threats or have new weight!

Transmigration stories

A world based on a shitty novel and forced to work when it wasn't designed to; aka very interesting worldbuilding

Then you need to read @tossawary's pride is not the word I'm looking for!!

Okay, an actual summary, though.

So, from what I understand, SVSS is a transmigration story in which a young man takes over the role of a major villain in the protagonist's youth. In the original novel, the protagonist became a demon emperor and had, like, 600 wives. In the new canon caused by transmigration, the protagonist falls for the villain. But lots of bad stuff still happens.

In this story, the author of the original harem novel gets transmigrated into a side character who works alongside the original villain. The author starts from birth in this world and is forced by the System (an unexplained entity that issues quests via pop-up screens and manages the world state) to assume the role and position of his character (he can't check out of the plot). The author assumes he can't really change canon and is only interested in his own survival.

However, he just has to go see his protagonist, Luo Binghe, as a baby. So he arranges vacation and goes. When he finds him, he realizes Luo Binghe's adoptive mother (a character he never even named, but is Luo Jiahui) is 19, living in a hovel, and selling her body to make ends meet. His long-dead conscience rises up and he decides he can't leave her like that, not when he's the one responsible for her misery.

He originally plans to just drop her off somewhere, let her pretend to be his sister-in-law, give her lots of money, and never interfere again.

But that doesn't really go according to plan at all. And from this one change, the world shifts for the better.

The two grow into a family. Luo Binghe goes from being his "protagonist son" to being his nephew. Shang Qinghua goes from seeing the world as only his creation to being his home and the people in it as real and vital as himself. Friendships, family, good deeds (even absentminded ones), and love triumph over everything.

This is such a good story. I just finished it and I want to go and start reading it again from the beginning--especially since I nearly put it down. Shang Qinghua is so very annoying at first.

pride is not the word I'm looking for by Tossawary

Fandom: The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System

Relationship(s): Luò Bīnghé's Adoptive Mother & Shàng Qīnghuá, Luò Bīnghé & Shàng Qīnghuá, Mòběi-jūn/Shàng Qīnghuá, Shàng Qīnghuá & Everyone, Minor or Background Relationship(s) 

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Luò Bīnghé's Adoptive Mother Lives, Shàng Qīnghuá Adopts Luò Bīnghé, Families of Choice, For Want of a Nail, Worldbuilding, Canon-Typical Violence, Angst and fluff and humor, Slow Build, Plot Twists, Fight Scenes, Character Development, Original Character(s), Friendship/Love, Brother-Sister Relationships, Uncle-Nephew Relationship, Mother-Son Relationship, Family Feels

Summary:

Shang Qinghua goes to take a self-indulgent peek at his baby protagonist son and gets a kick to the shrivelled heart for his troubles. He gave up on changing the story years ago! Yet he finds himself helping his protagonist son's adoptive mother anyway. Just this one change won't matter too much, right?

One little change leads to more. Shang Qinghua never meant to care, but he becomes invested in making sure that his new family survives the looming plot. With the changes to the world cascading around him, with his position as a traitor pulling him between his sect and a certain ice demon, and with the protagonist growing up so quickly, how is one displaced author meant to ensure that everything turns out all right?

A Pre-Canon to Canon Divergence story.

Wordcount: 408,000

pride is not the word I’m looking for [PODFIC] by Opalsong

PINTWILF is getting a podfic and it’s in progress, updating on Saturdays! A huge thank you to Opalsong for taking on such a project! ❤❤❤

Fandom: The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System

Relationship(s): Luò Bīnghé’s Adoptive Mother & Shàng Qīnghuá, Luò Bīnghé & Shàng Qīnghuá, Mòběi-jūn/Shàng Qīnghuá, Shàng Qīnghuá & Everyone, Minor or Background Relationship(s)

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Luò Bīnghé’s Adoptive Mother Lives, Shàng Qīnghuá Adopts Luò Bīnghé, Families of Choice, For Want of a Nail, Worldbuilding, Canon-Typical Violence, Angst and fluff and humor, Slow Build, Plot Twists, Fight Scenes, Character Development, Original Character(s), Friendship/Love, Brother-Sister Relationships, Uncle-Nephew Relationship, Mother-Son Relationship, Family Feels

Summary:

Shang Qinghua goes to take a self-indulgent peek at his baby protagonist son and gets a kick to the shrivelled heart for his troubles. He gave up on changing the story years ago! Yet he finds himself helping his protagonist son’s adoptive mother anyway. Just this one change won’t matter too much, right?

One little change leads to more. Shang Qinghua never meant to care, but he becomes invested in making sure that his new family survives the looming plot. With the changes to the world cascading around him, with his position as a traitor pulling him between his sect and a certain ice demon, and with the protagonist growing up so quickly, how is one displaced author meant to ensure that everything turns out all right?

A Pre-Canon to Canon Divergence story.

Thank you!