I Don’t Want to Be Loved (Web Novel) - Chapter 24: If She Did Her Job Properly

In a bustling modern city where ancient secrets and mysterious powers collide with everyday life, 22-year-old Ethan Cross seems like your average college student. Behind his unassuming demeanor lies a man shrouded in secrets—a masked vigilante known only as “Virtuoso,” feared by criminals and sought after by powerful organizations.Ethan is overpowered, sarcastic, and ridiculously skilled at everything he does. But there's one thing he’s terrible at: romance. When the enigmatic and fiercely independent Mia Harper stumbles into his life, she unknowingly becomes the key to unraveling a conspiracy that ties Ethan's past to an ancient prophecy.Between laugh-out-loud moments, explosive action, and unexpected twists, Ethan navigates his double life while trying to protect Mia, keep his identity hidden, and maybe—just maybe—figure out how to confess his feelings without being a complete disaster.

# simulator

Bai Yi transmigrated to a fantasy world and awakened the Immortal Cultivation Simulator. The longer he managed to survive in a simulation, the better the rewards he would obtain.

[You were born into a poor family… you died due to hunger.]

[You were born into a rich family that runs a business… you were killed by kidnappers.]

After failing more than 30 times in the Immortal Cultivation Simulator, Bai Yi wondered whether he was unfit for cultivation. Therefore, he had to rely on others to go through the simulation for him!

[Chen Qianxue, the Holy Maiden of the Soul Sword Clan, has entered into the Immortal Cultivation Simulator upon your invitation.]

[Age 0, Chen Qianxue was born into a poor family.]

[Age 5, Chen Qianxue picked up the manuscript of the Sword Cultivation Technique by chance.]

[Age 8, Chen Qianxue was at the first level of the Qi Refinement stage.]

[Age 164, Chen Qianxue failed while attempting to break through to the next stage. She died due to sudden, unbearable power pushing through her meridians.]

[You acquired the following rewards…]

[…]

Deep below the earth's surface, a mystifying subterranean seascape lurks, an archipelago bathed in inky blackness where suspense and horror hold court. Here lie strange islands and even stranger monsters, far beyond the realms of human imagination. In this domain, mankind is far from dominant; instead, madness and death rule supreme.

Pleading for mercy from the unknown creatures of the deep only leads to a slow, tortured existence. The trapped survivors gradually distort, losing what made them human, both physically and mentally, to the gloom as they remain trapped in this eternal obscurity. Their only hope? A perilous expedition into uncharted sea territories.

Fueled by determination, Charles embark on this daunting voyage aboard his steamship, aiming to reclaim humanity's past glory. Together with his crew, they sought a way out of this hidden sea world, a path back to the sunlit world above, where humans once stood tall.

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I read a few comments from Chinese readers that compared this novel with Lord of Mysteries because of similar elements: Lovecraftian, western fantasy, first industrial revolution, and steampunk. However, I have yet to finish reading Lord of Mysteries to do any actual comparison, but I do think those who have enjoyed that novel would enjoy this as well. Also, the author of LotM, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, also did a shout-out for this novel, so I guess he approves of it too?

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Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

Liu Sanniang was reborn. When she remembered her lonely end, she decided to get married in this life no matter what.She only wanted to marry an average scholar, but who knew that the tall and striking future general, Chu Yan, took an interest in her.The first time they met, she was too shy to look up at him.The second time they met, he sandwiched her against the wall and said, “Are you afraid of me?”The third time they met, he squatted down and said, “Come on, I’ll carry you.”***After meeting a few more times, he came to ask for her hand.However, he was at least two meters tall and muscular. She feared that he might squash her to death!Once they got married, Chu Yan strode over to her and ‘forcefully’ grabbed her hand, ready to pass his life savings to her. Yet, his delicate and beautiful bride fainted out of shock…Liu Sanniang then realized that being with her ‘scary’ husband meant living peaceful and leisurely days, so her eyes narrowed as she grinned.