MTL - Becoming a Saint by Leisure Reading - Chapter 38 squirrel, argali, bear

From infancy to maturity, what Ye Zhou dislikes the most was “two”.

The reasons were: he was ranked second at home, he had been forever ranked second at school, no matter how diligently he worked and tried, he couldn’t shake off that “second” curse. What was more exasperating was that, at University, not only was he ranked second, but even his appearance that he was proud of had to be classified as second best!

Why can’t I obtain the first place!

The eternal second will rise!

Then, Ye Zhou, after his vigorous efforts finally rises and the result was… the first became his boyfriend.

This is the story of a man who has been forced to be “second” and how he became the first, most popular.

- Description from Novelupdates

France, 1934. The scars of the Great War still shape the military minds of the Third Republic. Trapped in the past, its generals place their faith in fortifications and defensive warfare, while across the Rhine, a new German army rises, faster, deadlier, and ready to crush everything in its path.Into this world awakens Captain Étienne Moreau, a man who should not exist. He remembers another life, one where France falls in 1940, where German tanks storm through the Ardennes, bypassing the Maginot Line. One where his country surrenders in a matter of weeks.But here, now, he has a chance to stop it.As an officer in the 2nd Armored Division, he fights for reforms: pushing for mobile tank warfare, warning of Hitler’s growing ambitions, and challenging the high command’s obsession with World War I tactics. Yet, his ideas are dismissed as radical, madness from a young officer who “thinks he knows war.”Surrounded by political intrigue, military infighting, and rising fascism, Moreau must carefully navigate the system, winning allies among future leaders like Charles de Gaulle, while avoiding suspicion from the French High Command. His knowledge is a double-edged sword, if he is too aggressive, he risks being labeled a traitor. If he does nothing, he will live to see France burn.As war draws closer, Moreau faces a terrifying question: Can history be changed? Or is France doomed to fall, no matter what he does?Time is running out. The Blitzkrieg is coming. And he may be France’s last chance to fight back.

In Eylille, a bustling metropolis renowned for its strategic position at the sea’s estuary and vibrant trade, the ambition to thrive attracts many from surrounding counties. However, Limond stands out as a place for those lacking ambition. Amidst this backdrop, Yu Huazang, a high school senior from a challenging background, faces a critical mock exam in Liberty School.Despite the school’s low expectations for his class, Yu’s life is more complicated than his teachers realize. Raised in an orphanage and later by a kind old man, Yu now supports his family by working night shifts, which affects his academic performance. During the exam, he makes a desperate guess on a question, inadvertently activating a mysterious “”God Level Choice System.”” This system presents him with choices that could alter his fate, starting with a simple decision on the exam that promises a novice gift bag as a reward. As Yu contemplates this unexpected turn, readers are left wondering: What is this system, and how will it change Yu’s life?

Ashton is an Alpha who hides who he is due to the fear of being feared, and Caleb is an omega who hides his identity since he hates the way omegas are mistreated. Both of them gave up on the thought of ever having a relationship, even if they find their fated mates.

What happens when these two meet and their biggest secrets unfold. Will this bring them closer? Can they fight their feelings despite not wanting to?

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“The way spoke in front of them, you almost had me convinced that you liked me”, Ashton snorted.

“I do”. Caleb confessed.

With widened eyes, Ashton struggled to ask, “Is this… another one of you jokes”?

“No. I really like you. I have liked you for a long time”. He said, biting his lips, awaiting the rejection.

“I thought you hate Alphas”. Ashton wondered.

“Not you”. Caleb declared.