[Dual male leads + equally matched schemers acting against each other + hidden identities revealed + sincere love in a chaotic era + love of country and family]
Roguishly handsome, ruthless young warlord × innocent, soft, sweet-talking, calculating bottom
Shen Zhiyan, a brilliant psychology student returned from studying abroad, picks the perfect prey: Lu Tianye, the notorious Chinese detective of Shanghai.
Roguish, ruthless, with connections on both sides of the law.
He disguises himself as the most useless, ornamental young master of the Shen family, using an innocent, guileless face to approach, probe, and flirt with Lu Tianye. Lu's gaze shifts from contempt to scrutiny, and from scrutiny to something... dangerous.
“Young master, don't play with fire.”
Shen Zhiyan smiles sweetly. “Mr. Lu, I have no idea what you're talking about.”
He thinks he has it all in the bag.
Until one night, a gun is pressed beneath his chin. Lu Tianye tears away the last layer of his disguise: he is no Chinese detective, but a young warlord from the north.
And Shen Zhiyan's own identity comes crashing down amid their game of deception.
It turns out that from the very beginning, the hunter was pretending to be the prey, and the prey was pretending to be the hunter.
They are both acting.
But no one ever taught them that, as they kept playing their parts, their hearts might start to believe it.
⚠️ Reader advisory and content warnings
1. This is a Republican-era setting, not a lighthearted romp. Expect a harsh era, turbulent circumstances, and supporting-character deaths. The leads are guaranteed a happy ending.
2. The male leads deceive, flirt with, and test each other early on. The romance is a slow burn with schemes mixed in. Readers who dislike the tension of “pretending until it becomes real” may want to skip this.
3. Check the category carefully: this is a story with two male leads. Please don't wander into the wrong section.
