As the only university student from his mountain village, Lin Xiyue grew up surrounded by praise. But after arriving in the capital, he became a nobody, pushed to the margins.
Everyone talked about Zhao Ciyan, the privileged darling of heaven with his distinguished background and refined aura.
Lin Xiyue scoffed. “He’s just a rich kid living off his parents. What’s so great about him? If I’d been born into a good family, I’d be ten times better than Zhao Ciyan!”
Though poor, Lin Xiyue had ambition. He worked hard and did everything he could to get noticed. His chance soon came when his counselor gave him an opportunity to receive recognition onstage and told him to prepare well.
Lin Xiyue stayed up all night ironing his only white shirt, eagerly waiting for his chance to finally hold his head high. But he hadn’t expected them to add another segment at the last minute, and his recognition ceremony was cut entirely.
And the person standing onstage in a perfectly tailored suit to give a speech was none other than Zhao Ciyan.
Lin Xiyue seethed. “This has to be a backroom deal orchestrated by capital!”
-
The campus market’s gossip section was plastered with handsome photos of Zhao Ciyan, each one followed by a flood of praise.
Furious, Lin Xiyue made a burner account and commented, “He’s only so-so looking. He uses money to look good, and who knows how rotten he is on the inside.”
His comment was flooded with replies within a second. He wanted to clap back, but the moderators had muted him.
Lin Xiyue was so angry he could barely hold back his tears. He should have been the one onstage. Those accolades should have been his!
As he sat there, heartbroken and miserable, a private message popped up.
[By the Water's Edge]: I think you’re right. He really is rotten on the inside.
Lin Xiyue wiped away his tears and started ranting to [By the Water's Edge] about Zhao Ciyan’s vile behavior. To his surprise, the other person was even sharper-tongued than he was. They must have been bullied by Zhao Ciyan too.
They added each other as friends and agreed that once they got dirt on Zhao Ciyan, they’d expose him without mercy.
-
What a small world. Lin Xiyue ran into Zhao Ciyan in a library study room. Zhao Ciyan sat across from him and asked for help with a calculus problem.
Lin Xiyue stuck out his lips and swiftly scribbled down the solution.
Back at his dorm, he couldn’t wait to share what had happened with [By the Water's Edge].
[Bear-Bear]: I didn’t expect Zhao Ciyan to struggle with such an easy problem. How did he even get into this school? Did he pay his way in?
[By the Water's Edge]: Should we expose him, then?
[Bear-Bear]: Not over something like this. I’ll wait until I’ve got something juicier before I make a move.
[By the Water's Edge]: Mm, our Bear-Bear is so clever.
After that, Zhao Ciyan started treating him like a friend. He took him to Japanese restaurants where a meal cost over a thousand per person, and gave him the latest phones, lightweight laptops, imported chocolate, and limited-edition sneakers without a second thought.
Lin Xiyue was smug. Zhao Ciyan must have been won over by his personality.
No matter how expensive the gifts were, he accepted them without a second thought, then laughed with [By the Water's Edge] about how Zhao Ciyan was a rich fool.
-
Lin Xiyue grew prettier and prettier as Zhao Ciyan pampered him. He was happy with the situation and didn’t notice Zhao Ciyan’s mocking smile and playful gaze.
Until one day, Zhao Ciyan had his way with him until he was spent, leaving him utterly wrecked from top to bottom. Zhao Ciyan had his way with every part of him.
Lin Xiyue was limp as water, his eyes red at the corners as he glared at Zhao Ciyan. “Y-you’re gay?”
Zhao Ciyan rubbed away his tears with his fingertip and smiled. “Mm. You can expose me now.”
-
[Pretty but clueless, hardworking bottom (Lin Xiyue) × vindictive, scheming, wicked top (Zhao Ciyan)]
Reading Guide:
1. Both leads are pure in body and heart. No switching roles or breaking them up. The top falls first.
2. Includes the bottom cross-dressing. The top is rough in bed, with some dubious-consent themes and dirty talk.
3. Both leads have character flaws. Neither is perfect.
The blurb was screenshotted and saved on November 9, 2025.
Theme: People grow through setbacks and hardship.
