The Clingy Outcast Hooks the Cold-Faced Top

【A sweet-talking, flirtatious cutie x a poker-faced, secretly passionate straight-laced guy】 Ji Xun was born beautiful. He was so beautiful that when he went overseas to train as an idol, he trended everywhere for his looks before he even debuted. He was so beautiful that after one bad experience, a flood of smear campaigns forced him to leave his group. After going from top popularity to a pitiful outcast everyone cursed, Ji Xun returned to China to join a talent show. Right away, he latched onto the newly crowned Best Actor, turning on the full routine of sweet talk and coy, manipulative flirting. “Big brother, you’re the only one who can help me.” “Waaah, you’re the only one who’s nice to me.” - Xu Bocheng debuted as a child star. With a powerful family, extraordinary talent, and everything coming easily to him since childhood, he found everything boring. His CEO mother was so fed up that she sent him to a talent show, but he still took first place by a mile. But the show really was interesting. There was a little cutie looking at him with wide eyes, throwing himself into Xu Bocheng’s arms whenever he felt like it. Should he help him? It wasn’t out of the question. - Ji Xun did everything he could to flirt with Xu Bocheng, constantly moving closer and threatening to cry at the slightest thing, calling him “big brother” every other word. In reality, he was just trying to piggyback on Xu Bocheng’s popularity. Everyone on a talent show had to play up a ship, right? It wasn’t against the rules. But why was Xu Bocheng treating him better and better, and speaking more and more gently? He even lured Ji Xun into doing something outrageous. When he woke up, Ji Xun played dumb. “Big brother, what happened last night?” Ji Xun thought playing dumb would fool everyone, but Xu Bocheng cut the power to the whole island and pinned him against a windowsill on a stormy day. “Ji Xun, you were the one who came after me first.” Somehow, Ji Xun and Xu Bocheng ended up in a sweet relationship. Every day, Ji Xun rewarded himself by touching Xu Bocheng’s abs, only for Xu Bocheng to take even greater liberties with him. Xu Bocheng teased him by refusing to give him what he wanted. “You obviously like it so much, so why say no?” Ji Xun was too embarrassed to raise his head. Xu Bocheng kept coaxing him. “Baby, if you want it, just ask.” Xu Bocheng treated him so well, so gently and considerately, that Ji Xun gradually let down his guard and spent every day basking in their sweet little world. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as they hoped. The night before their debut, Xu Bocheng suddenly put on a cold face and said he wanted to break up. And then… The day after they broke up, they debuted together. The second day after the breakup, they were assigned to the same dorm room. Ji Xun thought he and Xu Bocheng would become enemies who treated each other with cold indifference. But just a few days later, clips of Xu Bocheng being insanely jealous of him on their variety show were all over the internet. Ji Xun: ? Who was the one who said he wanted to break up? - Xu Bocheng sat on Ji Xun’s bed looking pitiful, like a soaked puppy, no trace left of his usual carefree arrogance. “I’ve dealt with the people who hurt you before.” “Since you only approached me to use me in the first place…” “I’ll let you use me. Can we make up?” Ji Xun: ??!!? Nobody told him the story was going to take this turn! - After being universally attacked online and falling out with Xu Bocheng, Ji Xun faced an endless stream of mockery on the internet. Then one day, paparazzi released a clip. Ji Xun was on the bed, slapping Xu Bocheng hard across the face. Xu Bocheng didn’t get angry. Instead, he held Ji Xun’s hand against his face so he couldn’t pull away, acting so utterly humble that no one could believe it was really him. Everyone: ?!?! Ji Xun, you win. - Reader’s guide: 1. One-on-one romance, both are each other’s first love, and it’s definitely a happy ending. 2. The talent-show format is loosely based on domestic shows. The romance takes precedence over the plot, and many details are just for fun, so don’t take them too seriously. 3. They break up because Xu Bocheng loses his composure. They move in together the day after breaking up, so there’s no angsty content. Ji Xun gets a kick out of seeing Xu Bocheng get insanely jealous in fan edits online ^_^ 4. The characters aren’t based on real people, aren’t based on real people! 5. The blurb has been tweaked a little from the original, but the overall content is unchanged. If this isn’t your thing, feel free to remove it from your reading list. Theme: Love deserves to be acknowledged