[Mutual top and bottom! Mutual top and bottom! Mutual top and bottom!]
[Mutual healing, two strong leads, mutual scheming, happy ending]
[Zhong Yi, who pretends to be a lovesick fool x Xu Zeyu, who pretends he isn't a lovesick fool]
Zhong Yi is going to die, in his first year of high school.
Zhong Yi doesn't want to die. He's only sixteen, and in three years he could finally escape this home.
The doctor says there's a good chance he'll recover after surgery, but Zhong Yi is unlucky enough to have a gambling addict for a father.
His father is a notorious deadbeat in their neighborhood. He gambles at cards and beats his family. When his creditors can't get their money from him, they come to the school to corner Zhong Yi.
Xu Zeyu appears at just this moment.
Zhong Yi has known of Xu Zeyu for a long time: dyed blond hair, skinny jeans, and cloth shoes. He skips class to go online and gets into group fights.
Zhong Yi is very resistant to Xu Zeyu's advances.
Even though, ever since Xu Zeyu showed up, the creditors have stopped daring to block him at the school gate, and even the classmates who used to bully him have started treating him kindly.
But he's not gay.
"Stop running, Zhong Yi. You're only safe by my side." Xu Zeyu's voice is clear as he says this, but his hands wandering over Zhong Yi's body make his hair stand on end.
Zhong Yi forcibly suppresses the urge to slap that hand away.
It's not time yet.
"Xu Zeyu, my dad stole the money for my surgery and spent it on his mistress. If you help me get it back, I'll say yes to you."
If you help me get it back, I'll run away immediately.
Xu Zeyu stares at Zhong Yi's face for a long moment, then grins. "Top student, have you heard of smashing the old man?"
[Blurb posted on January 18, 2026]
Theme: Love and hope
