A resilient, optimistic, naturally scatterbrained, stubborn bottom x a sharp-tongued, world-weary top who is all bark and soft-hearted underneath
You Maomao was an ordinary farmer. At eighteen, he finally paid off the debt his father had incurred for medical treatment before he died. Just as he was looking forward to saving enough money to build a new home and get married, the relentless snowfall crushed his hopes.
There was no future for them if they stayed, so he and his mother could only leave, praying they would find a way to survive.
But nothing ever went his way.
His mother starved to death on the road as they fled. The refugees swarmed him and beat him badly, leaving You Maomao to drag his frail body forward with all his strength.
As his consciousness gradually faded, You Maomao vaguely felt that he had crawled into a place that could only exist in a dream. The air was filled with the aroma of rice and meat, and someone was walking toward him...
*
On New Year's Eve, Tao Zhiyan, who had planned to die, found a scrawny ancient person in his own courtyard.
Tao Zhiyan hadn't wanted to get involved with You Maomao.
But the man was an undocumented nobody who couldn't read, and everything in the modern world was unfamiliar to him. If Tao Zhiyan didn't look after him, how was he supposed to survive?
A panicked voice called out, "Master, help!"
He could call him "Master" a hundred times a day and still wouldn't stop.
Tao Zhiyan could only sigh helplessly.
Tao Zhiyan got up to "save" him.
I'll carry on with my plan once You Maomao can manage on his own, Tao Zhiyan thought as he helped You Maomao clean up the mess he had made.
*
Day by day, time passed.
You Maomao learned to read and write and adapted to modern life. He even followed online tutorials to make videos of himself farming and eating, becoming a content creator with a following and landing sponsorships.
With the first money he earned, he bought Tao Zhiyan a gift and told him how he felt: he would spend his whole life repaying Tao Zhiyan!
Tao Zhiyan looked at You Maomao's sparkling eyes. After a long silence, he turned his gaze away and said, "Who wants to spend a lifetime with a dummy like you?"
"Just tell me if you'll say yes!"
"...Yes."
Because of each other, they were given a new lease on life.
A little bonus scene for fun
When they first met:
You Maomao, who had finished cooking: Master, come eat.
Tao Zhiyan, who didn't have the strength to get out of bed: Don't... act cute...
You Maomao: (confused but meek) ...All right, Master.
Some time later:
You Maomao, who had finished cooking: Get up and eat already!
Tao Zhiyan: (obediently getting out of bed) ...Acting cute again.
You Maomao: Hm?
Tao Zhiyan: ...As expected of the head of the household. So mighty, so handsome.
You Maomao: Mm! (Nods emphatically.)
Reader's guide:
1. The bottom is illiterate at first and a bit slow-witted.
2. When the bottom first arrives, he is rather meek around the top and focuses on taking care of him. Later, he'll "turn the tables and become the boss."
3. Older top, seven-year age gap. The top is 25 and the bottom is 18. Both are pure and devoted.
4. Includes everyday family life, with a secondary couple.
Theme: Loving someone is like tending a flower
