I Only Love My Late Husband

Chu Xu and Cui Congjing had known each other for three years, been in love for two, and broken up twenty-eight times, according to incomplete statistics.

The reasons the other party gave for breaking up were all over the place: Why didn't you take the day off for our anniversary? Why did you fall asleep instead of talking while sitting in the passenger seat? Why don't you ever use a cutesy voice when you talk? You saved my contact under my full name?! And so on.

The conclusion was always the same: Do you even love me at all?

Chu Xu: ...

*

Although their relationship was a struggle, Chu Xu genuinely loved Cui Congjing.

Until Cui Congjing died in a car accident.

Chu Xu thought he would probably never get over it for the rest of his life.

*

Cui Congjing played the second male lead in the world's story. His sole purpose was to trip up the protagonist and help pave the way for his growth.

In his first mission, he had to play the protagonist's love rival, steal the protagonist's ideal partner, and finally die in a car accident.

He had only meant to go through the motions, but unexpectedly fell in love along the way.

The problem was that Chu Xu was slow on the uptake and had zero romantic sense. The slightest thing could make Cui Congjing spiral countless times, until he'd stare with eyes reddened from staying up all night, wondering whether Chu Xu loved him at all.

After faking his death in the car accident, Cui Congjing showed up again as his own younger brother, a notorious playboy. With a spiteful sort of eagerness, he planned to see how much his "death" had hurt Chu Xu.

That very night, he saw Chu Xu chatting with a blind date as they went upstairs.

Cui Congjing: ...

Oh, my dear.

I won't let you off even if I become a ghost.

*

When Cui Congjing was alive, Chu Xu had almost no contact with him or the people around him.

After Cui Congjing died, his younger brother, friends, and sworn enemy came to Chu Xu one after another, pestering him: Chu Xu, how can you face my brother / A Jing / Mr. Cui after treating him like that?

Chu Xu's mind was hazy and his eyes blurred with tears. In a daze, he thought, Are you sure you can face him?

A sharp-tongued, emotionally volatile, lovesick gong * an emotionally steady, slow-to-realize, devoted widowed shou

Cui Congjing * Chu Xu

* One-on-one, happy ending. The younger brother and others appearing in the blurb are all the gong's secret identities. Everyone is pure, with no original hosts.

* The gong and shou are each other's first love, and their mutual feelings are locked in place, written in all caps and bold.

* Beautiful gong, handsome shou.

* Slow-burn daily life; the romance-to-plot ratio is about 7:3.

* Same-sex marriage is legal in this setting.

* This is a writing exercise. I'm constantly revising, so please excuse the many shortcomings. Bows.

--- Divider ---

Here's a peek at my next story, A Flirtatious Comedy. Check the announcements or author's page, and please add it to your collection! Blurb:

The Xu family's company is in crisis. Xu Yan, a young master who spends his days partying, wakes up to find his mother has bundled him off to marry Zhou Tinghuan, the head of the Zhou family.

Before the wedding, his mother warns him: "Mr. Zhou is a traditional man who can't stand your ways. Once you're married, you absolutely have to behave yourself!"

Xu Yan agrees.

The good news: his husband is incredibly handsome and perfectly matches Xu Yan's tastes. He's a little stiff and has no sense of fun, but Xu Yan is willing to put up with that for his face and figure.

The bad news: his husband is the aloof "male model" he met at a party a few years ago. Back then, Xu Yan had shamelessly flirted with and harassed him, even bragging that he'd pay to keep him!

At the time, Zhou Tinghuan had seemed to find him extremely repulsive!

Xu Yan: Oh, crap. I'm doomed.

To make sure married life goes smoothly, Xu Yan can only bury his lust and repeatedly assure Zhou Tinghuan that he's reformed and will never cross any boundaries:

When Zhou Tinghuan falls asleep on the sofa, he won't steal a kiss.

When Zhou Tinghuan comes out of the bathroom bare-chested, he won't ogle him.

When Zhou Tinghuan gets drunk and his clothes are disheveled, he absolutely won't grope him!

*

Zhou Tinghuan has been very troubled lately.

He has done his best to seduce Xu Yan using all the tricks he found online, so why is Xu Yan still keeping his hands to himself?

*

Later, an accident leaves Xu Yan with amnesia. He not only forgets that his family is on the verge of bankruptcy, but also forgets that he's already married.

He opens his eyes in his hospital bed and sees a handsome man keeping watch at his bedside, still fully dressed. Tears of emotion trickle from the corner of his mouth. "I remember you. You're the guy from the pool party! Have you finally come around? Are you willing to be my lover now?!"

In the hospital room, Zhou Tinghuan's friend and assistant: o.0!

The Xu parents: o△o!!

It's over. That brat is going to get dumped by a furious Zhou Tinghuan!!!

*

But to everyone's astonishment, Zhou Tinghuan neither gets angry nor divorces him. Instead, wearing an expressionless, proper, self-possessed face, he solemnly says, "Mm."

A seemingly proper gong who's secretly full of schemes and tsundere * a happy little sunshine shou who pretends to be a playboy but is really a pervert

Zhou Tinghuan * Xu Yan

Theme: Treat others with kindness