A scholar and a military officer, equally matched and mutually devoted, one-on-one romance, bickering lovers, seemingly rekindled romance
[Cool Beauty and Inspector Lu Zhoubai x Clingy, Innocent Lieutenant Shi Moran]
A job-hopping schemer who only wants to climb the ladder, and a clingy rice cake who just wants to lie flat
Lu Zhoubai is a low-ranking scholar with neither money nor influence. To get promoted and earn a raise, he stops at nothing, including framing people, coercing confessions, and jumping ship to cozy up to powerful patrons. But he's genuinely fair-skinned and beautiful, the sort of beauty everyone admires. Men envy him and women adore him wherever he goes. He nearly failed the imperial examinations, but was given an exception because he was simply too beautiful.
Border army lieutenant Shi Moran was one of the many people captivated by his looks.
In five years, Shi Moran rose from an unknown nobody to lieutenant through sheer skill and courage. He'd never cared much for love, but Lu Zhoubai was where he finally fell.
They say people follow their eyes when choosing whom to love. Lu Zhoubai may have been notorious, but Shi Moran still couldn't take his eyes off him. Especially after Lu Zhoubai "hired" him as a boyfriend to fend off his family's marriage pressure... Lu Zhoubai never expected Shi Moran to agree so readily and then become impossible to shake off. Wherever Lu Zhoubai jumped ship, Shi Moran followed close behind, pursuing him relentlessly. In five years, the two changed jobs thirteen times, traveling from south to north and east to west. Their story became known across the country.
Lu Zhoubai: If only you were a young master from a powerful family, I could humor you and trade your influence for a promotion. Tsk, what use is a mere little lieutenant?
Lu Zhoubai hadn't wanted to pay him much attention, but Shi Moran only got worse. He followed him everywhere and called him "Madam" all the time.
"Madam"?...
Lu Zhoubai ground his teeth in fury. He, Lu Zhoubai, was straight! Even if he ever ended up with a man, he'd be the one on top!
So Lu Zhoubai smiled and volunteered to transfer to Shi Moran's post as the new army inspector. Shi Moran thought Lu Zhoubai had finally softened and was willing to pay him some attention, but the day after Lu Zhoubai arrived, Shi Moran was thrown into prison.
Lu Zhoubai had "discovered" that Shi Moran had embezzled eight hundred thousand taels of military funds. The evidence was conclusive. No matter how wronged Shi Moran was, he couldn't defend himself.
Shi Moran guessed Lu Zhoubai had dealt him this heavy blow to get rid of him for good. Lu Zhoubai slapped the confession, a document that could get Shi Moran executed, down in front of him. Lu Zhoubai's cool face, which never showed emotion for anyone, remained unchanged. Only Shi Moran's voice trembled as he demanded:
"Do you hate me so much that you want me dead?"
But the confession Lu Zhoubai had written with his own hand was answer enough. Shi Moran signed the document without even looking at it.
"Haven't you been going on about wanting a promotion for over half a year? Here. At least this can get you an official post of the sixth rank."
Shi Moran refused to look at him again. That confession was their "divorce papers."
But on the day their homeland fell apart, Shi Moran refused to flee with him for the first time and broke off all ties.
Shi Moran: [I wanted to grow old with you, but now I can't. That's for the best. Go. If my hair stays black, then you can safely live to see yours turn white.]
That was also the first time Lu Zhoubai stopped for him. He risked the lives of his entire clan and, though a scholar, donned armor for battle.
Lu Zhoubai: [If we can't grow old together in this life, then I'll keep my hair black alongside yours. In another life, you bask in the spring sunshine, and I'll come find you.]
Lu Zhoubai: I'm being transferred tomorrow, General. You can finally relax.
Shi Moran: ??? Why are you leaving tomorrow?! Didn't you just transfer back to the capital from Yanzhou? You've changed jobs thirteen times in five years. Where are you off to this time?!
Lu Zhoubai: The General and I are at odds. My leaving will be good for you. Why keep pestering me?
Shi Moran: I'm going to keep pestering you! You keep sabotaging me everywhere I go, and I haven't gotten you back yet. You think you can just run away?! No way!
Lu Zhoubai: You're so persistent. Could it be you have feelings for me?
Shi Moran: ??? Uh, well... Maybe... Maybe not...
Lu Zhoubai: Have you ever heard the saying: The first to fall in love loses everything?
Shi Moran: ...Then I'll lose! A bet is a bet!
This story is available for advance reservation. It's expected to launch about half a month after the other story in the same series, "Bound Minister," is complete.
Third-person, fictional historical setting. It belongs to the same [Delusions] setting, and the couple's faction is allied with Suyuan.
Two other works:
Historical BL, Delusions series
#10488649 "The Little Bitter Gourd Grand Tutor's Diary of Losing His Mind: Bound Minister" [Ongoing] (First-person monologue, devoted tyrant x masked grand tutor, younger man pursues older man)
Modern BL, [Clouds Disperse] series
#10544880 [Advance Reservation] "Dust Rises at Zhixiao: The CEO Falls for Me, a Freeloader" One-on-one, mutual devotion, happy ending. Overbearing, possessive CEO Shen Zhiwan x virtuous golden canary Lu Chenyang, who is trying to stop being a freeloader.
[Unspoken Starlight] series
#10694044 [Advance Reservation] "Commander, the Speed Limit Is 800, Go Faster [Magic Mecha] Shuo Xing Liu Ying" (Magic + mecha + a touch of space opera) (Third-person, mutually devoted and equally matched one-on-one romance, hard-working commander x naturally gifted pilot)
Premise: Thirteen job changes in five years, and you want to jump ship again? You'll never get your social insurance transferred at this rate!
