A devoted, patient top × a prickly, short-tempered bottom
Two strong leads, both Alphas, both race car drivers
A straight man gets turned gay; a couple always at odds
Mutual pining becomes real, mutual salvation, and a groveling pursuit of the husband
There is a secondary couple, but they don't get much page time or steal the spotlight
Wei Yan is the laughingstock of the racing world.
Once a brilliant professional driver, he somehow fell apart on the simplest right-hand turn. He slowed down, hit the brakes, his hands shook, his heart rhythm faltered. He watched rival after rival pass him, helpless, able only to adjust his breathing with cold hands and feet, trying not to look too pathetic.
The doctor said he had PTSD. His teammates said he was useless. Di Xiaoyu said it was karma.
Wei Yan thought they were all right, especially Di Xiaoyu.
He was useless: he'd been secretly in love with someone for years and hadn't dared to say a word. He watched that person get together with the girl he liked and even smiled as he told them they were a perfect match. What else could you call that but useless?
For the three years after the girl died, Wei Yan lived under the accusation of being a murderer. He knew that he and Di Xiaoyu probably had no chance of ever being together.
When Di Xiaoyu hated him, he kept out of his way. When Di Xiaoyu cursed him, he took it. He avoided him whenever they crossed paths at the track, and kept his distance whenever they met at training. When others said it was unfair to him, he only said, "I just don't want to upset someone."
He wrapped his secret love around the truth from three years ago, ground it between his teeth, and swallowed it with blood and flesh. Then he stayed by the turn he couldn't get past, living as Di Xiaoyu's shadow.
He hated him, and Wei Yan bore it. He lashed out, and Wei Yan took it. All Wei Yan wanted was to quietly stay at the farthest point that was still closest to him.
And Di Xiaoyu?
He had hated Wei Yan for three whole years. Whenever they met, he jabbed at him; whenever he spoke, he snapped. He felt they would never reconcile, and wished they could stay out of each other's lives forever.
Yet every time he saw Wei Yan turn pale and struggle to breathe, Di Xiaoyu's heart inexplicably clenched. Every time he heard someone mock Wei Yan as useless or cowardly, he was angrier than anyone.
His words were as hard as stone and his face as cold as ice, but in countless moments when they passed each other, he couldn't help looking back at the silent figure walking away.
Perhaps Di Xiaoyu would rather die than admit it.
Wei Yan was the person he hated most, and also the person he cared about most.
Theme: True salvation means crossing every fear for you
