After the Frail Adopted Son Faked His Death

[Republican-era alternate setting, domineering patriarchal top, aloof, sickly, self-destructive beauty bottom]

The second young master of the Lian family was famous in the capital from a young age. First for his black hair, snow-white skin, and breathtaking beauty, and second for his cold heart and ruthless methods.

A lofty young master, a beauty seemingly far beyond reach. Ever since his youth, he had been the target of every kind of gaze, colored by jealousy, fear, admiration, and desire.

When the Lian family suddenly fell from power, this once-unattainable beauty went to the illustrious Xu family, humbly asking them to enter into a temporary marriage alliance with his family.

At the time, Xu Fujin had just returned from the military camp, the air around him still sharp with a murderous edge. He lowered his eyes to look at the slender, frail figure standing on the steps below, dressed in white and beautiful in his aloofness.

"All right."

-

Lian Qiao was sickly and frail. The Lian family had taken him in when he was young, saving him from dying in the icy cold.

When disaster struck the Lian family, he had no choice but to ask the Xu family for help, despite his past conflicts with them. He expected humiliation and trouble, but the man agreed without hesitation.

Xu Fujin was renowned and proud by nature. They had detested each other at school as boys, yet after their marriage, Xu Fujin defended him at every turn.

The most spacious and comfortable courtyard, underfloor heating throughout the winter, the finest fabrics and treasures...

When Lian Qiao caught a chill, coughed blood, and burned with a fever that wouldn't break, the man stayed up all night, holding him and soothing him again and again.

Others called it young love. Lian Qiao knew better.

It was all just appearances, part of an exchange of interests.

During a pleasure cruise, their enemies launched an assassination attempt. Lian Qiao instinctively shoved Xu Fujin aside and took the fatal blast for him, plunging into the dark, raging currents of the night.

He spent half a year in a fishing village, recovering enough to stay alive. He had no idea that, along both banks of the Changpu River, someone had obsessively and madly marshaled every resource at his disposal to find the person who had fallen into the river that night, driven nearly out of his mind.

-

The second young master of the Lian family was dead. The only one left alive was a small-time merchant in a fishing village.

He thought he would live out the rest of his life in peace. But a year later, while traveling for business, he stumbled into a grand banquet at the Xu family estate.

He sat at the very end, in the least conspicuous seat, thinking he was lucky not to have been recognized. But the moment he stepped out of the Xu estate to leave, he was cornered and knocked unconscious. Then he lost all awareness.

-

When he opened his eyes again, he was surrounded by satin quilts and elaborate curtains. A fine gold chain was locked around his slender ankle, its bell jingling softly.

Xu Fujin held him from behind, the madness and blood-red fury still burning in his eyes as he slowly kissed and licked him.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low and hoarse, terrifyingly so:

"My darling..."

At last, I've got you back in my arms.

TIPS / Content warnings:

1. An alternate Republican-era setting. Domineering patriarchal top x breathtakingly beautiful, aloof, sickly, self-destructive bottom. The story begins before the Lian family's downfall, with a little school-life content, but the relationship develops quickly.

2. One-on-one romance, both are virgins, happy ending. The bottom is sickly and somewhat self-destructive. Many characters have unrequited feelings for him. The main focus is on a rivalry between men, not on the bottom being put through emotional suffering.

Theme: Stay true to your original intentions and persevere.