Spring Waters Flow East

Hardworking overachiever beauty bottom x lie-flat, defeatist, obsessive top

Ji Zijin was implicated by his teacher and became the study companion of Li Ke, heir to the Prince of Jing'an. He thought Li Ke was a spoiled young rake who spent his days chasing cats and teasing dogs, but never expected him to be a wolf in dog's clothing.

Li Ke hated studying, and he hated this new companion even more. The moment Ji Zijin arrived at the prince's residence, everyone took a liking to him. Li Ke decided to teach him a lesson, but when he entered Ji Zijin's courtyard, he saw eyes clear as autumn waters and skin white as jade, and could never forget those dewy eyes.

Knowing Ji Zijin was worried about his teacher, Li Ke used that as leverage to make him spend night after night in his bed. As the nights went by, Ji Zijin lost sight of the reason he had come in the first place. His body was exhausted, and so was his heart.

One day, Ji Zijin saw Li Ke surrounded by a crowd of noble young men in fine clothes, riding fine horses and fawning over him. At last, he understood that they belonged to different worlds. When the time was right, powerful, respected aristocrats would introduce Li Ke to noble young ladies from distinguished families. He had a path to the highest reaches of the imperial court, while Ji Zijin was nothing more than “the little plaything who follows the heir around,” as those young men called him...

“If one day you grow tired of me, will you let me go?” Ji Zijin no longer dared hope to sit the palace examinations or become an official. He was too tired.

Li Ke, who had been preparing to spend the rest of his life with him: “...”

Ji Zijin lowered his head. “You don’t love me anyway, and I... don’t love you either. You’ll still be a prince of impeccable reputation. If you let me go, I won’t say a word. If the Imperial Academy will still have me, I’ll keep studying. If not, I’ll go back to the countryside and open a private school.”

Li Ke heard nothing but the words “I don’t love you either.” He flew into a rage. “You don’t love me!? Then why do you call me husband?! Why do you share a bed with me?! If you don’t love me, then why do you...”

“Slap!” With servants all around, Ji Zijin couldn’t bear to hear Li Ke shouting himself hoarse. Embarrassed and furious, he slapped him across the face.

A romance-focused story, one-on-one, happy ending.

Theme: I really do like studying.