Lover-Loss Syndrome

The year Wen Sheng met his lover, he was twenty-two. The timing was far from ideal. It happened to be when he was first tasting the fruits of power, and an urge to capture, possess, and devour this person whole took over his mind. He admitted that he had used a few underhanded tricks to lure him into his trap. But what did it matter? Watching the man slowly kneel before him filled Wen Sheng with satisfaction. “Boss Wen, what am I to you?” Li Shuangxi tilted his head up and asked softly. “If you want to use me, just say so. Why go to all this trouble?” Wen Sheng laughed, cigarette in hand, and leaned over to pat his cheek. “Do I really seem that old? Call me big brother.” Beneath an avalanche, a boy dug him out with his bare hands, his own hands frozen red with blood. His back was not broad, but it was so warm. Carrying him step by step down the snowy mountain, the boy said softly, “You are my responsibility for the rest of my life.” Ten years passed in the blink of an eye. His once-green lover had become gentle and mature. Wen Sheng depended on him more and more, wantonly enjoying his sincere love, yet never offering the same loyalty in return. It was only much later that he learned what had happened that night he sent Li Shuangxi out to buy lychees for him. Li Shuangxi had messaged him gently, asking, “Have you been waiting long?” He had spent two hours finding the lychees Wen Sheng wanted, then received news that his mother had died. Yet Wen Sheng left him locked outside, where he listened blankly to Wen Sheng’s intimate laughter and teasing with someone else. Was that when things began to change? So Li Shuangxi loved him and hated him, played a cruel little trick on him, then leapt without hesitation and saved him again, this time at the cost of his own life. Five years after Li Shuangxi’s death, Wen Sheng’s life hit rock bottom. His career had collapsed, and his company was on the verge of bankruptcy and liquidation. Then someone offered him a lifeline. The terms were simple: the other man would give him money in exchange for having Wen Sheng himself. Wen Sheng walked into the man’s room. A powerful sense of familiarity made him tremble all over. ...It was furnished exactly like the home he and Li Shuangxi had shared. It was almost... like a cage. Behind him, a warm, smiling voice said, “Long time no see, Brother Wen. You look worn out.” Wen Sheng spun around and met the eyes of someone he used to know. They were cold. Wen Sheng became Li Shuangxi’s lover. Li Shuangxi looked at him calmly. No matter what Wen Sheng did, he remained unmoved, as if Wen Sheng were someone utterly insignificant. When he was in the mood, Li Shuangxi would tell him to fulfill his duties and kneel. Wen Sheng had never been treated like that by him before. Humiliation, disbelief, and hurt all surged through him. “Isn’t this what you used to do to me?” Li Shuangxi gently patted Wen Sheng’s cheek. “Open your mouth. At least I’m being civilized. I haven’t resorted to force like you did.” Wen Sheng remembered what he had done, his expression shifting unpredictably. Li Shuangxi had waited too long and lost interest. “Forget it.” Late at night, Wen Sheng climbed into Li Shuangxi’s bed again, rustling his way under the covers. Wen Sheng mumbled, “If I do a good job, will you forgive me...?” Forgive him? Li Shuangxi kept his expression blank and gave a soft laugh. “That depends on how you do.” Li Shuangxi × Wen Sheng Gentle ex-lover top × playboy former sugar daddy bottom The power dynamic is reversed The top is a virgin; the bottom has had previous partners. They are lovers at first. The bottom never actually cheats, but he isn’t fully invested either, and he does cross the line by flirting with others. There are also some misunderstandings. Later, the bottom falls in love for real and realizes his mistakes. They only truly get together after resolving their conflicts. What one character sees may not be the truth; this will be explained later. (Setting up a stall) (Calling out to passersby) (Offering samples) Check out my upcoming novel, “I Got Married to the Ex I Treated Like Trash.” It’s set in the same world and will be my next book. Please add it to your collection! Blurb: At the wrap party for the first film of his career, Li Mingxi swung a chair and smashed the director who had tried to assault him over the head, drawing blood. A video of him attacking the director went viral, sparking an uproar. The incident sent the stock price of the investor, the Xie Group, plummeting, wiping out a billion dollars. Worse still, he had angered Xie Yun, the Xie family’s heir. In the entertainment industry, everyone depends on the powers that be. And the power in question just happened to be surnamed Xie. Li Mingxi’s company gagged him, tied him up, shoved him into a wooden crate, and sent him to the tea room in the heir’s hillside villa to apologize. After causing such a huge mess, he thought he would quietly disappear into the sea and die an unjust death. Instead, Xie Yun untied him with his own hands, poured him a cup of tea, and asked in an even voice if he would be willing to date him. He promised to treasure Li Mingxi above all else for the rest of his life. He kept his promise. For seven years, Xie Yun cherished Li Mingxi in the palm of his hand, showering him with tenderness and affection. If Li Mingxi wanted a star from the sky, Xie Yun would pluck the moon down for him too. Xie Yun turned him from a bit-part actor into a dazzling superstar, and Li Mingxi won award after award. The only hardship he suffered after getting together with Xie Yun was in bed. Usually, even when Li Mingxi went on location to shoot, Xie Yun would send the family’s chef and doctor along with him. Spoiled by Xie Yun, Li Mingxi developed a temper and made countless enemies in the industry. His manager told him, “If you ever leave Mr. Xie, you won’t even know what killed you.” Li Mingxi didn’t take it seriously. In the seventh year of their relationship, Li Mingxi cheated. The media caught him acting intimately with someone else. The video flooded the trending lists, only to be quickly suppressed. In grand fashion, he gave the heir a pair of horns for the whole world to see. He had just become the youngest Best Actor in film history, and apparently his success had gone to his head. He thought he could do just fine without Xie Yun. Xie Yun asked whether he and the other man were just having fun or if it was serious. From his tone, it was clear he was furious. But if Li Mingxi said it had meant nothing, Xie Yun would still forgive him. Li Mingxi showed Xie Yun photos of himself in bed with the other man. He taunted him mercilessly, saying that every day he had spent by Xie Yun’s side for the past seven years had disgusted him. Xie Yun gave a cold laugh. “Fine.” Li Mingxi’s life took a nosedive. From the moment Xie Yun kicked him out, the people he had offended in the past all piled on. He couldn’t find work in the industry, couldn’t get a role, and was reduced to an ordinary civilian. Xie Yun let him go, but countless people rushed to avenge Xie Yun. Some time later, Li Mingxi heard that the Xie family’s heir was getting engaged. A while after that, rumors spread that Li Mingxi had attached himself to the second young master of the Yin family. The second young master Yin lured Li Mingxi to a party under the pretense of an audition. A group of rich playboys surrounded him, humiliated him, then kicked the back of his knee. Li Mingxi’s legs gave way, and he fell to his knees. In a panic, he crawled forward, grabbing the ankle of the person before him. His bruised face lifted as he begged for help The man glanced down at him indifferently. It was Xie Yun. Cheers erupted outside the window. A jubilant parade passed by, singing and scattering ribbons everywhere. That morning, the government had passed the same-sex marriage bill. “Look at how pitiful you are,” Xie Yun said calmly. “Get dressed and stand up. I’m marrying you.” In a daze, Li Mingxi thought his personal hell was about to begin. In the seventh year of his relationship with Xie Yun, Li Mingxi, who had been spoiled nearly to the point of taking Xie Yun’s love for granted, suddenly realized something. Xie Yun didn’t love him. He had only just realized it himself. Xie Yun × Li Mingxi Unconventional top × single-minded bottom One-on-one, both sexually inexperienced The blurb omits and obscures some facts. At heart, this is a romance about two people who don’t know how to communicate. They’re actually crazy about each other. Theme: Cherish the person by your side