A Manual for Raising a Caged Bird

I was a good guardian, but not a good lover.

At the welfare home, six-year-old Lu Qingli gave me half her bread. From then on, we were inseparable, relying on each other to survive. But when I became something like her guardian, all she wanted was to escape my control.

Later, our relationship spun completely out of control. She hated me and called me a pervert, yet after every argument, she had no choice but to accept my kisses, trembling.

"Sis, you're a lunatic." I tied her wrists with a ribbon. She glared at me hatefully, but no longer fought back.

"That's right, so don't ever think you can escape."

Given another chance, I decided to set her free. But when I let her leave my sight, she willingly returned to her cage.

Third-person blurb:

Five years ago, Lu Qingli was drugged at a bar. Jiang Shiyuan dragged her home and, in her fury, said whatever came to mind.

"Have you learned your lesson? Are you going to places like that bar again?"

"Sis, I'm sorry..." Lu Qingli's eyes reddened at the corners as she struggled to beg for mercy.

"Fine. Then take care of it yourself, right here."

"Then go outside, please..."

"Why should I go outside?"

Jiang Shiyuan wanted to teach her a lesson she would never forget, but she never expected to drag herself down with her. Lu Qingli would rather tempt her than relieve herself under Jiang Shiyuan's cold gaze.

After being reborn, Jiang Shiyuan originally planned to set her free. Later, she wanted them to be together in a normal way. But things still slipped out of her control.

They take turns in the lead, with a slight preference for the top. Main story in first person, four-year age gap.

Possessive, perverted top in their past life, gentle and doting top in this life, versus a bottom who's sometimes arrogant and sometimes obedient and sweet.

P.S. I commissioned the cover from an artist in a group that bans AI art.

Theme: When you appeared, I forgave the hardships of the past