A Twisted Love Has Appeared

Completed in the author's collection: How to Soothe My Cruel and Jealous Husband: genuinely honest, pretty uke vs. genuinely cruel and jealous gong. If you're interested, please visit the author's collection and give this poor author a little bookmark.

Self-serving, useless beauty uke vs. cold, nasty, controlling iceberg gong

When Shi Bai first saw Song Jingzhan, he was curled up in Mr. Qi's arms, breathtakingly beautiful.

Shi Bai was on the verge of bankruptcy. Wearing a borrowed suit, with his long arms and legs awkwardly out of place, he went to the Qi family estate to ask for help.

The child in Mr. Qi's arms gazed at him and asked why he had chilblains on his wrists.

Mr. Qi smiled too, casting Shi Bai a meaningful glance.

That year, Shi Bai secured Series B funding from Mr. Qi and averted his company's looming bankruptcy crisis.

*

They met again in the depths of winter.

Shi Bai came to Mr. Qi's funeral to thank him for his support all those years ago.

As he was leaving, he saw Jingzhan being bullied by relatives from a branch of the Qi family. Shi Bai watched coldly for a long time, finally waiting until Jingzhan asked him for help.

That year, Shi Bai made Jingzhan his.

This frail, lonely boy had the makings of someone who could drive a man mad. From the very first moment Shi Bai saw him, an unwholesome desire took root in his heart.

Jingzhan was still so naive, having been raised too well by Mr. Qi. He had the right to say no without a second thought.

Shi Bai didn't.

He watched coldly as Jingzhan was bullied by the servants, his precious paintings smudged with graffiti, and no decent meal ever waiting for him at night. He watched him curled up in the greenhouse, tears streaming down his face.

Until one night, Jingzhan willingly offered Shi Bai all his tenderness and trust.

At last, Song Jingzhan belonged to Shi Bai instead of Mr. Qi.

[If he were willing to cut open my heart and look, he would see how it beats and surges for Song Jingzhan, ever since the first moment I saw him.]

Shi Bai closed his journal and kissed Song Jingzhan, asleep in bed, his skin fair and soft.

[So if there is another life, let me meet him sooner, hold him in my arms, and spare him a life of hardship and wandering.]

Before You Read:

1. The gong is chaste: a man's chastity is his finest dowry.

2. The gong is devious. If that's not your thing, run, and run fast.

And I hope I can give you a brilliant night.

"Would You Love Me Tonight?"

Cheerful, optimistic sweet-girl uke vs. cool guy gong who's not what he seems

[He would drown in Xia Zhichan's sweet web, and savor every moment of it.], Xu Zhou

Xu Zhou had thought back to the first time he met Xia Zhichan more than once.

Xia Zhichan was wearing orange-yellow overalls. Sunlight fell on his fluffy hair, and when he looked up at Xu Zhou, he reminded him so much of his late golden retriever, Andy. Xu Zhou mischievously passed by and stuffed a handful of dirt into his clothes.

He was certain he would never see the poor, foolish child again. Yet the pretty little darling showed up at his door, practically extorting his way in.

Holding a glass bowl, he had been sent by Xia's mother, who didn't know what had happened, to give a gift to the new neighbor.

The little tomatoes in the glass bowl were bright red, and so were Xia Zhichan's eyes.

From then on, Xu Zhou was convinced Xia Zhichan was another Andy sent to him by his mother in heaven. No matter how badly Xu Zhou treated him, Xia Zhichan would always wag his tail at him pitifully.

Until one day, Xia Zhichan trembled as he cried, biting his finger and licking his wounds, his eyes brimming with tears.

He asked Xu Zhou why he treated himself that way.

Xu Zhou wiped away Xia Zhichan's tears and told him with an utterly matter-of-fact expression, "Xia Zhichan, you're mine."

"No one can take Xia Zhichan away from me."

Reading Guide:

*Genuinely honest, pretty uke vs. genuinely jealous and cruel gong

Also known as: #Summer Cicada

More details to come if I think of any.

Theme: Even in difficult times, keep moving forward with courage and determination.