Sweet but Tough

Shi Ren's first impression of Chen Yi was that he was gentle, the kind of person whose whole being seemed to say, "I'm a model student." They were complete opposites.

Shi Ren had never even seen him angry. No matter who he was with or what situation he was in, Chen Yi always wore a faint, gentle smile.

Even someone as rebellious as Shi Ren sometimes had to marvel that he had finally met one of those legendary kids everyone else's parents held up as an example.

Until one day, he saw a tall boy in a black T-shirt with a cigarette in his mouth, holding another person down by the head and slamming it hard against a wall.

The boy turned his head slightly, revealing a pair of pale amber eyes.

He was still smiling gently, but Shi Ren couldn't help shuddering.

Well, I'll be damned.

*

Years of self-harm had robbed Chen Yi of the courage to live well. Countless times, he thought bitterly:

If I can't die, then I'll just rot.

Along with his ugliest memories and his rusted, battered heart, he would rot away in the deepest, darkest swamp, where no one could ever find him.

But later, someone was always there, an arm around his shoulder, their voice slow and firm.

"Chen Yi, you can't rot away here."

When he had an episode, that person stayed by his side without leaving him for a moment.

"If it's muddy down there and you don't want to walk, I'll carry you."

Three years at vocational school, over a thousand days, and two boys supporting each other as they worked hard and fought for a better future.

Chen Yi x Shi Ren

"Looks obedient" x "Looks like a delinquent"

A few notes:

1. Chen Yi is genuinely a top student. He only chose vocational school because of his family situation.

2. Shi Ren is genuinely a terrible student, but he'll work hard for Chen Yi and push beyond his limits.

3. Two lonely people join hands and head toward better universities.

4. Only time can prove everything.

5. They switch roles.

Theme: Only time can prove everything