After the White Moonlight Left, My Rival and I Got Together

[I'm about to write the side couple's story, He Mu x Lin Yi, "First Married, Then Fell in Love with Him Six Years Younger." Please add it to your collection. Blurb below.]

Everyone knows Lu Nian and Bai Yang don't get along, all because they're in love with the same unattainable first love.

Once, a nobody said something bad about their beloved, and the two competed to defend them. Their explosive school love triangle became public knowledge, but ended in absurdity.

Six years later, Bai Yang is about to take over the family business, while Lu Nian has already become an executive at Bai Media, with enough clout to call all the shots.

Bai Yang scoffs, unconcerned. "As if he's worthy."

Their friends are buzzing, waiting for a show and hoping the two will clash again, especially with Bai Yang kicking Lu Nian out of the company.

Later, their unattainable first love returns from abroad. The two go to the airport together to pick them up. Many people watch from the sidelines, expecting them to tear each other apart.

But they don't know that in the airport parking lot, Bai Yang pins Lu Nian against a car and says in a hoarse voice, "Lu Nian, don't just look at him. Look at me, too."

-

The first time Lu Nian saw Bai Yang, Lu Nian was twelve.

The boy was proud and aloof, cold and solitary, like a lone moon reflected on a lake. He took root in Lu Nian's heart that very moment.

Lu Nian watched him fall for their unattainable first love and run around doing everything for them. As Lu Nian turned away, he happened to hear someone badmouthing Bai Yang behind his back.

Just to vent, Lu Nian beat the person up. The story soon reached Bai Yang's ears.

"Don't get the wrong idea." Lu Nian dusted off his hands and smiled faintly. "I didn't do it for you. I did it for our unattainable first love."

Bai Yang's gaze darkened.

"I don't like them. I only like you."

"It was you from the very beginning."

1. Gentle, refined, cunning, and haughty bottom Lu Nian X ruthless, taciturn, fiercely protective, wolfdog top Bai Yang. The pairing is fixed. Lu Nian is the bottom and Bai Yang is the top. [Bold, don't get it wrong.]

2. Each other's first love, a sweet story where they dote on each other, with their careers and romance progressing together.

3. Younger top, two years apart, both strong.

Side couple, He Mu x Lin Yi, "The Second Male Lead Takes Over After the Top Switches." Please add it to your collection~

Captivating beauty bottom x cool on the outside, puppy-like on the inside top

Six-year age gap, younger top \\ switching tops \\ second male lead's groveling arc \\ fake marriage trope

[Starting December 2]

A mature, gentle, and genuinely hard-to-pursue bottom x cool on the outside, puppy-like on the inside top

Six-year age gap. Switching tops. Second male lead's groveling arc. Cliche marriage-before-love story.

On his thirtieth birthday, He Mu catches his boyfriend cheating.

He breaks up, deletes and blocks him, moves out, and returns to China, making a clean break without hesitation.

On the flight home, He Mu suddenly remembers that six years ago, he got a marriage certificate with a young man who had just turned eighteen, pretending to marry him to help him out of a difficult situation.

Since he's returning to China this time, he should make time to divorce the man. He can't hold back his future.

But He Mu never expects his ex-boyfriend to follow him back to China.

At the airport, his ex-boyfriend grabs his hand and weeps uncontrollably, begging to get back together and putting on quite the show of devotion.

He Mu only smiles without saying a word.

Just as he's about to push his ex away, a young man walks over.

The man pulls his ex's hand away and shields He Mu behind him, saying coldly, "Stay away from him. Keep your hands to yourself."

The ex-boyfriend sneers. "Who the hell are you? Mind your own business."

The young man lowers his eyes, radiating an air of readiness to fight.

Seeing the young man's scowl, He Mu laughs.

The next moment, he leans in and kisses the corner of the man's mouth, then turns to smile at his ex. "He's my husband back in China. Why can't he get involved in my business?"

His ex is stunned.

So is Lin Yi.

-

Lin Yi was only eighteen when he met He Mu.

At the time, he was destitute, bullied, living in darkness, and without hope for the future.

He remembers.

In the shadowy fields of the countryside, it was He Mu who took his hand and led him toward the light. "Don't be afraid. I'll take you with me."

That night, Lin Yi fell in love.

He remembered it for six whole years.

Warnings and notes

1. The bottom is 30 and the top is 24. The bottom has a slight everyone-loves-him quality and has an ex who isn't a virgin; the top is a virgin.

2. The bottom's ex knows he had a fake marriage in China. The bottom isn't deceiving him.

3. A spin-off side-couple story from the rival story. The timeline may not line up; this is an old trope I came up with many years ago. Same-sex marriage is legal in this setting.

4. A mature, clever, beautiful man who's gentle but genuinely hard to flirt with x a loyal puppy of a top who only wants to cuddle with his husband. Psychologist x astronomer. They mostly dote on each other, and it's sweet.

Theme: Put aside worldly concerns and bravely listen to the voice of your heart.