My Childhood Friend, the Scumbag Top, Keeps Pretending to Be Mute

[Part of the Bamboo Horse, Junior Student Is a Delicate, Sickly Beauty series. The gong is Ji Xiaohuan's younger cousin, and the shou is frail. Please follow the series!] When He Tongyang was eleven, his grandfather died under tragic circumstances. His mother took him to court to seek justice, but in the midst of the shouting and accusations, she was arrested instead. He Tongyang was left behind, huddled in a corner in terror, crying so hard he could barely catch his breath. Just then, a boy wearing little leather shoes came over and crouched in front of him, his gaze childlike. The boy patted his back, then took a sheet of paper from his pocket and carefully wrote: - Don't cry. - Do you want the bad people to be punished? - Be my friend, and I can help you. He Tongyang stared at Ji Shili and forgot to cry for a moment. He wiped his nose and tears, then timidly held out his dirty little hand and took Ji Shili's pale, clean one. - He Tongyang had a miserable childhood. When he grew up, his health was poor, but his personality was still arrogant and brash. He got into fights and caused trouble at school, leaving himself covered in bruises. But everyone knew that Ji Shili was the gentle light that soothed He Tongyang's restless heart. Ji Shili was perfect in every way: warm, courteous, and exceptionally intelligent, except for one thing: he was mute. He Tongyang didn't care. Ji Shili treated him well. When he was sick, Ji Shili held him and gently patted his back. When he was injured, Ji Shili carried him home. After meeting Ji Shili, he gained the best relationship in the world. He was acknowledged by the He family and returned to his roots, no longer a secret illegitimate son. A talent scout discovered him, and he entered the entertainment industry, becoming an overnight sensation. The beautiful things that had once seemed out of reach were now right at his fingertips. But one day, Ji Shili shed his gentle disguise. His eyes bloodshot, he gripped He Tongyang's chin and said, "He Tongyang, everything you have is because of me. If you don't want to lose it all, you'll obey my every command for the rest of your life!" Only then did He Tongyang understand that everything he had was a lie. His clever little prince had been laying the groundwork since he was ten, spending eight years weaving an inescapable net. Before He Tongyang even realized it, Ji Shili had already tightened his grip around his throat. Content warnings: 1) A mad, obsessive, genius gong with two personalities x a flamboyant, uninhibited, sickly celebrity shou. 2) The gong has been a child prodigy since he was young, and he's also a madman. He isn't actually mute, but mental illness does run in his family. The initial plan is for him to have two personalities. He's not really a scumbag, just ruthless. 3) There may be coercion, and there may be a groveling arc. (It's only a possibility. I haven't decided yet whether there will be one.) 4) It may start at school. One-on-one, happy ending. 5) The blurb may be adjusted before the story begins, but the basic premise won't change. (Blurb written 2021.1.9, revised 2021.10.26) Theme: Put people first, and always be a good person.