A Guide to Raising Your Childhood Friend

Childhood-friends slice of life / older love interest

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Yuan Wang’s life was turned upside down when he was nine.

After losing both his parents, he was taken in by a kind uncle.

The uncle had another child, a little older than him, named Cen Li.

The first time they met, Cen Li gave him a careless grin and said, “I thought you were a little dog.”

Like a stray puppy with nowhere to go, Yuan Wang carefully kept a proper distance from Cen Li.

Only later did he realize how badly he had misjudged him. At first, Cen Li was the one who treated him coldly. Later, he was the one clinging to him and calling him “little brother” nonstop, like a sticky rice cake.

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Cen Li first met Yuan Wang on a rainy day. He was hiding behind his father, drenched and looking like a pitiful little puppy.

Cen Li didn’t want a little brother. Besides, Yuan Wang was only the child of his father’s friend, staying with them for a while. He was thin, small, and quiet, clearly not the sort of person anyone would like. He was like a hard stone that wouldn’t warm up, no matter how long you held it.

Cen Li never expected that he himself would be the one to warm that hard stone into a cozy little cotton jacket.

At first:

Cen Li: I can’t stand this kid who came out of nowhere!

Later:

Cen Li: My little brother is the cutest in the whole world!

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After Cen Li was confessed to by a boy for the first time, Yuan Wang realized his feelings for Cen Li were anything but ordinary. He used this as a reason to suggest that they keep their distance.

Cen Li: ?!

Cen Li: But we’re brothers! That’s different from those vulgar feelings!

Yuan Wang glanced at him and said nothing.

Yuan Wang followed through on keeping his distance. No holding hands, no hugs, no sleeping together, and he even smiled at Cen Li less.

Cen Li was gloomy and restless. One dark, windy night, he couldn’t take it anymore and cornered Yuan Wang in bed.

“Why do you smile at everyone else but not at me?” Cen Li pinned him down and snapped, “I think they’re all straight. I’m the only one who is.”

Yuan Wang replied calmly, “They’re straight. I’m not.”

Cen Li went rigid, then fled in a panic.

The next day, once the meaning sank in, Cen Li stood on the balcony, furious, crushing the can in his hand.

Who was the man who had made Yuan Wang realize his sexual orientation?!

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Later, when they talked about the first time they met:

Yuan Wang demanded, “You called me a puppy back then.”

Cen Li hugged Yuan Wang, rubbing his head against Yuan Wang’s neck as he played dumb. “Did I? No, I didn’t. I’ll be the puppy, then. Woof, woof, woof!”

…Upcoming stories…

Upcoming story 1: Sharing Senses with the Cool-Headed Top Student

When Shen Ruzhao’s depression screening came back normal for the third time, he realized the problem might not be with him.

At some point, he had begun to experience sudden attacks of suffocation, as if a ball of cotton soaked in cold water were blocking his throat, leaving him unable to break free no matter how hard he struggled.

Then one day, he went to the infirmary because of knee pain and found Jiang Yilan, the top student in their grade, having his bleeding knee treated by the school doctor.

The moment antiseptic was applied to Jiang Yilan’s knee, Shen Ruzhao met his eyes, and a fine, tingling pain arose in both his knee and his heart.

At last, Shen Ruzhao understood: the physical and emotional pain he had been experiencing was coming from the outstanding student in front of him, who excelled in both academics and conduct but came from a poor family.

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Jiang Yilan’s short life had been like walking on thin ice.

For the first eighteen years, there had been his absent mother, gambling father, sick grandmother, impoverished home, and his schooling.

Then the sheltered young master came into his life. Shen Ruzhao always knew how he was feeling, always appeared when he was at his most helpless and humiliated, and comforted him with intimate words that could almost be called love confessions: “Don’t be sad. When you’re sad, I feel so sad too. No matter what happens, I’ll help you.”

Shen Ruzhao really did stay by his side, as always, whether he was the poor boy who couldn’t afford clothes and was mocked for it, or the real young master who rose from obscurity and was taken back by the wealthy Pei family, yet struggled to fit in.

He thought Shen Ruzhao probably did like him.

Until Jiang Yilan finally discovered that all of this was because Shen Ruzhao had been forced to share his feelings.

Jiang Yilan gazed gloomily at Shen Ruzhao’s back and thought: So he doesn’t love me at all. He only loves himself.

But when Shen Ruzhao turned to look at him, Jiang Yilan smiled tenderly and thought:

Still, no matter what, sharing senses means he’ll never be able to leave me in this life. That’s not so different from love.

A seemingly aloof but actually dark seme x a seemingly sunny but genuinely sunny shou

Upcoming story 2: Humans May Not Be Abandoned on Cat Planet

Chun Li transmigrated.

Before he opened his eyes, he had been hit by a car while trying to save a cat crossing the road. After opening his eyes, he found himself lying in the road as the driver climbed out of the car, grumbling: “Meow, meow!”

It was a gigantic cat twice his size!

Just as Chun Li wondered if he was hallucinating, the cat who had been driving saw what he looked like. Its voice suddenly changed from a deep rumble to a sweet, gentle tone. Its tail stood straight up, and its front paws came together primly in front of its chest. “Meow~ Meow~~ Meow~~”

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Breaking news!

An abandoned human has been spotted on Meow Street!

The cat community is shocked and furious, vowing to find the evil cat that violated cat law by abandoning a human and bring it to justice!

But first, this adorable human needs a guardian cat to look after him. Which lucky cat will it be?

The cats all raised their paws. “Your Honor, you know I’ve never had a human of my own!”

The judge cat brought down the gavel. The cats would compete fairly, and whoever won the human’s heart could take him home! The judge included!

The cats’ eyes lit up. They went home to practice their sweet, high-pitched meows, study human-care guides, and master the art of cuddling and rolling over. They were determined to beat the other cats and win this human!

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Chun Li was troubled.

In this world, ruled by cats, humans were rare and precious, and had become prized pets.

It was undoubtedly a paradise for cat lovers.

Unfortunately, Chun Li was a little afraid of cats.

Faced with one giant cat after another showering him with attention and bringing him dried mice and all sorts of strange things, Chun Li could only cry, “Nooo! Stay away from me! QAQ”

1. The protagonist is adored by everyone and loved by all the cats!

2. A cozy slice of life.

3. The cats never turn into humans.

Theme: Companionship is the greatest love.