Drowning in Summer

[Please add my next novel, What Do You Think of Me?, to your reading list! Blurb at the very bottom.]

#You're Just My Older Brother#

Xu Zhouchen has loved Shen Sui'an for as long as he can remember.

Back in elementary school, Xu Zhouchen followed Shen Sui'an around every day, trailing after him like a little shadow.

No one looked after Xu Zhouchen, so whenever he got hungry, he'd go to the Shen family for a meal. He and Shen Sui'an even raised a puppy together.

Shen Sui'an had always seemed more mature than his age, and he played the part of the dependable older boy next door perfectly for Xu Zhouchen.

Xu Zhouchen loved him carefully, afraid to say it out loud. All he could do was write his feelings down, stroke by stroke, in his diary.

Then one day, the class troublemakers snatched the diary. They were at that rowdy age, and laughing and joking, they took it to Shen Sui'an's classroom and read it aloud to him.

Shen Sui'an didn't react much. He only patted Xu Zhouchen on the head and said,

"I'm your older brother."

At first, Xu Zhouchen was relieved. But soon, he noticed Shen Sui'an deliberately keeping his distance.

The distance showed in every little thing, as if he and his feelings were some kind of terrifying monster everyone wanted to avoid.

Later, Xu Zhouchen was taken away by his father.

Shen Sui'an went to school and came home as usual. There was simply no one following two steps behind him anymore. It was as if nothing had changed.

Yet sometimes, someone would come to mind. The longing was like a thorn in his heart, hurting whenever he touched it.

When they met again, Xu Zhouchen was a famous young master in Nanjiang. There was no one or anything he was afraid to offend, and the boyfriends by his side came and went one after another.

Shen Sui'an still looked the same as ever, as if he had never changed. He took care of Xu Zhouchen when he was drunk and tried to keep him from smoking and drinking. But unlike before, he would also hold Xu Zhouchen in his arms and tell him he loved him.

Xu Zhouchen didn't take him seriously. He gave a faint laugh and said,

"Shen Sui'an, I don't go back to my exes."

Shen Sui'an showed no particular emotion. He simply said,

"You don't have to come back. I'll come to you."

Xu Zhouchen forced a smile and pushed him away.

"Forget it. You're just my older brother."

A cool, big gray wolf who puts away his fangs only for his little hedgehog x a sensitive little hedgehog

[Please, I'm begging the hardcore purists to stop picking at my setup without even reading the story. The protagonist is not a playboy. His relationships aren't serious romances, and there's no emotional foundation at all. Before he starts seeing someone, he talks it over with them, and only begins if they understand and still insist on being together. He's just trying to build intimacy and find a sense of belonging. His personality means he wouldn't be intimate with someone without an emotional connection. Could you stop being so possessive about other people's protagonists' sexual experience? You spend every day checking whether the top or bottom is a virgin or has slept with anyone, then launch into attacks. Stop acting like an emperor and throwing every author who doesn't meet your standards into prison.]

[Reader's Guide]

1. One-to-one romance, bottom-focused, happy ending.

2. The bottom is not the top's first love. He has had lots of ex-boyfriends!

3. The top isn't a jerk. Neither character is perfect.

4. Extensive flashbacks.

5. 2021-8-19

Pre-release: What Do You Think of Me?

Lu Yao, the sole young master of the Lu family in the capital, was born at the top of the world, radiant and dazzling.

Then, when he was nineteen, his family fell apart and both his parents died. After he returned to China, everyone around him seemed like a wolf or a tiger, coveting his assets and company.

Lu Yao couldn't be bothered with the hassle. He needed someone to deal with all that for him, such as his uncle-by-marriage, Lu Yunchuan, who wasn't related to him by blood.

To outsiders, Lu Yunchuan was ruthless and calculating. Countless people warned Lu Yao to stay away from him, not to trust him, and to watch out for being tricked.

But Lu Yao didn't care.

He wasn't interested in the assets or the family business, and he didn't think anyone could outplay him. More importantly, he was very interested in Lu Yunchuan.

The man had a slim waist, long legs, and flawless looks. He'd make an ideal partner of a certain kind.

Besides, Lu Yao was sure Lu Yunchuan was a little interested in him, too.

Once he was sure, Lu Yao slipped his arms around Lu Yunchuan's neck one day, his voice laced with teasing and invitation.

"Uncle, what do you think of me?"

-

Lu Yunchuan, the Lu family's adopted son, was handsome and cold. Countless people wanted to get close to him, but things never ended well for them.

One day, a suitor used work as an excuse to visit Lu Yunchuan's office, only for the secretary to say that Director Lu wasn't in.

"But I saw him come in!"

Sitting on Lu Yunchuan's desk, Lu Yao listened to the commotion outside.

He frowned impatiently and gave Lu Yunchuan's hair a little tug.

"Hey, someone's looking for you."

Lu Yunchuan raised his head and caught Lu Yao's mischievous hand. His voice was slightly hoarse.

"I'm not seeing anyone. I'm busy."

A love cheat who doesn't realize it x a seemingly experienced but unexpectedly innocent big puppy

A beautiful, alluring bottom who looks like he'll make you think he's in love with you x a fierce-looking, outwardly cold but inwardly warm, domineering and loyal top

*Seven-year age gap

The top and bottom are not blood relatives. Physical first, feelings later.

Theme: Be self-reliant and treat everyone sincerely