Everyday Life in the Mountains with My Childhood Friend

Blunt and guileless marriage-seeking young man * Tsundere, teasing, retired soldier

Sang Ye is an orphan who keeps his cottage on the cliff in immaculate order. He raises chickens in the backyard and keeps fish in the pond out front. His vegetable patch is always abundant, and the sea of clouds and sunrise are part of everyday life.

He doesn't want to leave this perfect home to marry into someone else's family.

When Sang Ye announces that he wants a husband to marry into his family, everyone laughs at him. An orphan from the mountains with barely an acre of land wants a live-in son-in-law? Even if he were beautiful enough to be a fairy, that wouldn't put food on the table.

They laugh that Sang Ye's ambitions are sky-high, while his status is lower than grass.

He's met every willing candidate from the surrounding villages, but none has caught his eye. He's picky even about a live-in husband.

The aunties all worry for him and urge him to lower his standards. Qin Zhao, who recently returned from military service, seems like a decent choice.

Sang Ye: Qin Zhao?

When they were children, Qin Zhao was bathing in the river when Sang Ye stole his clothes and hung them high in a tree.

When Qin Zhao went to relieve himself in the fields, Sang Ye sent a dog after him.

And in front of the whole village, young and old, Sang Ye beat Qin Zhao until he ran for his life.

He wouldn't want that defeated little mouse of a boy.

But once he sees Qin Zhao in person, with his long, powerful arms, narrow waist, long legs, broad shoulders, and impressive chest, Sang Ye says, "Brother, would you consider marrying into my family?"

Qin Zhao, cold-faced: "Even a dog wouldn't marry you."

When the village children played house as kids, Qin Zhao never got to play Sang Ye's husband. They once had a huge fight over it, becoming each other's only nemesis in the village.

Years later, Sang Ye still can't find a husband and wants someone to marry into his family. Qin Zhao thinks his chance for revenge has finally come.

Later, the little cottage on the cliff looks like a paradise from afar, with bright chrysanthemums beside the bamboo fence, chickens and ducks all over the yard, dogs barking as children chase one another and laugh. Life is lively and prosperous.

Sang Ye lies on a bamboo chair, swinging his legs, when a pair of strong, muscular arms lifts him into the air.

In broad daylight, you shameless lecher! Sang Ye glares at him. "Put me down, Qin Big Dog!"

Qin Zhao: "Woof, woof! No!"

He'll never let him go, not in this lifetime.

He'd already spent a lifetime getting revenge. How could he possibly let go?

Content warning: The bottom is a straightforward, carefree puppy with no filter. The top is a tsundere who pursues, teases, and rejects him because of his personality. There will be plenty of back-and-forth, and they won't get together until around 100,000 words. Related off-topic comments will be deleted.

"The Villain's Doomed Young Betrothed"

Older, passionate, and energetic bottom * Young, seemingly innocent but secretly calculating, nurturing top

College student Lin Xiling dies saving someone and transmigrates into a book as the child bride of a treacherous, powerful minister.

The villain Xie Wen shares a clan with the protagonist. He drains his entire clan's wealth to study and make his way up, then turns around and severs ties with them.

Once he's in power, he despises his lowborn child bride and torments him to death. After placing first in the imperial examinations, he also gets himself a bride by being seized at the exam site. A selfish social climber, he uses his connections to become a minister who holds the court in his grasp.

Lin Xiling just wants to close his eyes and die again.

But he doesn't. A scruffy little boy holds out a bowl of black porridge and says anxiously, "Big brother, please don't die. Eat a bite and you won't be hungry."

"I know you don't want to marry me. When I break away from my family, I'll get your indenture papers back for you too. Then you'll be free to go wherever you like and do as you please."

"A true man must know when to bend and when to stand firm. You mustn't give up on yourself."

The ten-year-old future villain's bright, determined eyes and every word and gesture already show his gentle, upright nature.

How could such a good, pitiful child possibly be a great villain?

Just because he's not the protagonist doesn't mean you can slander him!

A jobless graduate, Lin Xiling starts a business in this other world, selling food at a street stall. He and young Xie Wen build their business from a tiny stall to a grand restaurant, while Xie Wen becomes the top provincial graduate.

As Xie Wen grows up, Lin Xiling increasingly feels as if there's a dangerous ghost lurking behind him, making him uneasy.

A group of parents bring their children to Xie Wen for a cinnabar blessing to open their minds.

Xie Wen dips his brush in cinnabar and marks Lin Xiling's forehead. "I'll open Xixi's heart to love, or how will he realize that a racing heart is love, not a heart attack?"

Lin Xiling touches his forehead, his face slowly turning red.

Later, Xie Wen places first in the imperial examinations, serves as a local official, guards the frontier, and eventually becomes chief grand secretary. Lin Xiling stands by his side the whole way, building a business empire that reaches across the seas.

Lin Xiling goes from an impulsive, inexperienced young man to a composed and capable business magnate.

There's just one thing he'll never get used to.

He clutches his aching back and kicks Xie Wen away. This clingy pest is a real pain in the waist! Weren't you supposed to despise your poor wife and torment him?

#He meant to raise a child with passion, but somehow ended up clinging to the great villain's coattails?#

Theme: Be your own sun, and the whole world will kiss you back.