Pretending to Be Gentle

★

Since middle school, Jing Yu had often heard his classmates talk about Shi Xingyun from No. 6 High School.

The top scorer in the city, a perennial winner of all kinds of awards, and, most importantly, incredibly handsome.

He was a godlike figure in the hearts of countless students in Pingcheng.

The first time Jing Yu saw Shi Xingyun, the boy was dressed in a simple, clean white shirt and black trousers, leaning lazily against a desk with an indifferent expression.

Jing Yu was captivated at first sight, and his heart stirred in secret.

Later, an unexpected transfer brought him face-to-face with Shi Xingyun again. Jing Yu hid his cold heart and tried hard to put on a gentle, obedient front.

It wasn't long before Shi Xingyun caught him sleeping in class, skipping lessons to play games, and arranging a fight with someone by the back gate.

"I can explain," Jing Yu said quietly, lowering his long lashes.

Shi Xingyun's face was cold. "You might as well start dating someone already."

Jing Yu immediately protested, "I-I haven't..."

"You could," Shi Xingyun interrupted softly.

Before Jing Yu could ask what he meant, the boy suddenly came closer, backing him into a corner until there was nowhere to run. Lowering his eyes to meet Jing Yu's, he asked, "You could date someone, but could it be me?"

Jing Yu froze. His heartbeat instantly went out of control.

*

When you're young, once you've seen grand fireworks, it's hard to bear walking alone through the dark again.

Jing Yu

Gentle, world-weary bottom x devoted, loyal-dog top

Mutual unrequited love, bittersweet romance

My novel After Going Viral, I Quit the Entertainment Industry is currently updating. If you're interested, head to my profile and add it to your collection. Kisses~

In the ninth year of the Republic, Xu Xingzhou was born into a distinguished family and grew up in comfort and luxury.

But as he watched his homeland fall apart, China scarred by war and suffering, with hell on earth everywhere he looked, Xu Xingzhou burned with anger and resolutely devoted himself to serving his country.

He was not yet twenty when he gave his life for his country.

*

When he opened his eyes, Xu Xingzhou had crossed a century of time and transmigrated into the body of a spoiled, willful young master from a wealthy family.

The young master had dropped out of school early to enter the entertainment industry, hoping to use his family's connections to become a pretty face.

After several years, despite having access to every resource, the young master had managed to give audiences lackluster performances, wooden acting, and an affected variety-show persona with expressions all over the place.

His public image was so bad that apart from the fake fans his agency paid for, the entire internet hated him. Even dogs shook their heads at the sight of him.

So when his identity as a fake young master was exposed and his wealthy parents threw him out, he got not a shred of sympathy.

Every business partner also demanded to terminate their contracts with him at once.

The day Xu Xingzhou transmigrated, the director of a variety show that was already halfway through filming called and insisted he be replaced.

Just as everyone waited to see him kicked off the show, Xu Xingzhou, who had been slumped dejectedly in a lounge chair the moment before, suddenly welled up with tears. Overcome with emotion, he picked up the guzheng, pipa, bamboo flute, paixiao, and big drum the production team had prepared, and played The Internationale on each one in turn.

"???"

The director froze on the spot, then hurriedly blurted into the phone, "L-Let's not replace him just yet!"

On the day the episode aired, fans from every camp gathered early in the official account's comments to complain:

"He's in this episode too?"

"How does he have the nerve to keep filming?"

"Genuine question: can this talentless dropout even tell traditional instruments apart?"

"I pray every day that he stops shamelessly piggybacking on my idol's fame."

Two hours later, the screen was filled with question marks.

On screen

The traditional-instrument virtuoso invited by the production team wouldn't let go of Xu Xingzhou's hand.

The other guests, including an award-winning actor, a top-tier star, a singer, a screenwriter, and a business mogul, began looking at him differently.

That night, the show shot to the top of the trending charts, and the haters got their comeuppance.

Later, Xu Xingzhou's exquisite calligraphy and paintings, his fluency in eight languages, his extraordinary ability to appraise antiques, and his nimble fighting skills, powerful enough to kill a bull with one punch...

left audiences speechless time and again.

Xu Xingzhou went viral overnight, and business partners rushed to ask him to sign new contracts.

But he simply replied, "No thanks. I'm planning to quit the industry and go to college."

The investors who had been preparing to pour resources into him: "?"

The award-winning actors, top-tier stars, singers, and screenwriters who'd been eagerly waiting to work with him: "??"

The hapless fans who'd just become devoted followers: "???"

Only the universities were overjoyed, competing to extend offers to Xu Xingzhou.

*

Reborn into a new life, having seen with his own eyes the peaceful, prosperous new world that countless young patriots had dreamed of as they gave their lives and shed their blood, Xu Xingzhou wanted only to help build a beautiful China.

Unfortunately, his predecessor had been thrown out of the family home, stripped of all his possessions, and had nowhere to stay once filming ended.

He heard that one of the guests was an ordinary person, free from the constraints of fans and able to do as he pleased. Xu Xingzhou went to him directly and asked if he could stay over.

Lu Shuangting's lazy expression faded. Intrigued by Xu Xingzhou's utterly sincere gaze, he found himself taking the man home.

Two months later, Xu Xingzhou received his pay, packed his things, and prepared to go rent a place.

Lu Shuangting blocked the bedroom door, his handsome face cold and his voice plaintive. "Am I not good enough? Why don't you want me anymore?"

A cold, cocky man who secretly loves to act cute, gets jealous, and clings to his sweetheart x a free-spirited, refined young patriot from a truly wealthy family

Completed works in my profile

Danmei: I Dumped the CEO's White Moonlight and Got a Happy Ending with the Movie Emperor; I'm Jealous, but I Won't Say It

Historical danmei: The Demon Venerable Became My Disciple

All complete and ready to binge. Kisses~

Premise: Leave the darkness behind and embrace the beauty of the world