Almost as Unkind as You

Blurb: [Campus Arc] A transfer changed the fates of two boys. Before Pei Xiaohui had a chance to get his bearings at Zhongyang No. 1 High School, Qiao Xinggui's friends, sitting behind him, gave him a hostile welcome. Looking at the green liquid on his chair, Pei Xiaohui said coolly, "What a waste to pour out medicated oil. Give it to me, I'll drink it." Qiao Xinggui's eyes widened. He hurriedly asked, "Can you even drink that stuff?!" Qiao Xinggui knew the new student had fair skin, but he hadn't realized he was so handsome, too. As they shared an ordinary yet extraordinary school life, Qiao Xinggui made room in his heart for someone named Pei Xiaohui. Qiao Xinggui's wish became to improve a little every day, get into a university in the same city as Pei Xiaohui, and then start dating him. Though the character for "smile" is in Pei Xiaohui's name, he doesn't like talking, much less smiling, until a boy named Qiao Xinggui barges into his life. Qiao Xinggui is his light, illuminating the dreary days he once lived through. Pei Xiaohui can rank first in his year, but he's troubled by one question: why does everyone like Qiao Xinggui so much? The aloof top student getting jealous over love is quite a sight. After the relay race at sports day, Pei Xiaohui falls ill after giving his all to help his class place in the competition. At the hospital, Qiao Xinggui can't stop himself from kissing Pei Xiaohui on the forehead. The kiss isn't gentle, but it lasts a lifetime. [Reunion Arc] A wedding, a kiss, and a text bring Qiao Xinggui and Pei Xiaohui together again. At a classmate's wedding, Pei Xiaohui sits beside Qiao Xinggui, but neither of them says a word. Once the crowd has dispersed, Qiao Xinggui grabs Pei Xiaohui by the chin without a word, leans down, and kisses and bites him. The kiss isn't gentle, but it brings their hearts and bodies back to where they belong. Qiao Xinggui doesn't explain what he did. He runs away. But when Qiao Xinggui runs, Pei Xiaohui chases him. Qiao Xinggui won't get away, even if he had wings. The past gradually unfolds before Qiao Xinggui, and at last he learns the truth behind the secret that had given Pei Xiaohui leverage over him and forced him to leave back then. It turns out Pei Xiaohui is connected to the Qin family, a powerful family in Haishi that no one dares cross. After living a quiet life for twenty years, Pei Xiaohui discovers that he is the wealthy family's "real young master." Now the real young master wants to take on the real old master, and invites Qiao Xinggui to join him. Just as Qiao Xinggui is about to pull Pei Xiaohui back into his arms, Pei Xiaohui says he plans to get engaged to the rich young lady next door. Qiao Xinggui goes mad and bites Pei Xiaohui's lips again, shouting, "Pei Xixi, if you dare get engaged, I'll dare to crash the wedding!" Pei Xiaohui smiles. "All right. I'll wait for you to come take me away." Sunny, loyal puppy seme (Qiao Xinggui) x cold on the outside, warm on the inside, flirtatious uke (Pei Xiaohui) Reader's Notes: 1. Chapter guide: For the campus arc, start at Chapter 5. Chapters 1-4 are flashbacks to events after the reunion and can be read alongside Chapter 84 onward. The main story after the reunion starts after Chapter 86. 2. The school life takes place in high school more than ten years ago, not in schools today. The campus arc isn't about being a show-off, just ordinary school life. 3. There'll be some melodrama after the reunion. Theme: Study hard. Knowledge is power.