After We Agreed to Date, My Aloof Childhood Friend and I

Qiao Fengbai gets into a car accident on his way to a concert. When he opens his eyes again, he's back ten years in the past.

Standing before him is his childhood friend Fu Boqian, whom he hasn't seen in ten years. In front of them lies a contract for a one-year fake relationship between the two of them. The contract will end when the dating reality show wraps up.

In his previous life, he was young and hotheaded. He thought the contract was an insult, so he left for another country and didn't return for ten years.

Only later did he learn that things weren't what they seemed.

After Qiao Fengbai rejected him, Fu Boqian's company forced him into a pairing with someone else. On the show, that person clung to Fu Boqian and used him for fame, leaving him vilified across the internet and nearly costing him his life.

Given another chance, Qiao Fengbai looks at the contract and signs without hesitation.

This time, he'll make sure Fu Boqian's career goes smoothly.

What's more, he'll start an entertainment company and rescue Fu Boqian from that hellish place.

But in the end...

How did their one-year fake relationship turn into an agreement with no end date?

*

After agreeing to pretend to date, the two join the hottest dating reality show around.

The show claims to bring ordinary people and celebrities together in the most genuine way, but behind the scenes, the producers assign everyone a script and force all kinds of dramatic moments, getting each fandom and its haters to tear into one another online while the show reaps the traffic.

The production team had planned to do the same this time, but they hadn't counted on running into two people who refuse to play by the rules.

Scene One:

Director: According to your setup, you need to invite Civilian Contestant Number Three to dinner this time.

Fu Boqian nods, then arranges a date for four and only responds to Qiao Fengbai, ignoring everyone else.

The two other guests nearby: I feel so unnecessary.

Scene Two:

Director: For this game, you have to team up with Celebrity Contestant Number Five.

Qiao Fengbai nods, then negotiates a team switch, successfully pairing up with Fu Boqian and taking first place.

Director: ...I'm done.

*

The dating show ends ahead of schedule, but the two's contract doesn't end with it.

Fu Boqian, who's always aloof in public, turns shameless around Qiao Fengbai. He clings to him without letting go, his voice full of grievance.

"Fengbai, we've already kissed. You have to take responsibility for me."

"What are you talking about? When did we ever kiss?"

"Kindergarten."

Qiao Fengbai: ...Does something that happened in kindergarten even count?

A cool, reborn bottom who charms people without realizing it x a reborn top who's aloof to everyone else, soft only with him, and completely shameless

Mutual crush x each other's first love x childhood friends

[Blurb written on 2022-08-28, revised on 2022-11-29. It may be revised again later.]

Theme: Cherish the present and don't leave yourself with regrets