Blurb:
Tao Shu lived for eighteen years before learning that his world was a coming-of-age angst novel. The novel's mad-dog male lead, the type who says, "If the world treats me unfairly, I'll take a bite out of it," lives right next door. And Tao Shu thinks that kid is more of a beagle.
*
Strong and sturdy:
On his mom's orders, Tao Shu went to pick up Jiang Yu, a sophomore in high school, after class and bring him home for dinner. By the time he ambled up the stairs, he spotted a tall teenager landing one punch after another halfway up the staircase. Noticing Tao Shu watching, the boy, whose bruises were barely hidden by bandages at the corner of his eye and mouth, challengingly shook his fist.
"What are you looking at? Got a problem?"
*
Neurotic and yappy:
Once again on his mom's orders, in the middle of a deep-winter night, Tao Shu rode his electric scooter around the bar district, searching carefully. Passing an alley, he saw Jiang Yu surrounded by people. This time, one of them was just about to punch him.
Tao Shu hurried over to mediate, but the guy behind him kept tugging at him, running his mouth and hurling insults nonstop. The other side was furious, and Tao Shu was getting worked up just listening to him.
"I don't need you meddling! Get lost!"
A little cross-shaped vein popped on Tao Shu's temple. He threw the guy over his shoulder, then crouched to look at him grimacing in pain and smiled.
"Had enough?"
A dozen minutes later, the guy who had just gotten back up was thrown to the ground again. This time, he couldn't even move a finger (he was exhausted), but his eyes were bright and he kept talking, sounding even more excited.
"Keep going! Come on!"
Tao Shu couldn't help rolling his eyes. He grabbed the guy by the collar and plopped him onto the back of his electric scooter. He gave the future female lead, standing nearby with her phone in hand and looking stunned, an apologetic smile, then puttered all the way home with the guy.
*
Food-guarding:
By chance, Tao Shu and the future female lead were assigned by their teacher to host the school's pre-exam performance. Every day after class, they practiced their lines in a pavilion beneath the little hill on campus.
Then one day, the girl had a hypoglycemic episode and was so dizzy she could barely stand. Tao Shu had just helped her up when a figure jumped down from a nearby tree, fixing them with a dark gaze.
"If you're practicing lines, then practice lines! Why are you getting handsy?"
Tao Shu helplessly stepped away, thinking that kid was pretty possessive. He didn't notice the increasingly dark, awkward expression on the face of the person in the distance.
*
Watching yet another beauty come over to flirt, only to be glared away by someone in the booth, Tao Shu's friend draped an arm over his shoulder and teased him.
"Your name's Tao Shu, like a peach tree, but you only grow leaves. How come you never blossom?"
"Can't help it. I've got an evil beagle at home. It gets upset whenever it smells anything."
Sensing that the gaze from the booth had somehow landed on him, the friend sheepishly pulled his arm back and quietly gave Tao Shu a thumbs-up.
"Now that's some serious patience!"
Jiang Yu: Baby likes, baby pursues, baby gets.
Evil beagle gong * easygoing, patient shou
The serious version:
An outwardly fearless but actually pure-hearted gong * an easygoing shou who likes teasing cats and dogs
Theme: The pursuit of truth never stops!
