Who Wants to Be the Protagonist of a Romance?

This is a danmei romance.

Tags: Urban, Sweet Romance, Wealthy Family, Marriage First, Love Later

The weak and pitiful protagonist is forced by his family into a marriage alliance with the wealthy, much older protagonist gong, whose love life is notorious. At first, they keep out of each other's way, but eventually they are drawn to one another, fall truly in love, and reach a sweet, happy ending.

When the plot reaches the point where the protagonists have confessed their feelings and are about to have a deep exchange of body and soul, the protagonist shou is surprised to discover that...

The protagonist gong, a playboy who used to change lovers every week, could run into three exes at a single party, and was the subject of endless tabloid rumors, has never slept with anyone! He has even kept his first kiss!

"Everyone likes both leads to be inexperienced," a certain 'author' explained innocently. "A little inconsistency in the logic doesn't matter."

Gu Fang thinks logic matters very much.

...After all, he's the romance novel's protagonist gong, who has to be both debauched and pure.

Before the story officially begins, he has to lay the groundwork and become an outstanding protagonist-in-the-making: unstoppable in business and notorious in his love life.

As for how he can preserve himself for the protagonist shou while cultivating the image of a playboy who lives for pleasure...

Well, that calls for his close friend, whose extraordinary makeup skills let him change his face every week and pretend to be Gu Fang's boyfriend.

Though in the book his friend is just an insignificant psychological counselor, Gu Fang sees him as the person he trusts most.

Even as the characters' personalities keep collapsing, a hot-tempered antagonist inexplicably falls head over heels for him, his reliable secretary tries to get into his bed every day, and his doctor friend secretly keeps a darkroom full of his photos at home, Gu Fang never gives up.

Because he believes that with his friend's help, he can surely put everything that's gone off the rails back on track and lay the groundwork for the story to officially begin.

But since he has already caused his friend so much trouble, Gu Fang decides to soothe his friend's feelings first.

"I'll find my fated soulmate soon, and you won't have to pretend to be my boyfriend anymore," he tells his friend confidently. "These weekly dates where you have to pose as my boyfriend will be over before long!"

His friend's smile freezes. He raises his head, his gaze dark and unreadable.

"Don't worry," he says. "I won't pretend anymore."

TIPS:

1. An unconventional take on the universally adored protagonist trope.

2. Gu Fang is the shou (important note): this is a shou-centric story.

3. No mistaken identities, so don't worry~

Theme: Strive to be a civilized, well-behaved young person!