The River Opens in the Seventh and Ninth Months

[The "I want to revise this, but my procrastination got the better of me" edition...] Anything locked is half-revised but unfinished. I'll reopen it when it's done.

Yao Jiu, the ninth-generation heir to a family of stage actors, is beautiful and refined, with a gentle and kind nature.

After returning from studying abroad, Yao Jiu dives into the entertainment industry and becomes an actor. His superb acting earns praise from directors and veteran actors alike, who say, "He was born to do this." He quickly gains countless fans.

His mild, even-tempered personality and naturally gifted looks draw crowds of men and women, all boldly vying for his affection.

Yao Jiu pays them no mind. He even posts on Weibo to say that he has no plans to date in the coming years, and never will in the future.

Knowing his temperament, everyone believes him, thinking Yao Jiu might actually mean it.

Until one day, a photo surfaces online: Yao Jiu is being embraced by a mysterious man whose face is hidden, leaving only his back in view.

The whole internet erupts, with everyone speculating about the man's identity.

At a press conference, a reporter asks about the photo. Yao Jiu says coldly, "He's a pervert. He's harassing me."

Backstage, a strong arm pulls him into an embrace. Warm breath brushes his ear. "The pervert's back to harass you again."

Yao Jiu's heart pounds wildly, as if he has returned to his youth, when their eyes met and their bodies touched in a brightly lit theater as they performed a romantic play.

He abruptly pushes Yun Qi away, his voice cool. "Sorry, we don't know each other."

Yao Jiu thought he could forget that man, but he never expected to fall deeper and deeper, until he could no longer forget him.

Five years ago, Yao Jiu saw that Yun Qi was deeply in love with him, but he did not know that he had already fallen just as deeply.

When they meet again, Yao Jiu is a top-tier star, while the other man is an actor infamous for his scandals.

They reunite to star in a drama and promote their couple pairing.

Their feelings grow both on and off screen. Their pretend romance becomes real, and their livestream interviews are full of sweet moments. Before long, they're all over the internet.

Netizens: The couple I ship is real?

Waaaah, please get married right now!

Aaaah, they're so sweet! I ship them! Fine, I ship them!

Someone get the marriage bureau over here, now!

Meanwhile, in private, Yun Qi pins the refined performing artist against the back alley of their old school, his gaze dark.

"You made me fall for you, and now you want to run?"

[Reader Notice]

A little sweet, a little angsty. At first: aloof, proud bottom x clueless, straight top. Later: calculating, yandere bottom x irritable, depressed top. The bottom has a split personality and is prone to injury. The top is rebellious yet devoted, and only has eyes for him. A little chasing-the-wife-to-the-crematorium, a little realization-that-it's-actually-great.

◎ This story is entirely fictional. Please don't read it as autobiographical.

Cover credit:

Thanks to the artist who took the commission to draw the background~ (I won't thank the artist for the original character design, since I made it myself...)

(He's an OC from Little Fox's household, not one I just picked up somewhere, QAQ.)

Milestones:

[Written in a mad dash in 2021 or 2022. It's been too long, and I don't want to look it up...]

[Started: 2022.7.25]

[Completed: 2022.11.23]

Theme: There are so many places and things in this world waiting for us to protect them