The Sly Little White Flower Acts Around Me Every Day

[Blurb]

The first time he saw the little white flower, Lu Chen was being beaten in the street by his aunt. He was grimacing with pain when their eyes met.

The little white flower looked rather aloof, like an indifferent bystander.

The second time he saw the little white flower, Lu Chen was still being beaten in the street by his aunt.

The little white flower continued to watch the show, enjoying the spectacle.

The third time he saw the little white flower, Lu Chen was once again...

The little white flower's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Lu Chen: ...?!

Fine, you won't help, but you still have to laugh at me?!

So that day, the little tyrant gathered most of the class and went to the little white flower's home to cause trouble.

The seven-year-old brat leaned back like a lord, crossed his legs, pushed his sunglasses up his nose, and gave the little white flower the fiercest look he could muster!

The little white flower: What do you want?

The little tyrant said nothing.

The little white flower gave him a leftover pancake from lunch.

The little tyrant: What for? Trying to get rid of a beggar?

That night, Lu Chen's aunt suspected him of stealing money, beat him up, and kicked him out of the house.

The little boy stood crying in the freezing snow: Boohoo... Big brother, I was wrong.

When he was seven, a door, wrapped in the warmth of spring, opened a crack for a lost child on a long, snow-beaten night.

When he was ten, a boy in slippers walked dozens of miles across town, searching until he found the child stuck in the mud and pulled him into his arms.

When he was eleven, Lu Chen welcomed the first year in which he and his big brother had only each other.

Once, Lu Chen thought he would spend his whole life with Gu Beifei.

Until the year Gu Beifei started college, when he stood in front of Lu Chen with a girl in tow.

Gu Beifei: Chenchen, say hello to your sister-in-law.

Lu Chen: ...

To get back at Gu Beifei, Lu Chen found himself a girlfriend too.

Lu Chen: Big brother, this is your little brother's girlfriend.

Gu Beifei: ...

Later...

Lu Chen's girlfriend: Sis, do you think Zhang Fei would call Liu Bei "big brother" like that?

Gu Beifei's girlfriend: Little sis, do you think Liu Bei would hug Zhang Fei like that?

The two looked at each other.

Lu Chen's girlfriend: You're faking it?

Gu Beifei's girlfriend: So are you?

#Mutually putting on an act# #Mutual unrequited love#

#Mutual healing# #Torturing each other until their hair turns white#

Ever since he was seven, Lu Chen had one wish: when he grew up, Gu Beifei would be his wife.

Determined to maintain his resolve to be the one on top, he kept a buzz cut for ten years.

Until that day, when Lu Chen stroked, inch by inch, the little white flower he'd carefully nurtured for ten years. "Gu Beifei, with skin this soft and a face this pretty, you were born to be my wife. You know that, right?"

And then...

There was no then.

Lu Chen: ...Big brother?!

Gu Beifei: But I want to see Chenchen cry~

Lu Chen: ...???!!!

The original title of this novel was Springtime at the Door.

A 1v1 childhood-friends healing story, with mutual unrequited love and a slow-burn romance.

The story alternates between timelines. N marks the beginning of a present-day chapter, and P marks the beginning of a chapter set in the past.

Yes, they're both strong characters. Chen'er is very much an alpha, but he can't help being a crybaby. One little thing and he starts crying.

#Even a buzz-cut tough guy can be as tender as water. His big brother says you can squeeze water out of him#

Lu Chen: ?

[Pay attention]

* The seme is a third-year college student, and the uke is in their second year of high school. They're both students! The seme is not a teacher at the affiliated high school!

* They're both adults, they aren't on the same household registration, and they're not related by blood. They're just two people living together!

* There is angst, with a tragic family background but a sweet romance. Angst first, then a happy ending.

* The older brother has a girlfriend at first and needs time to realize his feelings. The girlfriends are there to help them along.

Theme: Never give up hope for life, no matter when.