Can You Stop Pretending?

In the second semester of his sophomore year, Xia Xun transfers to Nancheng High School with his stepmother, who has remarried.

On his first day, Xia Xun is walking past an alley after school with a lollipop in his mouth when he spots a tall figure surrounded by a crowd.

Just as he's about to go over and watch, the boy punches one little thug to the ground, then kicks another, a blond, flying three meters away.

The boy wipes the blood from the corner of his mouth and turns around. The lollipop falls from Xia Xun's mouth.

Damn, isn't that his supposedly model-student stepbrother?

*

That evening, the two formally meet at the villa.

Xia Xun gives him a fake smile. "Nice to meet you. This is certainly memorable."

Lu Yu adjusts his gold-rimmed glasses and returns a gentle, polite smile. "Don't worry. Your big brother will take good care of you."

But after Xia Xun finishes showering, the moment he steps out, he's pinned behind the door.

His stepbrother, the school's top student, lowers his lashes and says nonchalantly, "Since we're living under the same roof, I hope we can stay out of each other's way."

Xia Xun lifts his damp face. "And if I don't?"

Lu Yu's eyes are fathomless. "You're welcome to find out."

*

Xia Xun soon realizes his stepbrother is a sanctimonious hypocrite. He smokes and drinks in private, yet puts on the act of a model big brother in front of their parents.

Naturally, Xia Xun refuses to back down. Whenever he gets the chance, he trips him up.

They act like the perfect brothers, but behind the scenes, they're constantly at each other's throats, the air between them crackling with tension every day.

Until one day, someone makes a very public confession to Xia Xun at school.

Lu Yu frowns, coldly sends the suitor packing, and drags Xia Xun away.

Xia Xun struggles. "Even if you were my real brother, you still couldn't tell me who I can date!"

Lu Yu grits his teeth. "If you're so eager to date, then date me."

Xia Xun stares at him in shock. "Have you lost your mind?"

Lu Yu pins him tightly against his chest, his voice restrained yet surging with emotion. "I lost my mind the moment I met you..."

A gorgeous, proud bottom who fights back when challenged x a refined, scheming top who carefully lays his plans

They aren't on the same household registration, and they aren't related by blood.

Theme: Love can dissolve prejudice