Drinking Ice Amidst Raging Flames

No one knows that Ning Zhiqiu, the once-renowned screenwriter, was once the "adopted son" of a wealthy family abroad.

After escaping the dark basement in Dallas and leaving behind his deranged adoptive father, Fu Yunjian, Ning Zhiqiu's greatest wish in life was to stab the whole world to death.

But Screenwriter Ning is a cultured man who promotes good morals and new customs. His priority is to be a respectable, law-abiding citizen.

If he can't take down the world, then he may as well take himself down. So he chooses to starve himself.

Unfortunately, his actor classmate returns to the country.

Ning's plans are cut short, and his hunger strike comes to an abrupt end.

Jiang Bieyan has an excessively handsome face and a pair of laughing, flirtatious eyes.

Like the world's most blazing fire, he throws himself at the ice with everything he has.

He presses a spoonful of food to Ning Zhiqiu's lips, his tone gentle, his threat shameless:

"Eat, or eat me. Your choice."

"..." Ning Zhiqiu's hands are tied behind his back with a silk scarf. He silently opens his mouth.

"Why did you come back?" Ning Zhiqiu can't make sense of it. He remembers that Jiang Bieyan's career is all overseas.

The movie star only smiles without answering. Knowing that Ning is sensitive to the cold, he turns up the air conditioning.

Another midsummer.

Ning Zhiqiu draws his bow and nocks an arrow. A cold, murderous intent spreads as the bright arrowhead pierces the bull's-eye.

The stepfather who abused him jumps to his death.

The villain who killed his mother dies in a car crash.

His hypocritical enemy suffers in hell.

And broken Ning Zhiqiu is still alive.

"Is this your script?" Jiang Bieyan asks him.

Ning Zhiqiu says nothing. He thinks the other man will turn away in fear the next second.

But Jiang Bieyan simply takes his hand and holds it tightly, just as he always does.

"Would I be honored to have a role in your script?" He kisses Ning's eyelids, devout and humble. "Your Majesty."

Ning Zhiqiu lifts his eyelids and lowers his bow. The ice remains cold and sharp.

Jiang Bieyan gently draws him into his arms. He hears the ice silently melt.

Ning Zhiqiu walks ahead, cold and distant. "I want to stab the whole world to death and leave just one person alive."

Jiang Bieyan catches up and takes his wrist with a grip he could easily escape. "Who?" he asks.

Like a breeze, Ning Zhiqiu lets himself be led along, then glances back. "You."

--

"If all the gods and Buddhas close their eyes, then I will be your god."

*

1. A dashing scoundrel of a devoted husband seme x a truly bitter, tragic, beautiful, and powerful uke; a Border Collie and a rose in midsummer

2. Not a professional writer. The uke's experiences are the focus, with flashbacks to his past; the plot follows his revenge and his takedown of scumbags.

3. Melodramatic. The romance takes center stage early on, for about 70,000 words; the plot takes over in the middle and later sections. The whole novel is already written. Everything is sweet except the parts that aren't! (That's redundant, I know.) The main couple's romance is sweet.

Here's a recommendation for my currently updating novel, Breaking Dawn~

The newly arrived "connected hire" at the city bureau is young, but acts like a veteran civil servant.

He works nine to five every day and never works overtime.

Goji berries in the morning, red dates in the afternoon, and a regular reader of Mao's works to cultivate his character.

Xie Xun has had his eye on him for ages.

Morning check-ins, evening visits, and invitations to dinner every few days.

At last, he manages to coax Tan Yao into working overtime to help.

Master Tan's arrival gets immediate results.

To show his gratitude, Captain Xie decides through tearful eyes to offer himself in marriage.

To pursue Master Tan,

he's ready to check in morning and night, fuss over him, wear women's clothes, and send roses.

One afternoon, after a case is wrapped up,

Xie Xun arrives at Tan Yao's door dressed to the nines. "Baby, will you take me home? I'm a professional at keeping you warm in bed and I can cook. I've got money, looks, and a loving heart."

Tan Yao expressionlessly slams the door in his face.

The dignified unit captain loses all semblance of dignity on the spot.

He clings to the side of the door, pounding and crying. "Open up, husband! You had the nerve to leave me and the kids, so have the nerve to open the door! Waaah!"

Tan Yao spends ten days and nights trying to figure out

how Xie Xun can wear women's clothes without a hint of embarrassment, while he himself has shamefully fallen for it.

*

1. A macho, playful drama queen of an seme x a cool, health-conscious uke who acts like a veteran civil servant

2. There are cases, but probably not much deduction. It's all made up and highly unprofessional; the world is saved by fast-talking.

3. Settings lightly revised on September 23, 2023. Originally titled Part-Time Negotiator. The timeline is moved to two years after Blazing Fire, Freezing Ice. Anti-corruption and criminal investigation, old-school style, with a limited-edition VIP flashback arc.

Theme: Understanding the meaning of love and responsibility as we grow.