After Reuniting with My Childhood Friend

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Next novel: Is the Scum Top Getting His Crematorium Today? Blurb below

*Mutual pining x cat-and-dog romance

Gentle, composed beauty x bold, carefree big puppy

A new boy arrived at Yushan Orphanage. He was handsome, but didn't like to talk and had a terrible temper. He bit anyone who came near him, and wore his hair in a braid at the back, like a girl.

Qi Mu was the first to run over and show him some kindness, only to be shoved flat on his back. So he quickly backed off and didn't speak to him for a long time.

But he was softhearted after all. Later, he saw the boy cornered by the river, with people pointing at him and calling him a freak, a mute who brought bad luck.

Unable to stand by, Qi Mu beat them all up, then complained, “Why don't you fight back when they insult you?”

The little monster's clothes were torn to shreds, revealing skinny arms and legs. He looked at Qi Mu with damp eyes, pitiful for some inexplicable reason.

Qi Mu dropped his stick and wiped away his tears. “Forget it. From now on, you're with me.”

*

When they met again later, their circumstances had completely reversed.

On his way home from school, Qi Mu was cornered in an alley by admirers of the school belle. He was outnumbered and about to be beaten to a pulp.

Suddenly, the screech of brakes rang out

A tall boy stood against the light, casually rolling his wrist. His expression was arrogant and carefree. “What, ganging up on one person?”

The troublemakers were beaten and ran off. Qi Mu recognized the newcomer as a transfer student in his class. According to their homeroom teacher, he was the only son of the city's real estate tycoon, and the youth roller-skating champion this year.

He was worlds apart from a poor student like Qi Mu, who lived on scholarships.

Qi Mu thanked him and turned to leave, but the boy shoved him back into a corner.

The boy leaned down slightly and straightened Qi Mu's crumpled collar. Then, without warning, he bit down viciously on the corner of Qi Mu's mouth, his canine teeth rubbing against it as they shared a kiss tinged with blood.

*

Qi Mu had once said that he didn't like dating anyone younger than himself. Then, at his later gathering to celebrate being taken, someone asked him, “Damn, how'd you end up dating a younger guy? And you're the bottom?”

Qi Mu laughed, then looked up at the boy not far away, helping him fend off drinks and glancing back at him from time to time.

#A chance meeting, and childhood sweethearts too.

#It's fine if the puppy gets lost, because he'll find his way back on his own.

[Reading Guide]

1. The story uses flashbacks, alternating between “past” and “now.”

2. The story leans realistic. The breakups are caused by the pressures of life and reality, and neither protagonist is at fault on principle.

3. This is not purely a school story, so the school setting tag has been removed.

4. Updates follow the rankings before serialization, then daily after serialization. I'll give a day's notice if anything comes up.

Upcoming

[The story begins after he is recognized by his parents. There are two breakups early on, followed by a grand funeral procession later.]

*Innocent, guileless wolf-boy bottom x cunning, scheming, dark-hearted top

Blurb:

Yan Qiu was raised among wolves from childhood. After Qin Ran brought him home, he lived with him for three years.

Qin Ran liked holding him as they slept. He would hug him when he came home, leave kiss marks on his ears, and crouch down to tie his shoes before heading out.

For those three years, Yan Qiu was obedient and sensible. He did whatever Qin Ran said and never refused him, no matter what he wanted.

Until Qin Ran's birthday that year. Yan Qiu had prepared a surprise well in advance, but then he heard Qin Ran's friends say, “Qin Ran, are you still not tired of playing with that stuttering kid? Don't go falling for him.”

Qin Ran found it rather amusing. “How could I? Once I get what I want from him, he can get lost.”

The group burst into laughter. Hiding outside the door, Yan Qiu felt his hands and feet go cold.

So the kindness he thought he saw had all been an illusion. Qin Ran had spun a web to gain his trust. It had all been a trick.

*

After Yan Qiu left, Qin Ran's life didn't change much. In the eyes of his friends, he was still doing brilliantly.

But in a corner where no one could see him, Qin Ran returned again and again to the house where Yan Qiu had once lived. He lay on the bed they had shared, but could no longer find any trace of Yan Qiu.

*

The news reported that the long-missing son of a prominent domestic tycoon had been found. His family protected him carefully and never let him appear on television.

Then, at an industry banquet, Yan Qiu arrived wearing a white suit, with an elegant, refined man on his arm. They whispered to each other from time to time, then exchanged smiles. They looked perfect together.

Qin Ran watched from afar among the crowd. The moment he saw Yan Qiu's face, he felt he was about to go mad.

1. Blurb written on March 5, 2023.

2. This blurb is posted first and will be polished later.

Theme: Every child is an angel and deserves to be loved.