Pretending to Be Poor

A school story

The top attacks: outwardly a poor student, but secretly a powerful big shot. The bottom: outwardly aloof, but actually a sweet, adorable darling.

He only meant to pretend to be poor. Who knew he’d get more and more hooked on the act?

On Yuan Cen’s first day at his new school, his new deskmate got the better of him. He cursed himself inwardly for letting his guard down, never realizing that his new deskmate simply couldn’t afford a new book cover...

On his second day, Yuan Cen was invited to share a low-calorie meal, supposedly as an apology for what had happened the day before. He looked at his figure and decided he didn’t really need to lose any weight.

But the other boy’s gaze was so eager that he couldn’t bring himself to refuse, so he forced himself to eat.

His new deskmate seemed to think he was a poor, unlucky soul who couldn’t afford food, and started feeding him every day. Yuan Cen eventually felt too embarrassed to ask for a better meal, even when he wanted one.

Then one day, at a dinner gathering, his new deskmate suddenly realized that the big shot his father had told him to win over was none other than his pitiful deskmate who couldn’t afford to eat...

Yuan Cen: ...

Jiang Nian: ...

Yuan Cen: !!!

Jiang Nian: ...

Yuan Cen is the top: outwardly quiet, but with an entire drama playing out inside his head.

Jiang Nian is the bottom: outwardly aloof, but actually a pitiful sweetheart.

The story uses both characters’ perspectives, but the first chapter is from the top’s point of view, so it’s tagged as top-focused. The whole story includes both perspectives.

Theme: Keep justice in your heart, and you will be the light.