The Basic Rules of a One-Sided Crush

Si Yixian was gloomy, insecure, and unpopular.

He secretly loved Chu Ting, who seemed to live high above the clouds.

His furtive methods were obsessive and alarming: notebooks filled with Chu Ting's name, and empty water bottles Chu Ting had drunk from.

He didn't care when Chu Ting gave him strange looks.

He didn't need Chu Ting to like him.

After graduation, he swiftly got out of there, taking his love for Chu Ting with him.

When they met again,

his friend egged Si Yixian on to go say hello to Chu Ting.

Si Yixian frantically refused. "How would he even know who I am?"

That's what he'd always believed.

Until

After the party, Si Yixian secretly followed him again.

At the dim, narrow stairwell,

Si Yixian was out of breath.

Chu Ting turned around, looking down at him.

Their eyes met.

Chu Ting lifted the chin Si Yixian was so obsessed with. Looking down at him, he parted his thin lips and ordered, "Kiss me."

-

Si Yixian used to write in his diary: Someone like him could never really notice me, let alone like me.

Chu Ting happened to see it and added a few lines.

"Can't notice you?"

"I'm tired of keeping track of how many times you sneak a look at me every day."

#They like each other, right? They do, right?#

#Then why does he always talk nonsense?#

#I'll let it go, since he's so obsessed with me.#

An insecure gong with a secret-crush rulebook, but if he wants something →_→ he can get it × Chu Ting, a tsundere, beautiful, universe-conquering, super-explosively adorable, immortal-level cutie.

[Bonus Scene]

"Today, we have to do it," Chu Ting said, curled up on the sofa, staring fixedly at the TV as Si Yixian came home.

"No," said Si Yixian. "You have something to do tomorrow."

"Oh, like I care." Chu Ting got off the sofa and ran into the bedroom.

An hour later,

Si Yixian opened the bedroom door.

Chu Ting had a cold expression and wore a white button-up shirt borrowed from his boyfriend. Its oversized hem offered tantalizing glimpses, and his exposed legs were long, straight, and pale.

He walked out, brushing past Si Yixian.

Important notes:

Si Yixian is the gong. At first, he has a one-sided crush [about 70,000 Chinese characters]. The crush becomes mutual, and the gong is also exceptionally good-looking.

It's not entirely a school story. There is also a career storyline later on, after they get together.

The gong is a writer [of serious literature], and the shou is an up-and-coming artist.

The story alternates between the gong's and shou's perspectives, but focuses on the gong's perspective early on and the shou's later.

Kindhearted little angels, please add my work to your collection!

First book: After Reincarnating as the Fake Young Master Everyone Hates

Jiang Yuran, the top student at the attached high school, had just sincerely asked the runner-up, whom he'd beaten by dozens of points: "Can you tell me how you managed to lose so many points?"

Maybe the runner-up's resentment was just that strong, because Jiang Yuran transmigrated into a school novel as the fake young master.

The fake young master came from a wealthy family, was a spoiled rich kid, and naturally had the grades of a complete slacker.

The novel's protagonist, the real young master Pei Zhixue, was brilliant and gifted, and had held the top spot in his grade for years. Even before his true identity came with a powerful family behind it, he was already adored by everyone.

The difference between them was like heaven and earth.

The fake young master disliked Pei Zhixue from the start and targeted him at every turn. Even after their identities were switched, he refused to change and only got worse. To get his parents' attention, he resorted to cheating, framing others, and every other dirty trick, until he died alone by the roadside.

Jiang Yuran happened to transmigrate right when the original host was caught cheating. He held up the test paper. "You need to cheat on questions this easy? You're worse than the runner-up in our grade!"

Everyone: Did that really get to him?

The runner-up: "?"

Jiang Yuran gave a dry laugh. On the second exam, he landed straight in second place.

Everyone: "?"

The current third-place student, formerly the runner-up: "?"

Jiang Yuran, a top-rank obsessive who had never once come in second, stared at the name Pei Zhixue above his own. "Fine. Just you wait."

At the next exam, Jiang Yuran claimed first place.

Then Pei Zhixue took first again in the exam after that.

Jiang Yuran, who had never encountered a rival before, was fired up with a blazing competitive spirit.

Onlookers: Does anyone remember this is a story about a real and fake young master?

The third-place student: "Does anyone remember I exist?"

*

Though Pei Zhixue seemed brilliant and carefree, only he knew how cold-hearted he was. He simply found life full of far too many dull things.

He wasn't interested in studying, didn't care whether he was the real young master, and had even less interest in the fake young master who was always scheming.

Until one day, he saw the name Jiang Yuran above his on the honor roll.

He smiled. These days, who doesn't have a top-rank obsession?

*

In the end

Pei Zhixue pinned him against the wall and murmured, "I like the top student. What about you?"

Jiang Yuran looked confused. "I like him too."

Pei Zhixue smiled faintly and kissed him. "You agreed, so we're together now."

Jiang Yuran: "???"

Second book: After Swapping Souls with My Boyfriend's Roommate

[One-line Blurb]

Lin Jinran swapped souls with his boyfriend's roommate.

Then he discovered two things:

First, his boyfriend treated someone else with such tenderness and concern that it might as well have been cheating.

Second, Chu Changpei, the legendary top student and aloof campus heartthrob he'd swapped souls with... seemed to have a crush on him.

And a third book: The Supporting Beauty Awakens

Ji Xingmian was a minor cannon-fodder character, mentioned in passing in countless little worlds, born in the morning and dead by nightfall.

Then one day, he decided he didn't want to live like that anymore.

[School story about a real and fake young master: A country bumpkin from a small town is recognized by the Ji family as their second son, then uses a few connections to transfer into the top provincial high school.

The students aren't fond of the real young master. In contrast, the fake young master is a paragon of grace and talent, and always ranks first in his grade. Then the monthly exam results come out: the transfer student gets full marks in math and science, and loses points only on the English essay. One day, he takes off his hat and mask, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty that leaves everyone spellbound.]

[Showbiz: Ji Xingmian is a terrible actor, sings off-key, moves stiffly, and wears such heavy makeup that he looks hideous. He also chases clout everywhere and puts others down. He has nothing but haters and is infamous across the internet.

Then comes a livestream where he takes off his makeup. Black hair, pale skin, stunning features, and a cool, refined air: even without makeup, he's breathtakingly beautiful.]

Ji Xingmian: Being alive is much better.

1v1, feel-good and satisfying, everyone's-favorite story.

Theme: Everyone deserves to be loved.