Me and My Pain-in-the-Neck Childhood Friend

Xiang Yang and Lin Muqian grew up together as childhood best friends, and Xiang Yang was the person Lin Muqian had secretly loved for almost ten years.

Unfortunately, Xiang Yang was as hopelessly oblivious about romance as he was at math. Lin Muqian couldn't figure out how to break through that barrier between them, until one day he happened to watch a short comedy video and his family started pressuring him to get married. Then he got a mischievous idea...

Lin Muqian copied the plot from the video and said, "I'm dating someone. I want to bring my girlfriend home to meet my family, but I'm worried they won't approve."

He asked his childhood friend Xiang Yang, who'd always been a bit of a blockhead, with complete sincerity: "Qian, you're so amazing. Your girlfriend can't be bad. Why wouldn't your family approve?"

Lin Muqian hung his head and said, "My girlfriend is more than twenty years older than me."

Xiang Yang, who believed him: "!!"

As far as Xiang Yang knew, Lin Muqian's parents were upright, old-fashioned officials. This was going to be a tough one.

But since Lin Muqian had always been a great friend who'd stood by him through thick and thin since childhood, Xiang Yang felt he couldn't just stand by and do nothing. He had to help.

So Xiang Yang said, "Here's what you can do. First tell your family you like men, then slowly introduce your girlfriend to your parents. That way, it'll be easier for them to accept."

They hit upon the plan together.

At the Spring Festival, Xiang Yang nervously followed Lin Muqian back to his hometown.

At the dinner table, in front of more than a dozen members of the Lin family, Lin Muqian said, "Mom, Dad, we've known each other for over twenty years. We've decided to get together."

The Lin family was overjoyed, clapping and cheering: "What wonderful news!"

After dinner, Xiang Yang watched the Lin family singing and dancing and fell into deep thought...

That night, when Lin's mother shyly brought them contraceptives, Xiang Yang's whole worldview shattered...

Xiang Yang: "The longest road I've ever walked was the whole Lin family's scheme!"

Same-sex marriage is legal in this setting.

Both are each other's first and only, and both are secretly in love.

The shou is a chef; the gong has a hereditary talent for blowing up the kitchen.

This novel is best enjoyed when you're hungry late at night (not really).

P.S. Most of it is told from the shou's perspective, with a little from the gong's perspective in the flashbacks and early chapters.

Plenty of chapters are ready, so jump in without worry.

Theme: Boys need to protect themselves when they're out in the world too