This Time, I'll Be the One to Give You Up First

Zhu Nan became a canary for others to slaughter as they pleased.

More ironically, his sugar daddy was his first love.

Ten years ago, Wei Zhaoxing walked away without a word, leaving Zhu Nan alone, dazed in the evening glow outside the airport.

Ten years later, Wei Zhaoxing suddenly reappeared and insisted that the Zhu family bundle him up and send him to the Wei family.

Zhu Nan thought that, as an adopted son and a lowly actor, he was destined to be someone's dependent anyway. It didn't matter which family he went to. Even if it was the home of his former lover, he knew how to keep his place.

On his first day at the Wei residence, Zhu Nan kept his place. He chose the smallest room in the house, away from the sun and damp, but safe enough.

Wei Zhaoxing frowned. "Sleep in my bedroom."

Zhu Nan politely declined. "No, thank you for the offer, sir."

Later, everyone said Wei Zhaoxing was about to get engaged. Zhu Nan kept his place and packed his pitifully small amount of luggage in the middle of the night, but Wei Zhaoxing caught him in the act.

Wei Zhaoxing snatched the luggage away, gripped his wrist, and asked with bloodshot eyes, "Zhu Nan, what am I to you?"

Zhu Nan answered without a moment's hesitation. "My sugar daddy."

He had once treasured the star that had briefly fallen, holding it in his hands, only to be scorched and burned by its fiery light, hurt so badly he nearly died.

So he wouldn't do that again.

-

Wei Zhaoxing spent ten years finally taking control of the Wei family. He could have anything he wanted, whenever he wanted. But the only thing he wanted most was a clingy tagalong named Zhu Nan.

But time had passed, and even a tagalong could grow up.

He wanted Zhu Nan to move into his bedroom, but Zhu Nan would only curl up in a cramped little room.

He wanted Zhu Nan to call him "big brother," but Zhu Nan would only address him distantly as "sir."

Even after filming wrapped, Zhu Nan would rather stay on set doing nothing than go home to see him.

No matter what Wei Zhaoxing did, even when he pinned Zhu Nan against the wall, Zhu Nan showed no reaction. He wouldn't even get angry, like a still pool of dead water.

Later, with no other options, Wei Zhaoxing dug out a photo of them at eighteen and asked in a quiet, pleading voice, "Tell me, Zhu Nan, what do I have to do for us to go back to how things were then?"

The boy in the old photo was graceful and handsome.

Staring at the old photograph, Zhu Nan finally reacted. He looked Wei Zhaoxing directly in the eyes for the first time, but they held years of resentment. "We can't go back, Wei Zhaoxing. You were the one who gave up on me first."

You were the one who gave up on me first.

So this time, I'll be the one to give up on you first.

A gradually despairing madman x a coolheaded, indifferent actor

One-on-one romance, both leads are virgins, happy ending

Plenty of misunderstandings

They only ever have eyes for each other

Theme: No matter how much suffering the world brings, keep the courage to love life