You're So Difficult

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Coming next: A Guide to Turning the Substitute Lover Into the Real One. Arrogant genius pianist x insecure, devoted hearing-impaired shou. The blurb is at the very bottom. If you're interested, feel free to add it to your collection.

Blurb:

[Redemption + comeback, younger-man slow-burn coming-of-age / the big white rabbit is devoured by the little wolf cub he raised]

Jiang Ningdong was Li Fengchun's mentor, and also the linchpin of the misfortune that marked the first half of Li Fengchun's life.

When they first met, Li Fengchun was the biggest troublemaker in a class full of troublemakers.

He was unruly and volatile. He got into fights and smoked, with none of the qualities of a proper student.

He was like a stray dog, someone every teacher and student at school avoided.

But Jiang Ningdong refused to be put off. Even though Li Fengchun wasn't in his class, he still “meddled in things that weren't his business,” reaching out to him time and again.

Li Fengchun had just one thing to say about this well-meaning teacher and friend who kept approaching him: “Teacher Jiang, you're like a plaster that won't come off. You're a pain.”

Jiang Ningdong just smiled. A pain it was, then. After all, “I'm taking responsibility for you!”

When Li Fengchun skipped class, Jiang Ningdong went after him.

When Li Fengchun got beaten up, Jiang Ningdong protected him.

When rumors about Li Fengchun spread everywhere, Jiang Ningdong even knelt before his grandfather, the school principal, to beg for a chance to clear Li Fengchun's name.

And somewhere along the way, Li Fengchun's frozen heart really did melt under his care.

*

Years later, Li Fengchun had become a powerful force in the business world. He cornered Jiang Ningdong in his bedroom and listed all the things Jiang Ningdong never knew about back then.

Once, Jiang Ningdong had nearly married his childhood sweetheart. Li Fengchun had been the first to warn the other person to stay away.

Once, Jiang Ningdong wanted to show warmth to a classmate in the same situation as Li Fengchun. So Li Fengchun took the initiative to cut ties with that classmate.

Once, Jiang Ningdong's grandfather had been locked in a feud with the Li family for generations. It was Li Fengchun who set things up so that his grandfather, having gone too far in his misdeeds, was sent to prison.

To have Jiang Ningdong all to himself, Li Fengchun concealed his wicked schemes and went to great lengths.

“Back then, you insisted on taking responsibility for me. So now you have to take responsibility for me for the rest of your life.” Li Fengchun's grip grew stronger, and he pinned both of Jiang Ningdong's wrists with one hand. “Adults aren't allowed to lie to kids.”

Unable to move, Jiang Ningdong shuddered in fear.

At first, a taciturn and troublesome student; later, a scheming, black-hearted, unhinged gong * an earnest, warmhearted, spirited ray-of-sunshine teacher shou

Reading guide:

1. The story opens in flashback. It's a melodramatic redemption story with a slow start, and both sweet and angsty moments.

2. The grudge between the gong and shou is indirect, not between them directly.

3. Younger man, six years apart.

4. Two timelines:

2012: Jiang Ningdong is 22; Li Fengchun is a taciturn little stray dog, age 16.

2023: Jiang Ningdong is 33; Li Fengchun has grown into a deranged big wolf dog, age 27.

5. The first half is about healing at school; the second half is about family feuds in the adult world, roughly split evenly.

6. One-on-one, both are each other's first, happy ending.

Note: The gong only falls in love after reaching adulthood! No early romance for the gong! Please don't casually out someone! Hope you enjoy reading!

Content warning:

The gong is bullied at school early on. He is mistreated, so please read with caution if that bothers you.

*Blurb revised on 4.19

Coming soon:

A Guide to Turning the Substitute Lover Into the Real One

Substitute romance / secret crush / younger man / disparity in status / healing story

Arrogant and aloof, in love without realizing it, genius pianist x insecure and devoted, outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, mildly hearing-impaired assistant

Shen Que has a hearing impairment and a gentle personality. He was ostracized throughout high school, and it wasn't until university that he met the first person to show him warmth: the piano prodigy Tao Wanzhou.

He had a crush on him for five years, dreaming about him every night. Later, when the man of his dreams returned to the country in disgrace after being hurt by his ex, Shen Que rushed to fawn over him.

But Tao Wanzhou was no longer the way he had been. Shen Que endured one ordeal after another. Still, remembering how kind Tao Wanzhou had once been, he continued to obey him in every way.

At a gathering of wealthy families, Shen Que agreed to pretend to be Tao Wanzhou's new boyfriend to scare off his other admirers.

But Tao Wanzhou made the act real.

That night, drunk and overcome with desire, the man pinned him beneath him and smiled slyly. “Once we're done, it'll be real from now on.”

Shen Que was overjoyed.

After they got together, Tao Wanzhou gradually let go of his pride.

When crossing the street, Tao Wanzhou would take his hand of his own accord. “You can't hear the traffic clearly, so I'll hold on to you and keep you safe.”

Shen Que introduced Tao Wanzhou to his new friends. Faced with a group of people communicating in sign language, Tao Wanzhou sat in a corner like an outsider. Shen Que felt uneasy and was about to apologize, but the man smiled first and stroked his head. “Teach me sign language. I want to fit in with your circle of friends.”

The truth was, Shen Que knew he was only a substitute for Tao Wanzhou's ex. If he hadn't reached the point where he had to come clean, he really would have liked to stay forever in that honey-sweet dream.

That day, he worked up the courage to confront Tao Wanzhou. “I've been standing in for him all this time. Do you like even a little bit of me?”

He held on to hope, wanting to hear Tao Wanzhou say it himself: You're not a substitute.

But Tao Wanzhou didn't. The man gave a disdainful smile and parted his thin lips. “You can't ask for too much.”

*

Tao Wanzhou came from a wealthy family and was peerless in both looks and bearing. He was arrogant and proud, and whether he treated someone well or badly was entirely up to him.

Five years ago, on a whim, he had shown Shen Que a little warmth. That person had actually remembered it ever since.

Tao Wanzhou secretly mocked Shen Que for being both ridiculous and pitiful.

After Shen Que came to him of his own accord, Tao Wanzhou dressed him up to look like his ex, so he could reminisce about his old love.

But this plaything wasn't obedient. He actually dared to hope for Tao Wanzhou's true love.

“You can't ask for too much.” Tao Wanzhou dismissed Shen Que. He thought greedy people didn't deserve to stay by his side.

But in the days that followed, he felt uncomfortable no matter what he did. For all 24 hours of the day, his mind was filled with Shen Que.

When he heard that Shen Que had a new boyfriend, Tao Wanzhou completely lost it. Only then did he realize that he had long since given his heart away.

Deep down, Shen Que had already become the real one, no longer a substitute.

“Oh, so I'm the ridiculous and pitiful one???”

The next day, headlines across all the major media outlets read: Famous Pianist Tao Wanzhou Breaks Into So-and-So's Private Residence at Night! What's the Story???

#Silver-haired beauty gong vs. older, insecure, devoted shou#

Theme: Say no to school bullying. It's everyone's responsibility