Si Yu's first eighteen years were a life of hardship and upheaval.
Abandoned at an orphanage as a child, he was adopted by the Pei family of Haishi at the age of eight. He spent three years walking on eggshells, only to be deliberately driven out of the house because the Pei family's second young master, Pei Qingnian, said, "You stole my parents and brother from me. I don't like you."
After that, he went back to a life where he barely had enough to eat. He and an old woman depended on each other, making ends meet by collecting trash.
Fortunately, he studied hard. At eighteen, he was admitted to one of the country's top universities and won a full scholarship. He thought his difficult life was finally getting back on track, but on the first day of term, he opened his dorm room door and saw several familiar faces.
The tall men made the already cramped room feel even smaller. At the sound of the door, the men, some standing and some sitting, all turned to look at him. A few seconds later, someone let out a contemptuous snort.
Pei Qingnian spoke up. "I was wondering why you looked so familiar. So it's you, you little piece of trash."
Another person chimed in. It was Shang Yaobai, who had grown up with Pei Qingnian and was just as nasty.
"Trash belongs in the trash can. What the hell are you doing living with us?" he said. "Just wait. Sooner or later, we'll kick you out of this dorm."
·
Si Yu's college life wasn't as wonderful as he'd imagined.
The school rules prohibited all students from living off campus during their first semester, and he couldn't afford the steep rent anyway. Fortunately, his third roommate, Fu Yanci, who had the bed across from his, was usually quiet and kept to himself. He was cold and aloof, and as long as he was in the dorm, Pei Qingnian and Shang Yaobai would rein themselves in and not go too far with Si Yu.
Fu Yanci was the only son of the Fu family of Haishi. Years ago, Si Yu had accompanied Madam Pei to his birthday banquet and seen him from afar. Rumor had it that he was temperamental, vicious, and not to be trifled with.
One day, Si Yu returned from work and had just showered when the dorm suddenly lost power. He climbed into bed in the dark, his head spinning and his sense of direction gone, and somehow toppled straight onto the bed across from his.
Fu Yanci's muscles were hard as a rock, and they hurt when Si Yu landed against him. Si Yu thought he was about to get beaten up, but Fu Yanci did nothing to him. Just then, Pei Qingnian and the others came back. Si Yu instinctively hid under Fu Yanci's blanket, his ear pressed against the man's burning chest as he listened to his steady heartbeat. Even afterward, Fu Yanci didn't get angry.
·
Si Yu worked two jobs every day, leaving early and coming home late. After a while, the hateful looks Pei Qingnian and Shang Yaobai gave him began to change, though neither of them knew when it had happened.
Once, Si Yu caught a chill and came down with a high fever that wouldn't break. He was asleep in bed, and Pei Qingnian, who was supposed to attend a party, actually took the night off to stay in the dorm and look after him. Si Yu didn't want to accept his kindness and turned his back.
"Let me look after you first. Take your medicine."
Pei Qingnian spoke gently, but Si Yu wouldn't respond. After a while, Pei Qingnian suddenly plucked up the courage to say something completely out of the blue. "I won't just take care of you now. Tomorrow, next year, every day for a long time to come, Xiao Si, let me protect you. Let's become family again, okay?"
Si Yu was about to throw up from listening to him when the half-closed door was suddenly kicked open. Shang Yaobai stood outside, his face livid and fists clenched. Behind him stood Fu Yanci, expressionless. He pushed past Shang Yaobai and sauntered into the room.
Reader's Guide:
1. This was originally meant to be some steamy dorm-room fiction. All the main characters are over eighteen.
2. The shou isn't weak. Though his background is full of hardship, he's resilient, won't be easily defeated, and won't be fooled by a few sweet words.
3. It's a sweet romance, a sweet romance, a sweet romance.
4. You should all be able to guess who the gong is!
Theme: Keep working hard.
