The Stray Dog I Took In Is Addicted to Me

[From September 20, 2024, Chapter 24 onward will be marked complete. Thank you, dear readers, for reading and supporting the story.] · I’m planning to start a bittersweet second-chance romance soon. The blurb is below. · Professor, You’ll Regret Dumping Me (formerly published under a different title) 1. Jiang Yuchen’s best friend was sent to prison. Before going in, he asked Jiang Yuchen for two favors. First, help him sell his house. Second, look after his younger brother, Luo Zhao. Kids these days weren’t easy to raise. Jiang Yuchen had little experience, and his own company was only just getting started, but he still took the request to heart. The first time they met, the other boy had a backpack with its zipper wide open and was even taller than Jiang Yuchen. He was covered in scars, big and small, and looked as wretched as a stray dog. At first, Jiang Yuchen was like a doting father, taking care of every little thing and treating him even better than his own younger brother. But he ended up bringing out the kid’s rebellious streak. After Jiang Yuchen went on a blind date, the boy ran away from home. When Jiang Yuchen found him, he said bluntly, “You’re not my brother.” Fine. So I’m the only one who’s been working myself to death for nothing. Jiang Yuchen spread his hands. Whatever. He washed his hands of the whole thing, but the other boy changed into a completely different person. He cooked during the day, kept watch at night, helped Jiang Yuchen wash and scrub his back in winter, and even held him while they slept. Jiang Yuchen increasingly felt that something was off. Until he found his long-missing pair of black underwear beneath the boy’s pillow. So he wasn’t rebellious. He’d just grown up crooked. His feelings were complicated. He’d planned to clear things up after the boy’s college entrance exams. But before he got the chance, arms tightened around his waist. The young man showed the fangs he’d kept hidden for so long, sharp as thorns: “Brother, are you only so good to me because of Luo Bin?” 2. Luo Zhao had never known much affection from his family. When the police told him Luo Bin had gone to prison, he felt nothing. In his eyes, there was no one worth relying on but himself. People sometimes even deceive themselves, let alone trust someone else. Until he met that man. Jiang Yuchen was just like his name, a mountain and an island, but not a lonely island. He brought Luo Zhao home. He gave him food and clothes, and whatever else he wanted. He would rather tighten his own company’s budget than let Luo Zhao go without anything. In the past, Luo Zhao would have despised a person like that. Hypocritical and affected, valuing useless sentiment more than life itself. But now, all he wanted was to hold this island close and never let go. I used to be alone. You gave me a home, so don’t take it back, and don’t bring anyone else in. It’s just the two of us here. That’s enough. - Jiang Yuchen × Luo Zhao A handsome, easygoing guy who gets along with anyone × a brash, possessive kid who never wavers once he’s set his heart on someone Reading notes: (1) Younger seme, nine-year age gap. (2) The kid acts without thinking about the consequences, and one thing can set off a chain reaction. (3) Both are each other’s first and only love. The younger one has a very intense one-sided crush, and he’s already eighteen when he realizes his feelings. (4) A sweet romance through and through, grounded and realistic. - Also coming soon: the bittersweet Professor, You’ll Regret Dumping Me Woodcarver uke × university lecturer seme Older seme, six-year age gap / the uke is timid at first, gives his heart to the wrong person, then comes to his senses and leaves / classic second-chance romance / the seme must win his wife back 1. Cen Fan was gentle and introverted. He gave all the courage he had in this life to Xing Xianghan. Two years spent pursuing Xing Xianghan drained him completely. Xing Xianghan was cold and distant. After they got together, he: One, refused to make their relationship public. Two, had eyes only for work. Three, never called Cen Fan by name in bed. More than once, this made Cen Fan suspect that Xing Xianghan had a secret first love he never mentioned. On Qixi Festival, they had planned a trip for two. Cen Fan had looked forward to it for two whole months, but Xing Xianghan left on a business trip without telling him. Cen Fan even caught him acting inappropriately with a female colleague. Cen Fan watched quietly, a self-mocking smile tugging at his lips. He packed his bags, moved back into his studio, and began livestreaming himself making small wood carvings. Over time, he carved a three-tier floating castle that could actually move. He soon became famous. His market value soared, and he gained a whole host of wealthy, art-loving romantic admirers. At a woodcarving exhibition, one mysterious buyer purchased all his works for the highest prices at the show. Everyone was trying to guess who the buyer was. But Cen Fan was pinned against the bathroom wall, staring at the man before him, who looked as fierce as a wolf. His brows were drawn together, and his voice was cold as a February frost. “Professor Xing, we’re over. You don’t owe me anything.” The other man’s suit was no longer as neat as before, and his hair was a mess. He clung to Cen Fan and wouldn’t let go. He gazed deeply into the eyes he’d longed for day and night, then said in a low voice, “We can’t be over.” Cen Fan found it ridiculous. He pulled the man’s hands away and looked down at him with an expression he’d never shown before. “Things aren’t the way they used to be.” “You don’t get to decide everything anymore.” 2. Xing Xianghan had always been a man of few words. Nothing around him ever sparked his interest. He thought Cen Fan’s arrival wouldn’t change anything. At first, he just thought the kid was too well-behaved, sensible and obedient, never causing him any trouble. There was no harm in giving a relationship a try. But one day, the well-behaved boy at home suddenly asked to break up. At first, Xing Xianghan thought he was just throwing a tantrum and didn’t take it seriously. He even thought he didn’t necessarily need Cen Fan. But little by little, Cen Fan’s belongings began to disappear. Even the work vest Xing Xianghan had secretly kept was reclaimed under some pretext. Xing Xianghan couldn’t take it anymore. Cen Fan was his. He had been his from the very first day they met. Professor Xing shed his outwardly icy, restrained demeanor. He imprisoned, surveilled, and followed Cen Fan. He made their relationship clear to everyone he met, leaving no one else a chance. He kept Cen Fan trapped at his side. After a night of losing himself in pleasure, he gazed at his lover, eyes red in his arms. Professor Xing sighed softly and kissed his neck. “Baby, the bookshelf is full of photos only I can see.” “Want to take a look?” A lovestarved artist, beautiful without knowing it, who rejects her groveling lover × a cold, academic possessive type who can’t express himself Woodcarving enthusiast × university lecturer - Reading notes: (1) Older seme, six-year age gap. (2) The seme’s love is genuine, and so is his inability to express his feelings. (3) Both are each other’s first and only love. The uke falls for the seme at first sight, and the seme’s feelings are even more intense. They only have each other. (4) The female colleague is a misunderstanding. There’s nothing between them, and she isn’t interested in men either. (5) The seme is a jerk and the uke is a doormat at first, purely due to their personalities. No one comes between them. (Fair warning!!!!!!!) Theme: Anyone can live a wonderful life if they choose to.