After the Rain Tide [Foster Care]

[Rented-room fiction | Foster-care trope | Underground boxer x haughty girl | Pseudo-taboo | 1v1 | Age gap: three years]

The year Ye Fan was sent to live with her family, he was only sixteen. He was filthy, like a stray dog picked up off the street.

The pampered little girl never gave him a second glance. She had a crush on the gentle, bookish boy next door.

Then her family fell on hard times, and almost overnight Ye Fan grew up. Broad-shouldered, unruly, and ruthless, he became a different person.

He made money in underground boxing rings.

He'd risk his life for money and do any dirty job. They called him "Hyena."

But in front of her... he always pretended to be a pitiful little dog, with big, damp eyes and soaking-wet fur. He kept indulging and spoiling her until she became utterly spoiled and got away with anything.

So she always treated him like a good older brother, approaching him and acting affectionate without a care...

Sometimes, she'd even tease him for fun.

She had no idea how hard he was holding back: holding back when he saw her damp ankles after a bath, when she hugged him before bed and said she was cold, when she leaned against his chest and softly told him, "You're the best, big brother."

Until one sweltering, humid night of torrential rain, Ye Fan lowered his head, bit her ear, and asked hoarsely, "The dog you raised wants you to feed him now."

[1v1 | Both are inexperienced]

1. The girl needs to be pampered because she's frail and sickly, and must be carefully looked after. Besides, the male lead is both father and brother to her. If he doesn't raise her properly and spends all his time being jealous and acting like a scheming flirt, of course she'll get more and more spoiled.

2. The girl is extremely clever and adorable, a genuine little angel. The line about her "never giving him a second glance" reflects the male lead's own low self-esteem!

3. They aren't related by blood and have no legal relationship. The story begins after they are both adults!

Theme: Love shouldn't be defined too easily