What Zhai Nanzhou hated most was the actor his lust-blinded father brought home to be his new stepmother after his own mother died of illness.
With neither parents nor family, he had entered the world of vice at a young age.
He was only three or four years older than Zhai Nanzhou. Though he was a man, he had a face so beautiful it could bring ruin to a kingdom, a face no one could forget after seeing it. His voice was lovely, too, and when he sang, he could make anyone swoon.
In front of Zhai Yunqi, he was dignified, quiet, and gentle, the perfect canary, a delicate vine clinging to someone powerful.
But in front of Zhai Nanzhou, he made no effort to hide his true nature. He ignored Zhai Nanzhou's hatred, lazily lounging in a recliner all afternoon and regularly meeting all sorts of unsavory people.
He seemed completely unaware that the people staring at him with mesmerized eyes were just waiting for the chance to devour him whole.
Zhai Nanzhou couldn't help thinking: How could anyone be so decadent and carefree, like a gorgeous, withering flower rotting away in this age?
Even when Zhai Nanzhou's face flushed as he scolded him for behaving that way, he blew a mouthful of smoke right into his face. His bewitching, peach-blossom eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched Zhai Nanzhou cough and splutter.
His red lips curved in a delighted smile. He was beautiful and infuriating.
For a time, Zhai Nanzhou had planned to cast him out once he was powerful enough, or even kill him outright.
Later, his father passed away, and he took his place. His wickedly alluring stepmother left Mucheng of his own accord.
But Zhai Nanzhou realized that the person he loved most was also him.
He searched for him obsessively, at any cost, even though everyone said he had lost his mind.
Reader's Guide:
1. An unconventional modern-era setting, more or less a stepmother romance with serious drama. While Yunqi was still around, there were no mutual feelings between him and his stepson.
2. Plenty of one-sided crushes and love triangles. Xiao Yu returns those feelings late. There's angst and a messy romantic tangle.
Theme: The heart has always been that of a spectator, yet somehow we are the ones caught up in the play.
