With You, I Dare

Sunny, cheerful, quick-witted, lovable housecat shou x gloomy, irritable, scheming little bully, stray dog gong

Original title: "Filth" (not abandoned, updated according to rankings, or whenever there's no ranking)

"In these six years, did you ever hope I'd come back? Every day and night after I left, I was on edge, afraid you'd be married with kids by the time I returned, afraid I wouldn't find the person you used to be. All these years, I've told myself I had to become better and stronger so I'd be able to protect you. Now I'm back. Does what you said still count? 'Let's make our voices heard by the world. With you by my side, I dare.'"

"Of course it counts, Ya'er!"

A school bully known as a "fighting monster" meets another boy with two dimples when he smiles. As they spend more time together, they fall for each other, developing feelings that are something like love.

Just as they think they can grow together and face the world's judgment, the true cause of the fighting monster's father's death and his strange origins suddenly come to light. One vicious trap after another pulls them into an endless vortex, and they cannot escape.

(1) An Affront to Decency

"How should I put this? My mom is really strict with me, seriously!"

Yong Chen dug at the huge hole in his school uniform pants and scratched his nose. "Um, could you trade pants with me? I don't dare go home in these ripped pants. My mom will definitely treat me to a helping of 'bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork'!"

His eyes darted around, and he leaned closer to Mu Zhe to whisper, "We're both guys, and these are both school pants. Do me a favor..."

Both guys? Both school pants?

In broad daylight, under the bright sun, this was simply outrageous, a complete affront to decency.

But it didn't matter. The word "decency" had no place in Mu Zhe's dictionary.

Mu Zhe stood up and swiftly took off his pants, then tossed them over without a second thought.

Yong Chen hurriedly stripped off his pants, afraid Mu Zhe might change his mind at any moment. In his excitement, he nearly pulled his firecracker off along with them.

(2) A First Kiss with a Hint of Wine

Mu Zhe's body was unusually hot. He cupped Yong Chen's burning cheeks.

A faint, bitter scent of red wine filled the air.

It was the first kiss for both him and Yong Chen.

"Mm." Yong Chen let out an uncomfortable little moan.

Mu Zhe looked at Yong Chen's dazed, drunken eyes. "Yong Chen, look carefully! Look at me. Do you know who I am?"

Yong Chen slowly raised his heavy eyelids and pointed at Mu Zhe with a giggle.

"Mm... You're Ya'er!"

Mu Zhe curled his lips into a smile and teased him like a child. "Do you know what we were just doing?"

Yong Chen tilted his head and answered like a well-behaved grade-schooler.

"Kissing?"

"Right. We were kissing."

Mu Zhe's voice was exceptionally gentle.

Theme: Sincere love is the rarest thing in the world. Don't lose the person you are.