The Backbone of the Northwest

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Blurb: Strong x Strong | One-Sided Love | Turning a Straight Guy Gay | Reunited After a Breakup

Bold and passionate, spoiled young heir Bottom X Restrained, devoted, cool-headed Top

Zhao Huaijing was a famous young master in the capital. He had no shortage of money or love, and could have anything he wanted.

Because of something his father said, Zhao Huaijing resolutely packed his bags, took a plane, transferred to a high-speed train, then changed to a regular train, using almost every form of transport before finally arriving in the Northwest.

He had come to this barren land.

His buddies said he was going out of his way to suffer, and bet that someone like him, who had never known hardship, wouldn't last three months here.

Truthfully, Zhao Huaijing also thought he wouldn't make it three months.

But he wanted to show his father that he wasn't useless, and that he could make some contribution to society.

When he first arrived in the Northwest, he didn't like the place or the people there. The sandstorms were like knives, lashing his neck until it hurt.

There, he met Chen Feng.

Zhao Huaijing thought he was the best-looking man in the entire Northwest.

So he set his sights on the person he found most interesting in the whole Northwest.

Chen Feng.

Chen Feng's restraint and indifference only made Zhao Huaijing want more and more to get him to drop his guard. He wanted to have some fun with him.

But Chen Feng looked down on him. He said nothing, merely glanced at Zhao Huaijing and never said another word. Still, Zhao Huaijing just knew he looked down on him.

And he thought so too: he was an incapable young master who had never known hardship, relied on his parents, and couldn't do anything right.

The first time Zhao Huaijing came to the Northwest, it was to prove himself to his father.

The second time, it was to earn Chen Feng's respect.

The third time, he wanted Chen Feng to leave with him.

“Won't you see me off?”

“The high-speed rail station is too far away. Be careful on your way.”

Zhao Huaijing slammed the door as he left. Before going, he pointed at Chen Feng, his voice full of anger, confusion, and sadness. “Chen Feng, I know you still look down on me! One day, I'll make you come back to Beijing with me of your own free will!”

And so, Zhao Huaijing worked toward that promise for three whole years.

He truly went from an idle playboy who did nothing but fool around to a capable, responsible man who could endure hardship.

The Northwest became the most important soil in which he was nurtured, and Chen Feng became the most important guide on his journey.

Many years later, whenever Zhao Huaijing thought back on it, he still couldn't forget this place, its bone-chilling cold, or its people...

There had been confusion, arguments, regret, and silence along the way. There had also been growth, love, unyielding strength, and upright spines.

“Actually, I never looked down on you.”

He had never looked down on Zhao Huaijing. He simply didn't know what he could do for him when they met again. Zhao Huaijing had no shortage of money, power, or influence, and he didn't lack love either. So all Chen Feng could do was make Zhao Huaijing realize that he couldn't spend his whole life living like that. He wanted Zhao Huaijing to live a life with a little meaning.

Three years later.

“Huaijing, you once said you envied your second brother and wanted to become someone like him.” Chen Feng looked at him and thought back to that night three years ago, when he and Zhao Huaijing had lain together on a small, narrow wooden bed and talked about his brother. Zhao Huaijing's eyes had been full of hope and anticipation.

Looking at the mature, steady man before him, Chen Feng saw someone different from the person he'd first met in Beijing, and different from the person he'd first met in the Northwest.

You've become someone like him now, haven't you? Have you also achieved what you wished for?

“What were you thinking back then?”

“Watching him get better and better, I couldn't bear to let him go.”

-

The full blurb for the next story, Don't Mess with Rich Dream Guys, is in my series list.

Strong x Strong | Unconventional Shared-Rental Story | Band Story | Antagonistic Chemistry, But Secretly in Love

Handsome, strong, tragic, proud and flamboyant Bottom X Slightly Bastardly Rich Young Master Top

★

Zhuo Fei was absolutely certain that he and his new roommate were incompatible.

The day Zhou Jin moved in, Zhuo Fei was crouched on the balcony fixing the washing machine. The “celebrity face” the landlord had been hyping up really was striking, if you ignored what he called Zhuo Fei: “Hey, you, the lousy fridge repairman.”

First of all, he was fixing a washing machine.

Second, who puts a fridge on the balcony?

Zhou Jin was unlike anyone Zhuo Fei had ever met.

Zhuo Fei had met plenty of tough guys, but never anyone who was both broke and tough. Zhou Jin couldn't cook, and didn't even know how to turn on a gas stove.

Sometimes Zhuo Fei wondered how someone who knew nothing and couldn't do anything had managed to survive this long while acting like he was the king of the world, prickly and difficult.

Patience might be painful, but he had no other choice. After all, the only reason this guy was useful was that he could split the rent with him.

Then one late night, Zhou Jin got drunk, walked into the wrong room, and dizzily kissed Zhuo Fei as soon as he saw his face. The instant the smell of alcohol washed over him, Zhuo Fei clearly felt the warm, wet touch of Zhou Jin's lips.

The air fell deathly silent.

That night, the two of them lay in bed with their backs pressed together.

After a long silence, Zhou Jin spoke first, his voice hoarse. “What did I... just do?”

Zhuo Fei sneered. “What, are you going to kill me to keep me quiet?”

-

Reading Guide for The Northwest:

1. Some of the plot details, settings, and vocabulary in this story are used to suit the historical background and the needs of the plot, and do not represent the author's views.

2. One-on-one romance, happy ending, sweet and sour, with a focus on everyday life.

3. Straightforward Bottom X Restrained Top, imperfect characters.

4. This isn't serious literature, ah! I just love giving my stories literary titles!

5. Paragraph comments are open. Please leave lots of comments, and add my story to your favorites!

Theme: Love is pure.