True Love Syndrome

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Volumes 1+2: [Setting Fires Across the River] arc. Modern alternate universe~

Lu Jinran slept with Wen Fangguan, and the scandal has been making waves. All sixteen cities know about it.

The two families, playing good cop and bad cop, discussed it and decided to hold a press conference three days later.

They would announce their marriage alliance.

*

The Lu family of Guancheng and the Wen family of Jincheng are twin stars, famed far and wide and second to none.

Or rather, bitter rivals who have fought both openly and behind the scenes.

At the crucial moment of their fierce battle, the young patriarch of the Lu family slept with the Wen family's darling.

“Our families have been at each other's throats for so many years, and you just had to cause your parents a huge headache at a time like this!”

The young patriarch had never suffered for love before. After realizing he'd been fooled by a scheming green tea, he was angry and aggrieved.

He grabbed someone and shook him. “You seduced me. Aren't you going to come out and explain things for me?”

Wen Fangguan was so furious he laughed. “I seduced you, and you want me to explain?”

Lu Jinran tried to distance himself from his brokenhearted world. But this lovesick fool had never tasted the sweetness of love, either, and still refused to learn his lesson, pining for his sworn enemy:

“Don't you know? We're getting engaged.”

For the first time in his life, someone was making a threat while holding him.

Wen Fangguan was forcibly pulled into Lu Jinran's arms, struggling furiously to no avail. “Has the dog arrived?”

*

Wen Fangguan's charm was unmatched, and he had countless admirers, but his heart was dark and cold.

Only that clean, white little Lu family dog remained steadfast, smiling whenever he saw him.

At eighteen, the young man smiled, revealing a pair of little canine teeth:

“Fangguan, how about we stay together for the rest of our lives?”

Wen Fangguan's heart wasn't dark or cold. He was simply afraid of love and kept running from it.

Many years later, the little dog he'd thrown away had grown up, quietly becoming capable, independent, and imposing.

He was no longer a useless young master, but the man whose word was law among the twin stars.

When Wen Fangguan reunited with him, the strange man pulled him into his arms, and he couldn't break free.

“Still thinking of running away?”

Lu Jinran took out their marriage contract from years ago, looking as angry and aggrieved as he had as a boy:

“One: Fangguan is my ancestor.

“Two: I take Fangguan as my ancestor.

“Three: Lu Jinran takes Wen Fangguan as his ancestor.”

(Wen Fangguan tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and studied it closely for half the night.)

Those crooked lines turned out to be seven words:

“I still want to be your dog T_T.”

Volumes 3+4: [Marriage to Quench Desire] arc

Before Chu Meiqi was sent as a substitute bride into the wealthy Qi family, he sold pears in the countryside.

His husband was known as a cold-faced King of Hell, indifferent and heartless.

On the first day, he slept in his husband's bed, but was kicked off for being restless.

He wanted to climb back up himself, but he had been born with a limp.

The eldest young master glanced at his slender ankle, then scooped him up.

He lowered his head and pulled him back into his arms.

Such a cold-hearted young master... But he smiled whenever he saw him!

Right then and there, Chu Meiqi decided he would live in harmony with the young master as husband and wife.

*

The second young master had been treated coldly since childhood. His moods were unpredictable, and he was gloomy and aloof.

Chu Meiqi didn't dare provoke him, but the other man was always taunting him:

“You pear seller, don't you dare seduce my brother.”

“I didn't seduce your brother! I'd rather go back to the countryside and sell pears than stay here!”

Chu Meiqi took advantage of the favor he was shown, got what he could, and prepared to run away.

The second young master was so furious he laughed. What should have been a proper shoulder throw turned into a princess carry:

“You're not allowed to seduce me, either.”

*

The whole world worried that the Qi brothers would turn against each other. Chu Meiqi, caught in the middle, gave an awkward smile.

The eldest young master still left early and came home late, taking good care of both his wife and his younger brother.

The second young master still smiled and joked, getting up to mischief.

And so Chu Meiqi was the only one who felt guilty.

He ran off without a word, taking the child with him, and went back to the countryside to sell pears.

One night, a storm raged in the mountains, and an engine sounded outside the house.

The eldest and second young masters stood together, more nervous about the child than Chu Meiqi was.

He gathered his courage and hugged them both, burying his head against them.

“C-could I have everything I want in the whole world, including both of you?”

Volumes 5+6: [Rusty Doors of the Vermilion Mansion] arc

Zhu Yixiu unexpectedly received a sponsorship.

His sponsor was Li Yunqing, the famous young master of Yangcheng.

“Just think of me as your older brother.” The young master was doing a good deed each day in memory of his late mother.

Except this time, the recipient was a high school student almost his own age.

*

Ten years later, Zhu Yixiu returned to the country, ready to marry the boyfriend he'd been dating for ten years.

But his boyfriend got him drunk and handed him over to a powerful man.

Zhu Yixiu was unconscious for the rest of the night.

When he awoke the next day, a man was curled up on the sofa playing video games.

Trembling, Zhu Yixiu grabbed a knife to defend himself and escape.

But the man suddenly turned around and pulled him into his arms, raising an eyebrow. “Don't you recognize me?”

After so many years apart, Zhu Yixiu stared at the man, tongue-tied.

“Big brother.”

Li Yunqing's smile vanished in an instant. He was as cold as ever.

*

With no means of supporting himself, Zhu Yixiu had no choice but to move in with his “big brother.”

Li Yunqing opened the door and glanced back with a smile. “What are you afraid of? Come in.”

Zhu Yixiu hesitated.

He'd had a boyfriend, and worried that Li Yunqing would be uncomfortable living with him.

“I...”

“What are you hesitating for?” Li Yunqing was direct. “Me? Am I not your big brother anymore?”

Zhu Yixiu moved in with his suitcase.

*

After they started living together, Zhu Yixiu discovered that Li Yunqing had no parents and had been alone for many years.

He tried his best to look after his “big brother,” who used to stay out all night but now came home every other day.

“Am I bothering you by living here?”

One night, Li Yunqing drank in silence, and Zhu Yixiu thought he'd done something wrong.

He carefully tucked a blanket around him, but Li Yunqing pulled him into his arms and wouldn't let go.

“Yixiu, why did you choose him instead of me ten years ago?”

I've liked you for a long time.

You just never knew.

📣 Tips:

❶ This is an ensemble story with multiple couples and no fixed point of view. I've revised the blurb a lot, but don't worry, none of the related plot will be deleted, and the core story won't change! The timelines of the three couples overlap, but the narration is somewhat like a relay race❓❗️ You can roughly tell them apart by the volume labels: Volumes 1 and 2 are Lu and Wen, 3 and 4 are Qi and Chu, and 5 and 6 are Li and Zhu. Skipping around won't affect your reading, though you'll miss a little of the context.

❷ Couple dynamics (all couples are each other's first and only): ≽^⚈⩊⚈^≼

☑️ Sworn-enemy arc: Pure-hearted rich playboy puppy × scheming, evil green tea

☑️ Substitute-bride arc: Cold-faced young master × adorable country spouse (1v2)

☑️ Sugar daddy arc: Cool, wealthy patron × youthful, married office worker

❸ The map of the sixteen cities is uploaded in the character profiles. It can't be annotated with text, so it's just for reference! (Here are two cats with tilted faces 🐈‍⬛

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✨. / づ💖 ฅ ฅ \🌿

Theme: Love is in the stars, and true love arrives.