A Dream of Dazzling Elegance

[I've left this for too long and my inspiration has changed. The blurb needs revising, but the characterizations will stay the same. The setting may be changed to modern day.]

A cool, tough bottom who's good at taking a beating but bad at copying others × A ruthless capitalist top, an old man who goes mad for love

When Li Qinghe was young, his family fell into ruin. Xie Guanyan took him in and trained him to be a shadow guard. As they spent time together, they gradually fell in love. They hid their relationship from the world for years, hoping that one day they could be together openly.

But Li Qinghe learned that Xie Guanyan was on the verge of achieving his great ambitions, and that he himself was holding Xie back.

After much agonizing, Li Qinghe finally told Xie Guanyan, "I've long since grown tired of you."

During the years they were apart, Li Qinghe spent all his money on medical treatment for an illness. Forced to make a living, he returned to his old trade. During one assassination mission, he ran into an old friend, and the two began traveling together.

When Li Qinghe fell ill, his friend took him to the capital to seek treatment. There, he unexpectedly met Xie Guanyan again.

By then, Xie Guanyan had become a powerful figure among the aristocratic clans, always conducting himself with restraint, courtesy, and discretion.

Yet when he saw Li Qinghe coming and going with someone else, he couldn't help sneering. "I never expected you to be such a devoted man, Young Master Li."

Li Qinghe said nothing and fled with his friend.

Not long afterward, Li Qinghe received an assassination contract with a considerable reward. The client was Xie Guanyan.

He knew Xie Guanyan was targeting him, but for the money, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and go through with it.

Later, Li Qinghe failed his mission, and Xie Guanyan told him to repay him with his body.

As their passion deepened, Xie Guanyan stopped and asked, "When will you get tired of someone else?"

Li Qinghe looked at him. "Does it matter?"

Notes:

1. Blurb finalized on 2024/12/23.

2. This falls far short of excellent, serious fiction. Comments are welcome, but please respect other people's work; comparisons are not welcome. The terrible writing is entirely fictional. If you like it, stay; if you don't, don't force yourself.

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