Back to Hong Kong Tonight

For the first twenty-five years of his life, Qi Wang had everything go his way, living a carefree, extravagant life among the wealthy.

Handsome and surrounded by admirers, he was especially favored by his father, even though he was only an illegitimate son of the Qi family.

Then he took over the family company. Before long, the company was investigated, and he was sent to prison.

Three years behind bars destroyed him. His face was disfigured, his legs were broken, and he died with his soul extinguished.

At last, he understood: he had been nothing more than a scapegoat, carefully groomed for the role.

When he opened his eyes again, he had returned to three years earlier.

He had just come back from studying abroad and hadn't yet taken over the company.

There was still time.

He moved carefully, playing the part of the dutiful son in the old charade of "a loving father and a filial son" with flawless precision. He was a social butterfly in the world of fame and fortune, stirring up trouble over drinks. Using profit as bait and greed as his blade, he quietly wove an inescapable net, making those wolves in sheep's clothing suffer the consequences of their own actions and fall into ruin.

Everything was under his control. The only surprise was that he accidentally saved Cheng Jiming, who was supposed to die in the line of duty.

From then on, they were bound together for life.

-

Cheng Jiming, senior inspector with the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau.

In his eyes, Qi Wang was frivolous, cunning, and hypocritical, a dangerous man through and through.

Many cases seemed to have some connection to Qi Wang, and Cheng Jiming was the hunter lurking in the shadows, waiting for his prey to reveal a weakness.

But after one drunken night, he awoke to find Qi Wang lying naked beside him, vivid red marks covering his body.

Qi Wang had become mysterious and passionate, like a lush red poppy: deadly poisonous, yet... alluring.

Cheng Jiming was willing to be the leash that held Qi Wang back, keeping him from plunging into utter ruin.

But he never expected to be swept into a storm powerful enough to destroy him...

(Almost) an aloof, scheming beauty bottom x a righteous standard-bearer (who turns into) a dark, obsessive top

[Venomous Snake x Hound]

[Bonus Scene]

After someone turns dark...

With his hands cuffed to the headboard, Qi Wang smiles at the man above him and says, "How about putting a few cameras beside the bed and filming an erotic movie? You're impressive, and I'm handsome. It might be a box-office hit."

Cheng Jiming shuts him up with a kiss. "You slut."

Qi Wang laughs, his body shaking. "Don't you like it?"

PS:

1. The setting is inspired by mid-1990s Hong Kong, though some details are fictional.

2. Both leads have flaws. If you want perfect characters, this may not be for you.

3. The characters' values do not represent the author's own.

4. A shamelessly old-fashioned, melodramatic story with a happy ending.

Theme: Finding your way back to a better life