The Shadow Self

Pairing: Cold, domineering, self-righteous, unhinged top x gloomy, lovesick, obsessively possessive bottom.

Lu Xun, a mathematics professor at Zhenzhou University.

Alone in the world, with neither father nor mother.

He has a handsome face but a terrible temper. At thirty-six, he doesn't even have a partner.

If he accidentally died at home one day, chances were no one would notice.

His friend had set him up on blind dates several times, and every one had gone horribly wrong.

He said the good ones were out of his league, the bad ones weren't good enough, and rejected every handsome, beautiful, old, and young prospect.

His friend was furious: "Lu Xun, just you wait!"

Lu Xun didn't care. "I'm waiting."

And while he waited, he really did get someone formidable.

Xu Mingqing, a well-known author and screenwriter.

After his biological father died, he inherited billions.

Someone like him was completely outside Lu Xun's criteria for a partner.

But...

"Your ex still can't get over you. Want to get married?"

In all his years, Lu Xun had only ever had one serious ex.

He looked up, and sure enough, it was that lunatic.

"Fine."

With Xu Mingqing's temperament, even if Lu Xun died, Xu would insist on a ghost marriage.

Lu Xun and Xu Mingqing had a messy history.

When they were young, neither would give an inch. Their mouths were weapons, and they aimed straight for each other's hearts.

In the year they loved each other most and felt most helpless, Xu Mingqing told Lu Xun:

"I don't understand love, but I can't live without you."

Lu Xun squeezed his throat, his wrist tightening.

"How interesting."

Both pretended to love each other in front of their friends, while treating the other as their own possession. Neither of them meant a word of it.

Years after their breakup, they reunite and get married. Their friends all think their old love has been rekindled.

But to Lu Xun, it's just something to try for fun.

The lunatic has gotten interested again and remembered his old flame from youth.

To Lu Xun's surprise, this time Xu Mingqing truly falls in love with him.

He breaks down again and again, screaming himself hoarse.

At last, this tedious game of romantic one-upmanship comes to an end, with the loser bowing his head in submission.

The lunatic failed to move his coldhearted lover.

"I don't understand love. If you love me, that's your own problem."

[Reading Guide]

1. A gloomy love story with melodrama everywhere and a couple who are always at odds.

2. The top really is coldhearted, cynical, and cruel. The bottom dumped him once before, and the top holds a grudge. He only falls in love with the bottom later.

3. Neither of them is a good person. The bottom is irresponsible and a scumbag at heart, but gets so caught up in acting that he ends up believing his own performance.

4. Not recommended for fans who strongly favor either character or want a sweet, lovey-dovey couple. This will absolutely poison you.

5. Not pure angst: half sweet, half painful. A story about two people who don't understand love learning how to love.

6. Some humble apartment romance. They were both broke when they dated in the past.

7. Written for the author's personal kinks, with total creative freedom. No writing advice, please.

Theme: Get proper treatment and start over.