Take My Oranges Along

Gogo Gives the School Hunk a Sidekick [Reborn] is ongoing. The blurb is at the end!

[Delicate, stubborn, softhearted young master bottom x ruthless, quiet, doting chef top]

Zheng Cheng never expected the kidnapping from eight years ago to be connected to Hu Hanyu, who had turned him away and called him a clout-chasing hack.

Zheng Cheng, a young master from Shanghai and a cast-off of a wealthy family (or so he thinks), was forced to take a leave from school after developing complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) from being kidnapped as a child. He became a moderately successful online celebrity.

No, a food blogger. A professional one.

A downpour after a family gathering gave Zheng Cheng the perfect opportunity to give Hu Hanyu a hard time.

Who knew Hu Hanyu would be such a good cook, casually serving up a bowl of the "life-saving soup" Zheng Cheng had spent eight years searching for?

Now Zheng Cheng had no choice but to get involved with him again.

Zheng Cheng: ...Just you wait. Once I'm better, you'll be the first to pay for this!

Hu Hanyu smiled warmly. "What else do you want to eat? I'll make it."

*

Zheng Cheng couldn't figure Hu Hanyu out. Most of the time, he was as emotionally steady as a capybara.

When customers made trouble, he paid to remake their food and threw in dessert.

When people gave him a hard time, he cheerfully carried on making sushi.

Then someone switched Zheng Cheng's drink, and Hu Hanyu promptly flipped over the birthday person's champagne tower.

The other man flew into a rage. "You, Hu! You're nothing but the Zheng family's dog!"

Hu Hanyu turned to Zheng Cheng. "Woof woof. (^工^)"

Zheng Cheng: ??? Is this guy nuts...

But why does this feel kind of satisfying?

*

Hu Hanyu thought Zheng Cheng was interesting.

He was picky about everything and seemed pampered, but he actually knew a lot about food.

He was a real professional, not some clout-chasing hack.

To Hu Hanyu, who had fought his way through every real battle, all that bristling and nitpicking was like a little firework.

Hu Hanyu couldn't help teasing Zheng Cheng, then watching him angrily eat everything he'd made.

He looked so good when he ate.

Then one day, Hu Hanyu brushed Zheng Cheng's bangs aside and saw the beauty mark beneath his thick lashes. He suddenly realized that this special fondness of his came from the tender feelings he'd had as a boy.

*

Zheng Cheng, a top-tier star online, was hit with a wave of black PR and saw his public image collapse. After a huge fight with his family, he deleted his account overnight and disappeared.

His family was frantic, but Hu Hanyu was the only one who found him.

Zheng Cheng: Hu Hanyu, did you know I came to you for revenge in the first place?

Hu Hanyu kissed the beauty mark beneath Zheng Cheng's eye. "I know. But that's not why I'm here."

Hu Hanyu hoisted Zheng Cheng over his shoulders and took off, like a capybara carrying an orange.

Zheng Cheng: ??? When I said you'd pay for this, I didn't mean you should carry me off!

But this is so satisfying!

1v1, happy ending, both are each other's first and only.

* A relatively realistic setting, with a plot and a focus on romance. Mostly eating, drinking, and falling in love.

* I'm not a mental health professional, so please be understanding of the descriptions of psychological disorders.

* Set in Shanghai. Some street and shop names are based on real places, and Shanghai slang pops up now and then. The jokes aren't meant to be taken seriously.

Blurb for the upcoming novel

Du Huai's life is a complete mess, and he regrets two things:

First, he easily scored high enough in his mock exams to get into a top university, but didn't take the college entrance exam.

Second, he used his compensation money from a demolition to open an expensive boutique instead of buying a home. It went so badly he lost everything and got into a whole lot of trouble.

One night, deeply in debt, Du Huai was dancing for money at a bar when an old classmate called him into a private room. That's where he learned that Jiang Ruoyu, the effeminate guy who'd had a crush on him, had died by suicide in his third year of college, possibly over a broken heart.

What could Jiang Ruoyu possibly have been worried about? He wore new sneakers every day, came from a good family, got good grades, and was only a little less handsome than Du Huai. What heartbreak? Could it have been because of me?

I should've stuck with him!

Du Huai had another thing to regret.

"Here's to Jiang Ruoyu!"

After downing his drink, his head spun, and he was reborn.

So Du Huai made a decision to repay his debt of gratitude: save money, lie flat, and make sure Jiang Ruoyu doesn't die.

I'll be counting on you for the rest of my life, buddy!

Du Huai's underlings were dumbfounded. Their boss wasn't cool anymore.

The former campus celebrity now showed up on time, never skipped class, finished his homework, and had become Jiang Ruoyu's shadow.

Du Huai: Jiang Ruoyu, are you in a bad mood? Who upset you? I'll teach them a lesson!

Jiang Ruoyu: ...You.

Du Huai: Huh? (Smirks seductively.) That's impossible. I'm already the most handsome guy around.

Everyone thought Du Huai had gone crazy, including Jiang Ruoyu.

At first, after being reborn, Du Huai was always around Jiang Ruoyu.

"Jiang Ruoyu, aren't you in love with me? I like you too, so let's get together."

Jiang Ruoyu: ...You're nuts.

"Jiang Ruoyu, I like you today too. Do you love me more now?"

Jiang Ruoyu: ...You're insane.

"Baby Jiang, come to Daddy~"

Jiang Ruoyu: Get lost!

Later, Jiang Ruoyu pinned him against a wall and kissed him until he could barely breathe.

"You said you liked me, didn't you? Then come on!"

"Had enough of joking around like a straight guy?"

Seeing Du Huai frozen in place, Jiang Ruoyu smiled sadly, turned, and walked away.

Du Huai finally came to his senses and wiped his mouth. "He... is such a good kisser!"

Later still, Du Huai lounged around bored, waiting for Jiang Ruoyu to finish cutting up fruit so he could feed it to him, one bite at a time.

Du Huai: See? If I'd known you'd spoil me, I'd have relied on you to support me for my whole life.

Jiang Ruoyu: (Smiles.) Okay.

Du Huai: You believe I really like you now, right?

Jiang Ruoyu paused with the fruit knife in his hand. He didn't say anything, just nodded firmly.

That's right. I've even given you my life, of course I really love you.

1v1, happy ending, both are each other's first and only.

Theme: Stay away from restlessness and remain true to yourself