Everyone Forgets Their Roots, Easy as Pie

[Scheming, sharp-tongued top x spoiled, fiery beauty bottom]

After the transmigrator leaves, Su Yunwei, whose body had been possessed, wakes up. But his life has already fallen from the VIP version of being born in Rome to the deluxe edition of a hellish start from the start:

A brother who has turned against him, a childhood friend who has cut ties, a flood of slander, and himself, thrown out of a wealthy family.

Worst of all, he has somehow acquired a love interest he "can never have, but will love even in death": Shen Shen, the original male lead.

He spent millions on him, betrayed his family for him, and was ultimately abandoned without a second thought.

But it doesn't matter. Soon, he awakens a System, destined to make a comeback, cheat his way to the top, and reach the pinnacle of life. Before he gets there, though, the System advises him to cling to a powerful man's coattails and ask him to help pay off his debt.

Su Yunwei isn't worried. It's only a few thousand yuan. He could pay it back hauling bricks.

The System laughs. "Who told you that you only owe ten thousand?"

?

How much is it, then?

Su Yunwei checks the debt collection texts and finally understands.

With interest piling on interest, it's eight million.

The transmigrator spent all that money chasing after a man. Well done.

He snatches up the powerful man's business card he tossed aside a moment earlier and calls him:

"Mr. Zhao, help me."

After Zhao Xingshan saves him, Su Yunwei treats him as his creditor and works hard to earn money, determined to pay him back as soon as possible.

He's in luck:

A livestream brings a tip from the top supporter, income +1;

A mysterious rich man buys his painting at an exhibition, income +1;

A powerful sponsor adds a bonus at a competition, income +10086;

Once he has finally saved enough to pay off his debt, he happily takes the money to Zhao Xingshan, thanks him for his generous help and care, and says he's going abroad to study. Maybe they'll meet again someday.

Zhao Xingshan watches him for a long time, his expression unreadable, then nods and says, "All right."

On the night before his departure, he drinks too much at a farewell party thrown by his friends and is carried home by someone in a daze. When he wakes, he finds himself asleep in Zhao Xingshan's room.

Su Yunwei is stunned.

His family and friends were all there last night, but Zhao Xingshan was the only one missing. He searches the whole house for him and accidentally opens Zhao Xingshan's collection room.

There are no antiques in the collection room.

There are paintings he sold to the mysterious rich man, the competition piece he gave to the powerful sponsor, the brushes he used, discarded drafts he painted, and seals he carved on a whim.

Just then, the half-closed door suddenly opens.

Zhao Xingshan must have been standing there for a while. After a moment of silence, he shuts the door and walks toward him.

At the click of the lock, Su Yunwei's heart jolts too.

So it turns out the money he used to pay off his debt all came from the creditor.

No, that's not the point.

The point is, can he still make his flight today?

Shen Shen relied on Su Yunwei for money and resources, climbing from a bastard son everyone in the Shen family could bully to the position of heir. He was riding high.

Recently, though, the pretty young master who used to follow him everywhere had disappeared.

Shen Shen doesn't care. He knows Su Yunwei: an empty head, with room in his heart and mind for no one but Shen Shen. If he's throwing a tantrum, all Shen Shen has to do is crook a finger, and the young master will come running back.

After a while, Shen Shen decides to swallow his pride and give Su Yunwei a little sweetness.

When he goes to see him, he discovers a new figure at Su Yunwei's side: Zhao Xingshan, the head of the Zhao family in the capital.

For the first time, Shen Shen has a thought he never expected.

Maybe Su Yunwei really will leave him.

Out of respect for an old friend, Zhao Xingshan deigns to help the young master of the Su family, whom he considers "a man of poor character who can't be salvaged," out of a tight spot.

His friends tease him, asking if Su Yunwei's pretty face has bewitched him.

Zhao Xingshan fiddles with his cuff link and gives a casual laugh. "A pretty face is all he has. Nothing worth mentioning."

Later, for an international competition themed "Beloved," Su Yunwei paints the profile of an unfamiliar man in his preliminary draft.

That night, he's pressed against the edge of a desk, his lower back crumpling the sketch on top of it.

The man leans over him, trapping him in a tiny space with nowhere to go. His voice is so gentle it's chilling:

"Yunyun, why didn't you paint me? Am I not good enough to show?"

P.S.:

1. One-on-one, both leads sexually inexperienced, happy ending.

2. Older top, eight-year age gap.

3. The bottom has a mild everyone-loves-him element, but only the top has romantic feelings for him.

Theme: Keep striving to live, even in adversity.