The Stand-In Says, "Thanks, But I'm Done"

[I am very sorry, but I haven't been able to update on time lately. This story is currently on hiatus. Once I finish writing the rest, I will publish it all at once! It will not be put behind a paywall. Comments on individual chapters are open, so come join the fun!]

Entertainment industry | Younger seme | Pursuit-after-the-breakup arc | Three-year age gap | Melodrama

A gentle, devoted substitute seme making his way in the entertainment industry × a twisted, gloomy, but generous and affection-starved benefactor uke

Li Yang × Xu Qingze

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Because his face bears a seven- or eight-tenths resemblance to the movie star You He, Li Yang successfully enters the industry and debuts as a boy-band member under an entertainment company owned by Xu Group.

At the time, Li Yang is still an obscure rookie in the making. One call from his manager summons him away, and from then on he becomes Xu Qingze's secret lover.

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When Xu Qingze first meets Li Yang, he is colder than expected. He says only, "He looks like him, but he isn't him."

Li Yang knows perfectly well that Xu Qingze found him as a substitute. They don't talk about love. They each get what they need: Li Yang wants money and fame, while Xu Qingze wants someone by his side to pretend to be You He.

He and Xu Qingze are perfectly in sync in bed, and they get along well enough in daily life... Just as Li Yang starts to think things can go on like this, You He makes a comeback.

Xu Qingze finally has somewhere to direct the love he has carried for years. He decides to be brave once more and confess to You He, while Li Yang knows that a counterfeit can't compete with the real thing and chooses to leave.

Before parting from the benefactor who has been with him for five years, Li Yang smiles as gently as ever. "Xu Qingze, I hope you find happiness and that everything goes your way from now on."

But why isn't Xu Qingze smiling, now that he has gotten what he wanted?

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Li Yang's contract ends. After finishing his remaining work, he posts a farewell letter announcing his retirement on social media, then goes home alone with his suitcase and computer.

He has no idea what an uproar his departure causes. Xu Qingze curses out everyone on Li Yang's team, then abandons everything like a madman and rushes off to find him.

On a stormy night, urgent knocks at the door jolt Li Yang awake. He cautiously opens it, only for Xu Qingze, ice-cold and drenched from head to toe, to throw himself into his arms. A soft kiss silences all of Li Yang's astonishment...

When the kiss ends, Xu Qingze's trembling hand reaches up to caress the face he has missed day and night. He pleads, almost desperately, "...I was wrong. Come back to me, Li Yang... Please."

"You're not him. You're the only one I love."

Notes and content warnings:

1. The seme and uke have only ever been with each other. They are each other's first.

2. There is a melodramatic love triangle, but the uke's unrequited crush never loved him and had already rejected him before. The uke is the only one who was in love. The pursuit-after-the-breakup arc starts around the middle, and in a way, they dote on each other.

3. There is no real-life inspiration! No real-life inspiration! The author doesn't know much about the entertainment industry. Any resemblance is purely coincidental!

4. There may be scenes involving stage performances or acting. The former won't take up much space, while the latter will be somewhat more detailed.

5. No guarantee everyone will enjoy this. If you're extremely particular about character roles, don't read it. The writing is childish and the logic is dead. If you can't get through it, I sincerely apologize; feel free to leave.

Theme: Falling in love with a real person