* An attack who fears intimate contact but bravely pursues love, Jiang Yao, x a hedgehog-like uke who fears intimate relationships but longs for love, Lin Wuqing
* Art student x psychologist
* Age gap / "fake" friends-with-benefits-to-lovers, actually a reunion after years apart / fake stepbrothers
They first met in a bar.
When Lin Wuqing first saw Jiang Yao, the silver hair on the man's head shone like a galaxy, glittering amid the neon lights until Lin Wuqing was dazzled and mesmerized.
He looked so much like him. His "cousin," who had died in a car accident three years earlier.
Even the mole on his neck was in exactly the same place and had the same shape.
But unfortunately, his younger brother had been tone-deaf, unable to carry a tune. The man on the bar's stage, on the other hand, had been born with a beautiful voice.
Maybe Lin Wuqing missed him too much, or maybe Jiang Yao really did look too much like him. When the man rushed off the stage and asked if he wanted to go upstairs, Lin Wuqing agreed as if he'd lost his mind.
All because the other man called him "big brother" in a similar face and a similar voice:
"Brother."
However... their first encounter did not go as smoothly as expected.
The atmosphere was intimate, the air grew warmer, and everything felt so natural, so perfectly timed.
Jiang Yao reached out, wrapped an arm tightly around Lin Wuqing's slender waist, lowered his head, and bit down hard on Lin Wuqing's thin lips.
The moment their lips touched, sparks flew, and there was no stopping them.
A raging fire...
Jiang Yao's kiss was a little clumsy, but he improved at lightning speed. Lin Wuqing was left dizzy and enthralled, letting the other man conquer him and take whatever he wanted.
Just as the two were about to naturally take things to the next stage, Jiang Yao suddenly acted as if he'd seen a ghost. He hurriedly let go of Lin Wuqing, bolted out the door, and fled, leaving Lin Wuqing bewildered, with tears in his eyes.
Lin Wuqing's excitement instantly plummeted.
Lin Wuqing: ???
Lin Wuqing: What was that? Is he a ghost? He ran faster than a rabbit! He's handsome, sure, but he seems like he's got something wrong with his head. What a disaster!
After finally working up the nerve to go out, Lin Wuqing was mocked by his foul-mouthed friend for being a "quickie guy." That made him even angrier, and he resolved to cut all ties with the "psycho" who had humiliated him.
The days that followed were peaceful, and Lin Wuqing thought their lives would never cross again.
Then, half a month later, Lin Wuqing was invited to give a public-service psychology talk at Y University.
"Now it's time for questions. Feel free to ask anything. Would anyone like to discuss this topic with me?"
Jiang Yao stood up at once, and Lin Wuqing's professional smile froze on his face.
"Professor Lin, I'd like to ask a question."
"Go ahead."
"A few days ago, I caused the person I love to misunderstand me. I've come to my senses and want to make things right. What should I do to show that I'm sincere and win their heart back?"
[Reader's Guide and Warnings]
(1) Neither lead is a player, and both are each other's first and only, in body and heart!
(2) Fake stepbrothers: the gong is the uke's parents' adopted son.
(3) The point of view is only for writing convenience and has nothing to do with shipping preferences.
(4) A subtle, emotion-focused romance with a relatively slow start.
[Blurb written on June 20, 2025, screenshot saved. Please don't steal the premise.]
Theme: Love helps us become better versions of ourselves.
