The Pure-Hearted Young Master Is Smoking Hot!

[He thinks he's the one on top, but he's always been the one getting topped: an arrogant, short-tempered, silly beauty × a cold, calculating prince who discovers a taste for it after a night of passion]

*The young master of the Du family, Du Ziming, has been troubled lately.

The other day, his classmates mocked him for being an innocent virgin who knew nothing about sex. Since he was very concerned about his reputation, he immediately went to drink and have fun at a brothel.

He had never touched alcohol before and was a terrible drunk. He failed to make sense of the brothel's wine and ended up somehow sleeping with a "respectable man."

With a stern father at home who was like a vicious guard dog, and a strict curfew, he fled with a hand over his sore rear.

But he was kind by nature, and his conscience tormented him. After days of inner turmoil, he finally "made up his mind" to take responsibility like a man.

So, working diligently and enduring his aching back, he went to the "creditor's" home every night to "atone."

*Prince Xiao Fang of Qin was cold by nature and had no interest in men or women. That is, until he met a lively young male courtesan at a brothel one night. They spent the whole night in a heated battle, and he didn't sleep a wink.

Just when he was at the height of his passion, the young man vanished without a trace. Then one day, he happened to catch sight of that familiar figure.

His eyes narrowed dangerously, and he was about to go arrest him when the little rascal came right up to him of his own accord, looking up with a sweet little face and watery eyes as he apologized:

"I was wrong that night. It was my fault..."

He studied the young man's fair, rosy cheeks and gave a noncommittal reply.

But before he could say anything, the little rascal sprang another bombshell:

"I'll take responsibility for you."

"...?"

In his more than twenty years of life, he'd never once heard anyone say they would take responsibility for him.

*Later, Du Ziming dutifully "took responsibility" for a while, "bearing humiliation and hardship" as he clung to his "man's" moral principles. He stubbornly kept at it, but the job was more unbearable than copying the Analects a hundred times.

At last, one night, he broke down:

"I can't do this anymore... Sob, sob, I'm done taking responsibility." He emptied his savings and tossed them to Xiao Fang, hoping to cut all ties.

Perhaps his bold resolve had shaken the other man, because after that Xiao Fang really did rein himself in. Du Ziming gradually started to feel better. Just as he began to think he could go on living like this, he accidentally discovered the truth:

Xiao Fang was actually a prince. All along, Du Ziming had been the one who'd been manipulated, used, and thoroughly taken advantage of. From beginning to end, everything between him and Xiao Fang had been a deceitful game.

Du Ziming was furious.

To hell with taking responsibility, and to hell with the prince!

He packed his bags that very night and ran off without looking back.

And Prince Xiao Fang of Qin, a man who had planned for every eventuality and wielded power over the entire court, stared at the empty bed. For the first time in his life, he tasted panic.

*Reading guide: 1v1, happy ending, both leads are virgins, older top

A little chasing after the bottom, not pure sweetness, with a touch of bitterness.

Alternate setting, many original worldbuilding details.

Bonus scenes in the author's notes ^^

Theme: Follow your heart and let your actions be true