He's a Pretty Boy, but I'm Straight

Zhao Yushu transmigrated into a book, becoming the youngest son of the Zhao family. In the original story, Zhao Yushu had an older brother, two nephews, and a niece. The whole family pinched pennies to support his imperial exams, going hungry and poorly clothed. His two nephews were old enough to marry, but because the family had no money, they were still bachelors and had become a joke in the village.

The whole family hoped Zhao Yushu would pass the provincial exam and bring honor to them. But behind their backs, he spent their money on food, drink, and fun. In the end, his sister-in-law became ill from overwork, his brother fell to his death on a mountain, and with no strong laborer left in the family, they could no longer afford to support Zhao Yushu. Zhao Yushu urged his father to sell his young niece. Unfortunately for him, his two nephews overheard. During the ensuing argument, Zhao Yushu was killed with an axe by his eldest nephew.

The Zhao Yushu who had transmigrated into the book felt a chill run down his spine. Looking at his two nephews, who were nearly ten years older than him, he thought: This is serious!

Afterward, he studied hard and did his best to help with the housework. One day, he went to the river with his young niece to wash clothes. A young man pointed a laundry bat at him. "You still haven't given up? You even followed us to the river. Zhao Yushu, I'm telling you, we can never be together. A pheasant could never match a phoenix."

Zhao Yushu realized this was Qin Yu, the young man from the Qin family who had been betrothed to him since childhood.

Qin Yu's father was a butcher. After making good money over the years, he saw his own son growing more and more beautiful and poised, famous for miles around. Meanwhile, Zhao Yushu still hadn't even passed the county-level examination. So he went to the Zhao family to break off the engagement.

Zhao Yushu: Good thing he wants to break it off. I'm straight.

Zhao Yushu liked fair-skinned beauties with long legs, so he immediately delivered a harsh comeback: "Today you treat me like I'm nothing. One day, you'll be out of my league."

The other man replied, "Tch..."

Zhao Yushu helped his brother's family get rich. Money poured in, and later he bought a cow and some land. He even passed the county-level examination. With plenty of money in hand, he was thinking of persuading his father to find him a wife, but before he could do so, he was bundled into a sack and dragged into the woods that very night.

Qin Yu, teary-eyed, demanded, "Why haven't you come to marry me yet?"

Zhao Yushu: "Back then, you treated me like I was nothing. Now I'm out of your league."

Qin Yu moved. With a butcher's knife in his left hand and a heavy iron club in his right, he asked, "What did you say?"

"...I said I'll marry you tomorrow."

Qin Yu was the best-looking young man in Qin Village. His mother always said he was destined for a life of wealth and would one day become the spouse of a rich family. Qin Yu thought she was right. Zhao Yushu was handsome, looked like a young master, and was a scholar. He was sure to make something of himself. But when Zhao Yushu was fourteen, he was lecherous and always got handsy whenever he saw Qin Yu. Gradually, Qin Yu began to dislike him.

Later, when his father wanted to break off the engagement, Qin Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. But before they could end it, he noticed Zhao Yushu ran faster than a dog whenever he saw him. After the engagement was called off, Zhao Yushu wouldn't even look at him.

Qin Yu felt uneasy. Then he heard a phrase from a storyteller: "Playing hard to get." He suddenly understood.

After that, he asked Zhao Yushu's young niece to bring him food, clothes, and even money. The next day, the little girl told him, "Uncle was so happy to get your gift, he couldn't sleep all night."

Qin Yu: So it really is playing hard to get!

Theme: Let's build a harmonious home together.