Liaoliao

[Blurb]

"A story about a washed-up singer who goes back to school and unexpectedly gets tangled up with a young master whose body is weak and whose resolve is even weaker."

Ji Yufeng x Gang Yanhe

Down-and-out x flamboyant

A haughty guy who doesn't care whether he lives or dies and thinks the whole world is whatever x a goofy, vain narcissist who loves provoking people, then comes crawling back to make it up to them

_

In an alley, Gang Yanhe ran into his taciturn, world-weary deskmate with a leg disability, who was being surrounded and beaten up. But the kid neither fought back nor kicked, neither told his parents nor called the police, and neither cried, made a fuss, nor threatened to hang himself... His expression shifted between stormy and calm, and his tone was sarcastic, as if he might suddenly explode and kick everyone around him.

He had all the makings of a novel's school bully... If Gang Yanhe hadn't spotted the crutch beside him, he might have believed it.

Was getting beaten up like this the trend this year?

They were deskmates, after all. If he stood by and did nothing, there'd be no one to tease in class later.

After the thugs were scared off, Gang Yanhe crouched down and poked the kid's cheek. "How can someone be such a coward?" He was a young master, at least.

"Stay out of it."

Even though the other guy didn't appreciate it and was impossible to figure out.

_

Gang Yanhe stared at the class ranking list, where someone had deliberately torn off number 33, and said, exasperated and amused, "Who's number 33?"

A classmate pointed behind him and whispered, "I think it's your deskmate..."

Gang Yanhe immediately turned around and met the expressionless face behind him. A mischievous idea came to him. "Then from now on, you can change your name to..."

"Liao Liao." (Both characters are pronounced liao, third tone.)

_

With one earbud in, Ji Yufeng passed the music room. When he spotted the person inside and realized it was his deskmate, whom he "went out of his way to avoid," he prepared to quicken his pace...

But a familiar voice singing came through, holding him there with his other ear. The person inside sat down casually, surrounded by sheets of music, and hummed intently while plucking at an instrument in his hands.

"Tu manques pas de courage"

"Alors viens jouer dehors"

The music drew to a close, leaving only the guitar's final notes.

Their eyes met. Neither looked away.

"Why are you standing there eavesdropping?"

"...I was just passing by."

It's actually a story about someone who has been in love for a short while, discovers the other guy's secret identity, and then, through a series of coincidences, they fall in love with each other.

A sweet romance (though it may get a little bittersweet).

But since it's a school story, comedy and a lighthearted tone are naturally the focus ^~^

The title and the nickname "Liao Liao" came from a sudden idea (the author can't tell the character for 3 apart from the character for liao...)

P.S. The one being pursued has a dark side and an extreme mindset. The pursuer isn't just a goofy guy either. People are complex and have many sides.

The song's theme is taken from "Dehors."

Theme: I witness your hopes and listen to the things that hold you back.