When I Was Young, I Didn't Know How Wonderful You Were

At sixteen, Xiao Zhi made a name for himself at Pingsha Pass. With loving parents and doting siblings, he was known throughout the capital as the most loyal and dazzling young man around.

He lived boldly and freely, and couldn't stand his cousin from the Cui family, Xie Chi.

Xie Chi was just a scholar. So what if he had read a few more books? He looked down on everyone, and had the air of a poor, sour-faced scholar!

They couldn't stand each other, and were always at daggers drawn.

Whenever they met, sparks flew. They glared and sneered, their mutual dislike etched into their bones.

Then suddenly, the fires of war blazed, and the great realm began to crumble.

The barbarians' iron hooves trampled the land. His father and brothers died on the battlefield, and an army of a hundred thousand was wiped out.

The emperor fled south, and the capital became an isolated city.

When Xiao Zhi crawled out of a mountain of corpses and rivers of blood, leading the remnants of his army as they tore through the barbarian forces and entered the capital, all he saw were bodies strewn everywhere.

And the scholar he'd once mocked for knowing nothing but how to write was killing with a sword in hand. Covered in blood, he had used his own flesh and blood to protect the women and children of the city in a hidden chamber.

The young man still carried himself as if the sky itself were beneath him, but his eyes held far too much pain.

Nor was Xiao Zhi welcomed with the young man's tearful gratitude. Instead, Xie Chi summoned all his strength to slap him across the face.

"Why are only five thousand of the hundred thousand soldiers left?!"

The young man's hoarse accusation tore open the bloody truth:

In the power struggles at court, they were all pawns to be discarded!

One was a traitor and a brute who relied on his strength.

The other was a stray dog, too proud and too doomed.

One had nowhere to run, and the other had nowhere to go.

The enemies of yesterday were forced into an alliance, and from then on entrusted each other with their backs and their futures.

Day one of entrusting his future to Xiao Zhi: I, Xie Chi, will stand beside whoever becomes the ruler of all under heaven.

Day one of entrusting his back to Xie Chi: Why did I believe that guy's nonsense? Ruler of all under heaven, my foot. I'd better go to bed.

Day six of entrusting his back to Xie Chi: The more I think about it, the more I regret it.

Day six of entrusting his future to Xiao Zhi: I regret it so much I can't sleep.

Day sixty-six of entrusting his back to Xie Chi: This kid isn't going to repay my kindness by stabbing me in the back, is he?

Day sixty-six of entrusting his future to Xiao Zhi: That bastard better not lose! How am I supposed to become prime minister if he does? Should I find someone else to back me?

Day six hundred and sixty-six of entrusting his back to Xie Chi: How did I never notice how handsome he is?

Day six hundred and sixty-six of entrusting his future to Xiao Zhi: His eyes have been injured so many times! Is my chance at the premiership still safe?

Day nine hundred and ninety-nine of entrusting his back to Xie Chi: I miss you so much I can't sleep. I'll write you a letter. Wear something warm, darling.

Day nine hundred and ninety-nine of entrusting his future to Xiao Zhi: Write back. And get dressed.

Later, whenever Xiao Zhi, who had restored the broken land, thought about the foolish things he'd done in his youth, he would clutch his chest and groan.

Xiao Zhi: I was young and couldn't see how lovely you were, mistaking you for a sour weed. Who said you were doomed to a short life? So many people outside are fighting to be your dog. Good thing I'm a house-trained one. Being close by let me win your heart! I often sigh over how lucky I am, that you didn't run off with someone else.

Xie Chi: Put some clothes on! I have a reputation to uphold!

One-on-one, happy ending. Two strong leads, lovers who start out as enemies.

A proud, open-hearted, passionate, straightforward gong x a proud, doomed, stubborn, obstinate, tsundere shou

Theme: If you like someone, say it out loud.