Longing for the Mortal World

[The entire story has been thoroughly revised, with nearly 20,000 new characters of plot and 30,000 characters of bonus extras. It differs greatly from pirated versions, so please support the official release.]

[Buddhist-minded and cool × Cruel yet devoted]

At the start of senior year, a stunning transfer student arrives at No. 1 High School. She wears a string of Buddhist prayer beads, but is aloof and cool as a celestial maiden, keeping everyone at a distance.

Some compare her to Chen Xu, the top student in their grade, calling them the two faces of No. 1 High School.

The first time Si Fan sees Chen Xu, he's opening a can of cola for the girl beside him, popping the tab one-handed as the bubbles fizz.

Her friend says he has never lacked admirers, but only has eyes for the girl by his side.

Before long, rumors spread around school that Chen Xu has fallen for someone else. Someone sees him cornering the transfer student, wearing a shameless grin.

"Little nun, want to come down the mountain with me?"

Everyone thinks no one could ever win over aloof, distant Si Fan. Yet Chen Xu manages it.

The proud, unruly boy submits only to her, doting on her to no end.

But their relationship is as brief as a flash in the pan, ending just one month after the college entrance exams.

Those who watched from the sidelines assume Chen Xu has fallen for someone else again.

They have no idea that she dumped him without warning, blocked him on every platform, and cut off all contact.

She leaves decisively, taking everything with her except the string of prayer beads she always wore.

Later, Chen Xu, who never believed in gods or Buddha, has a string of prayer beads around his wrist and never takes it off.

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Years later, they run into each other at a bar. When asked which of his ex-girlfriends he remembers most, Chen Xu grins and says, "Still the first one."

His friends egg him on to call her. He expects the call not to go through, but it connects. No one answers for a long time.

Si Fan sits opposite him, her phone vibrating in her pocket for a full thirty seconds.

Afterward, Chen Xu blocks her path and asks through gritted teeth, "What, finally decided to take me off your blacklist?"

Si Fan's voice is flat. "My phone was broken before."

He drops his calm facade and sneers. "You treated me like a dog back then. You think I'll believe that bullshit?"

But when those cool, clear eyes look at him, all his anger and resentment seem insignificant.

* Both leads have only ever been with each other. The male lead has only had one girlfriend, the female lead.

* Their romance begins after they become adults following the college entrance exams.

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Please add my next novel, "Playing Along," to your reading list!

College to city life / Rekindled romance / The heroine trains her man

Everyone says Xu Chuyan, the aloof goddess of the law school, is impossible to pursue.

Zhao Tingchen makes a bet with his friends that he'll win her over without breaking a sweat.

But growing flowers is easy. Keeping them alive is hard.

Before long, the whole circle is laughing about it.

A wealthy young master like Zhao Tingchen has somehow been tamed by his girlfriend, who has him eating out of her hand and doing exactly as she says.

Not long afterward, the story changes.

Zhao Tingchen has been dumped by Xu Chuyan. Their breakup ended badly, and they parted on bitter terms.

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They meet again at a law firm.

When Zhao Tingchen is overwhelmed by financial troubles at his company, Xu Chuyan arrives with her team and promises to help him win the lawsuit.

After signing the contract, Xu Chuyan gives him a polite smile. "Mr. Zhao, once I've helped you with this, we won't owe each other anything."

"Won't owe each other anything?"

Zhao Tingchen scoffs and steps closer. "Xu Chuyan, are you saying I should just forget how you played with my feelings?"

She lifts her head, her cool eyes raised to his. "I played with your feelings. So what do you want me to do about it?"

Her tone is just as brazen as it was back then.

Zhao Tingchen grits his teeth in fury.

He wonders how she can show up in front of him as if nothing happened.

He remembers her blushing as she kissed him.

Her eyes red as they argued.

He remembers how she trampled his sincere feelings, then kicked him aside without a word.

He wants to ask her one thing.

Did she ever love him?

- You are the reason love songs exist.

* From "Playing Along" by Wang Yitai and Ai Re

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Theme: Treat others sincerely