Playing Nice [Older Woman-Younger Man Romance]

Qu Ning really wants to break up with her boyfriend, who is five years younger than her.

But then she thinks about how he came to City A for her, learned to drive for her, and spent the entire summer of his freshman year staying home like a good boy, doing her laundry and cooking for her. He picks her up when she works overtime and brings her flowers on weekends.

He’s so gentle and considerate, and his heart and eyes are full of her.

Most of all, he has a flawless face that could slay everyone. When he smiles, it’s like cherry blossoms suddenly drifting down over a springtime street. Anyone would want to cherish him carefully.

So she really can’t bear to hurt him... How is she supposed to tell such an innocent boy, “You’re wonderful, but I just don’t like you”?

Then one day, Qu Ning goes to a bar with her coworkers to drink away her sorrows, lamenting that she doesn’t know how to break up with him.

“He really likes me, I know that for sure. And I’m his first love. I’m scared that if I dump him, it’ll leave him with some kind of emotional scar.”

“He’s such a good boy. He’s never had a rebellious phase, not once, and he’s always been a straight-A student. He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body...”

Suddenly, her words are drowned out by a burst of excited shrieks from the girls.

Qu Ning turns around. On the stage, under the girls’ rapt attention, is a bad boy with the exact same face as her sweet, obedient boyfriend. Wearing a tight black tank top that shows off his sexy, defined muscles, he plays the bass with his head bowed.

Cool and cocky, bad and handsome.

Qu Ning: ???

The good news is that after seeing her boyfriend’s true colors, she can finally break up with him.

Her coworker’s take: “If you break up with him, he won’t be hurt at all. Those girls are all dying for you to hurry up and let him go.”

The bad news is, she seems a little tempted by her boyfriend’s bad-boy side too.

Reader Advisory:

1. Older woman, younger man, five-year age gap: he’s 19, she’s 24.

2. The pure, kind image of the male lead in the female lead’s eyes is all an act. He’s afraid that if he isn’t obedient, his big sister won’t love him. In reality, his personality is the complete opposite.

3. The original inspiration dates back to February 2022. A screenshot of the first draft of the blurb was taken on November 15, 2025.

Theme: Be brave and pursue the love you want.