After the Rain Clears [A Man's Secret Crush]

*【100,000 words already written. Updates follow the rankings before signing, then daily updates afterward. Working hard to build up bookmarks.】 *【The sister story to my next novel, Headlong into Surrender, is now available for pre-order.】 Male unrequited love | Wealthy families | Reunion after years apart | Slow and steady romance | Sweet romance Gentle and sincere x Slow to warm up and rather dense Peacock-like man x Wooden-headed woman 28 x 26 “If you keep your distance, I’ll do my best to get closer to you, until you see me again.” 1- On a stormy day in Gangcheng, the sky beyond the hotel lobby’s floor-to-ceiling windows was so dark and heavy it seemed ready to fall. Extreme weather had arrived without warning. Jiang Yushu stood alone by the entrance, momentarily at a loss. “Splash!” Water sprayed lightly beside the tires. The car door opened. A man stepped out first, holding a black umbrella. Jiang Yushu recognized him: the grandson of a board member of the Zhou Group. In her memories, he had been gentle and quiet, and always treated her very well. The man stopped in front of her, rain soaking one shoulder as his gaze settled on her stunned face. The umbrella enclosed a space meant for just the two of them, shutting out the roar of the rain. “Miss Jiang.” His voice was gentler than usual. It cut through the noise of the rain, clear and distinct. “Let me take you.” 2- One day later on, Jiang Yushu ran into Mu Chi again. Drunk out of her mind, she clung to him and traced his handsome, expressive features with her fingertips. Lowering her voice, she asked, “You’re so handsome. Want to be my boyfriend?” Mu Chi froze for a second. His gaze fell on her lips, and he answered without hesitation, “Okay.” The next morning, Jiang Yushu remembered the ridiculous events of the night before. She tried to escape, but he blocked her at the entrance to her residential complex. For several days, the man pursued her relentlessly, repeatedly approaching her under the pretext of work collaborations. Not long afterward, Forest Studio began recruiting assistants for a comic convention. Jiang Yushu looked at the man who had volunteered and frowned. “Sorry, our studio doesn’t hire male assistants.” At that, Mu Chi leaned toward her. His gaze was as gentle as water as he smiled and said, “That’s all right, Miss Jiang. I’m here to pursue you.” Jiang Yushu: “...” During their collaboration, Mu Chi kept to his place and fulfilled all her requests. Jiang Yushu was grateful for his thoughtfulness and care, and never imagined anything more. She simply assumed they would remain ordinary friends. That was until the day he stood her up to attend a matchmaking meeting arranged by his elders. Inside the car, Jiang Yushu grabbed Mu Chi by the collar and pinned him against the seat, revealing her domineering side. “Didn’t you agree to be my boyfriend?” Mu Chi looked utterly astonished, then curled his lips in teasing amusement. “When did I agree to that?” Jiang Yushu refused to listen. She leaned down and bit his lip, her tone serious. “Now. Right now. This instant.” With that, the man took her soft lips in his, covering them again and again with urgent, domineering kisses. “Okay.” “But this time, you’re not allowed to take it back.” 【Bonus Scene】 The year after taking a break from publishing, Jiang Yushu launched a new series and returned to Gangcheng to hold a solo exhibition. In the crowded exhibition hall, a woman in a haute couture gown sat at the center. Her makeup was understated, and her eyes held a gentle smile. She always spoke softly and kindly with her readers. At the side of the exhibition stand, a young man wearing a black mask helped sort the colored paper from time to time, and occasionally served as her photographer. A reader who had come from afar watched him closely. She noticed that although the handsome man worked diligently, he kept glancing at the woman beside him. It was obvious he had something more than work on his mind. Curious, the reader asked him outright, “Are you a fan of Teacher Jiang too?” At her words, Mu Chi’s eyes briefly stilled. He exchanged a smile with Jiang Yushu. He reached out and laced his fingers with hers. As the pink diamond ring caught the light, he said, his face full of happiness, “Yes. She’s my fiancée.” Story Notes: 1. Both leads are each other’s first love and have no prior sexual partners; four-year age gap; the man pursues the woman. 2. The male lead has had a crush on the female lead for many years. The matchmaking meeting was a misunderstanding, and he has only ever loved her, body and soul. 3. The female lead once had a soft spot for him. After they reunite, his aggressive pursuit makes her reconsider their relationship. She puts herself first and doesn’t lose her head over love. 4. The plot contains many fictional elements, so please don’t read it as a reflection of reality. 2026/08/04 Theme: I’ve liked you for so many years