Drunken Ride

Shen Banhan has had a wonderful pen pal for years. Their writing is gentle, their stories moving, and the comics they create bring her to tears. They even make up little fairy tales just for her.

She's always been sure her pen pal must be a kind, beautiful, shy, considerate girl!

Then a transfer student moves in next door, and, as luck would have it, becomes her classmate.

She looks at the lazy, aloof, sharp-tongued boy in front of her, then glances at the familiar penguin avatar in the group chat...

Shen Banhan: ???!!!

Remembering all the melodramatic writing, dark angst, and outrageous things she'd sent...

Shen Banhan nearly loses it on the spot: How is this any different from public humiliation? How is this any different from putting my browser history up on the school bulletin board? How? Is? It? Different?

Shen Banhan swears she'll stay single for another seventeen years: she's taking this secret to her grave. No one's digging it up!

What she doesn't know is...

Chi Wang has known all along.

And when she was flustered and pretending she didn't know who was on the other end, asking her pen pal for advice, he used his pen-pal account to teach her "108 Ways to Pursue a Guy" with wild enthusiasm.

"If you like the person next door, just knock on his door."

"From what you've told me, he probably likes you too. If you're afraid to say it in person, write him a letter or send him a message."

Unfortunately, Shen Banhan is a coward when it comes to intimacy. She worked up her courage and, half believing the advice, did... half of it.

She screwed up her courage and knocked on the neighbor's door. "Would you be willing to... let me help you with your Chinese studies?"

Chi Wang's composed smile instantly collapsed.

She wrote a note: "Actually, I like you" (obliterated by a thick black line) "Are you stealing the little megaphone again today to shout in the corner for the boss to give you chicken cutlet?"

Chi Wang's eyes, which had just started to brighten, instantly turned cold.

And so, that handsome, refined face grew darker each time. Chi Wang was driven to the brink by her, furious, the corners of his eyes flushed red, his expression fierce.

That night, she received a new email. It contained just one line:

"Shen Banhan, come next door and confess your feelings to me right now.

If you stall any longer, you... I'll disappear from your life for good!"

Reading Guide:

Warm on the outside, cold on the inside, a conceited little menace x cold on the outside, warm on the inside, comic artist

Both leads have vicious tongues and are masters of passive-aggressive remarks.

100% school life, with no real school or city as a model.

Guiding Principle: Growing up means renewing yourself.