So Many Years, So Many Winters

One-to-one | Reunited after years apart | Both are inexperienced | Bickering couple | Happy ending

*Avoidant, wooden woman × direct, peacockish man | Miniature model creator × game investor

*Unaware of her own illness × deeply obsessed

A Russian saying goes: "Скольколет,сколькозим."

Literally, it means: "How many years, how many winters."

What it really means is: "Long time no see."

1/

Xia Zhiying had been gentle and bright since childhood.

Chi Yu had always been unruly and proud.

That was how they had seen each other for years.

After spending years away from home in an attempt to escape, Xia Zhiying quit her job and returned to Linqing. She planned to focus on making miniatures, but unexpectedly ran into Chi Yu, who she'd been out of touch with for six years.

The man stood there casually, his eyes as arrogant as ever and his words as merciless as ever.

Xia Zhiying assumed they would simply stay out of each other's way.

Until one gentle, moonlit night, they found themselves alone together.

A sweet scent lingered at her nose, while warm yellow lamplight laid a veil of ambiguity over the room.

Chi Yu pinned her between the bed and his arms, kissing her until she was overwhelmed. He stared at her with burning eyes, speaking one word at a time.

"Xia Zhiying, want to date me?"

2/

Xia Zhiying felt as if she were cursed.

She was gentle with everyone, but never let anyone truly get close.

But Chi Yu was the one unexpected thing she couldn't control.

She was always unconsciously drawn to him, constantly moving closer, only to retreat in a panic once she came to her senses.

When she avoided him again and again, Chi Yu didn't lose his temper like he used to.

He simply stood at a distance, his tone three parts mocking and seven parts bitter.

"You're pretty awful, Xia Zhiying."

3/

In the fifteenth year of knowing Xia Zhiying,

Chi Yu stepped into her miniature world: beautiful, unreal, made for dreams.

Looking at the person who had cried herself to sleep in his arms, Chi Yu brushed aside her damp hair. He was helpless, yet his touch was utterly gentle.

Long time no see.

We've made it through the long winter. From now on, we have to see each other every day.

*They save each other;

*The story shifts back and forth, with memories and the present interwoven;

*Neither is perfect. Both have emotional knots they need to untangle;

*A slow burn; focused on romance; full of push and pull.

Theme: The past, the present, and the future.