Hello, Please Don't Accept My Secret Crush

Dong Miqing is an odd girl living on an island of her own. It's as if a layer of fog separates her from the world, leaving her entirely unaware of the undercurrents swirling around her. That is, until she gets placed in a new class in her second year of high school and makes her first friend. Dong Miqing learns from her friend how to secretly admire a boy. But Dong Miqing doesn't have anyone she likes, so she picks Min Shu, the most popular boy in school, as her secret crush. She doesn't quite get the hang of it. Her friend says, “Have you never written him a love letter? When you like someone, you can't help writing them one.” Dong Miqing keeps a straight face. “I have. I couldn't help it.” She silently makes a note: When you like someone, you have to write them a love letter. Then she goes to the library, finds a book called A Guide to Sweet Talk, and copies its contents word for word into a love letter for Min Shu. Min Shu, upon receiving the letter: ?? Why is it so cheesy and greasy? Her friend says, “When you like someone, and he walks past you, you want to look at him but you're too shy, so you can only sneak glances at him.” Dong Miqing nods along. “Yeah, that's right.” She silently makes a note: From now on, whenever she runs into him, she has to look at him. The third time Dong Miqing stares at him with an unblinking, completely undisguised gaze, Min Shu says, “Is there something strange about me that makes you keep staring?” Dong Miqing answers earnestly, “Oh, there's a spot of ink below your mouth. I really want to wipe it off.” Min Shu: “...” It's a mole, okay? Dong Miqing thinks she's been a pretty attentive secret admirer, but Min Shu doesn't like her in the slightest. Then her only friend suddenly turns against her, too. Dong Miqing has messed everything up. But it doesn't matter. After all, she's always been alone. * Min Shu is the brightest star at Rongcheng No. 1 High School. His grades, temperament, character, and looks are all outstanding. He's the dream boy so many girls at school pine for, but he's never fallen for any of them. Until an utterly peculiar girl bursts into his world with a bold, blunt, and completely unconventional attitude, leaving a vivid mark on his heart. Min Shu has seen her drifting freely through the world she created, unrestrained as a fairy. He is hopelessly drawn to her and falls deeper and deeper, until he's immersed in the warmth of her soul and can't escape. But in the end, she tells him she never liked him. She only needed a secret crush to share her thoughts with her friend, and he was the perfect choice. But that's all right. At least, among all the possible choices for a secret crush, he was the best in her eyes. He believes she can invite him into her paradise, and that he can take her by the hand and show her all the beautiful things he's experienced. * The summer vacation of their second year of high school. A cool mountain breeze sweeps through the summer heat. Min Shu lowers his eyes and watches tenderly as the girl rolls up her trouser legs, revealing two slender, snow-white calves. She buries them in the soft earth and closes her eyes, facing into the breeze. “Dong Miqing.” “Mm?” “Are you planting yourself?” “I'm planting a tree.” She suddenly leans close to his ear. Her voice is secretive, as if she's sharing a huge secret: “I often feel like I'm a tree. My roots should sink deep into the earth, and I should grow branches and leaves.” “Let the wind blow through me, let birds perch on me, and let little fairies build a beautiful castle inside me. Let them stand on my branches, wander through my layers of leaves, and sing and dance as they please.” ○ One-on-one romance, both leads are each other's only partners, happy ending ○ They don't date while in high school ○ The heroine only mistakenly believes the hero doesn't like her. That's not true Theme: Don't let sincere feelings go unreturned