At twenty-seven, Song Qingxu completed the paperwork and brought twelve-year-old Anran home.
The child hardly ever spoke. Every day, she would crouch in a corner, clutching a sketchbook that was nearly full. Song Qingxu never pressured her to start calling her Mom. She simply bought her new paintbrushes and turned the spare bedroom into an art studio for her. Song Qing'an, Song Qingxu's younger sister, had just returned from abroad, and she bickered with Anran every day, accusing her sister of playing favorites.
Song Qingxu thought life was good this way. She had done everything a guardian ought to do, keeping proper boundaries and never crossing the line.
That was until Anran turned eighteen, when Song Qingxu happened to open that old sketchbook. Every page was filled with drawings of her.
A fifteen-year age gap had kept them apart at first, but it couldn't stop the child from stubbornly drawing closer over time.
· A fifteen-year age gap. While the heroine is underage, their bond is purely familial, centered on healing and caregiving, with no romantic boundary-crossing whatsoever. The romance begins only after she is an adult.
· One-on-one romance, both leads have only ever been with each other, happy ending, and a comforting slice-of-life story.
· Everyday family life with a hint of romantic rivalry, not an empowering wish-fulfillment story about a strong female lead.
Theme: A story about love, companionship, and growing up. Over the long years, they learn to bravely overcome society's prejudices and face their true feelings.
