I Have a Crush on Your Brother

[The print edition has been retitled Softhearted. Preorders open at 7 p.m. on December 30. Visit Weibo user @SuAsuShiwu for the purchase link.]

Wen Ning's grandfather made a marriage arrangement with Old Master Jiang years ago.

Jiang Lin, the eldest son of the Jiang family in his generation, was six years older than Wen Ning, so the engagement went to his younger brother, Jiang Lie, who was closer to her in age.

Later, Wen Ning went missing for a while after an accident. During that time, a video of the second young master Jiang, who claimed he had fallen in love with her at first sight, passionately kissing a movie star went viral, causing a sensation across the internet.

Wen Ning barely saw Jiang Lie after they grew up, and she had no desire to go digging for a husband in a garbage heap.

For certain reasons dating back to childhood, she had never considered Jiang Lin as a possibility.

As a result, the marriage arrangement between the two families was called off.

*

Wen Ning put the engagement behind her. After returning to the country, she set her sights on a man and, after pursuing him for a while, successfully started dating him.

He was six years older than her: Shen Mingchuan, the famous heir to the Shen Group. Tall and handsome, he could make even a refined suit and shirt feel imposing. He habitually spoke in a commanding tone, but treated her with the utmost care, giving her almost anything she wanted.

Aside from not letting her call him by his name, liking her to call him "big brother," and having a little habit of taking charge when they kissed, Wen Ning could find absolutely nothing wrong with him as a boyfriend.

For a while, Wen Ning thought their relationship would stay this sweet forever.

Until one day, she accidentally discovered that her boyfriend wasn't Shen Mingchuan at all. He was Shen Mingchuan's childhood friend, the older brother of her former fiance, the equally famous eldest son of the Jiang family, Jiang Lin, the man she had never considered.

Wen Ning: "...?"

Did I owe your Jiang family something in my past life?

#Not quite. Your Jiang family actually owed you a betrothal gift in your past life.#

#Tell us, would you like a yacht or a private jet as your gift? You can have both.#

#Let's queue up Happy Breakup for President Jiang in advance.#

#Though they'll still get back together in the end.#

A sweet girl with a jumble of random thoughts who talks a little too much x a domineering CEO who might be a little, uh, kinky (but not really).

[Reader's Guide]

* Still a silly, sweet story.

* Includes a bit of showbiz.

* The pacing is unhurried, with lots of everyday life.

* Jiang Lie is just a plot device. I'll change the title if I think of something more suitable.

* Blurb archived on 21/02/12.

--------- Upcoming story ---------

Lemon Soda Candy

In high school, the second-boldest thing Zhou Anran ever did was secretly slip two lemon soda candies into Chen Luobai's desk on a day when he seemed particularly unhappy.

Back then, he was the adored pride of heaven.

She was an ordinary classmate whose name he couldn't even remember.

When they met again at university, Zhou Anran, who had worked herself to the bone just to get into a top school, still didn't stand out among all the academic stars. Chen Luobai, meanwhile, once again became the center of attention as soon as he arrived on campus.

Zhou Anran thought they would never cross paths again, but one day in an elective class, Chen Luobai put two identical lemon soda candies into her desk.

"Have you ever tried these candies?" he asked, as if casually.

Zhou Anran's heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head and said nothing.

Chen Luobai continued, "I know these candies because, back in high school, someone secretly slipped two into my desk. Everyone else put love letters there, but she only put two candies in mine. But..."

He paused.

Zhou Anran couldn't help turning to look at him. Her gaze met the boy's smiling, intent eyes. He looked at her as if his words carried a hidden meaning.

"They were pretty sweet."

Later, on the night he kissed her for the first time, he said the exact same thing.

One day, what you hope for will come true.

Theme: Lies will come back to haunt you. Honesty is a virtue.