I Really Do Like You

[Please add my upcoming story, "Abandoned Dog," to your reading list.] Ye Shengping was tall and burly, a rough young man. All he thought about each day was how to make money, and how to make even more money. When a pair of swallows built their nest under his eaves, he, too, sometimes imagined what kind of woman he'd find in the future. Kind, virtuous, good at managing a household, and willing to build a life with him. That would be best. Until he met Qian Jiali, a silly beauty who loved dressing up, spending money recklessly, and dreaming of marrying a rich, handsome man... One glance from her, and he melted. Ye Shengping knew perfectly well that they weren't right for each other. But he seemed bewitched: whenever he couldn't see her, he missed her terribly. This rough man didn't understand love, and the feeling of being "under a spell" made him deeply uneasy. The things he worried about each day went from one big thing to two. The first, of course, was still making money. The second was a new, inexplicable anxiety, something like: [The sky's so overcast, it'll probably rain. With Qian Jiali's brain, will she know to find somewhere to take shelter?] Completed on May 9, available as a paid story. Content warning: A realistic tone. The leads aren't perfect, and each has their own flaws. Reading guide: I previously wrote a sweet campus romance and found the heroine's parents especially compelling, which is what inspired this story. If you're interested, you can also read their daughter's story, "Because I Like You." Blurb for the upcoming story, "Abandoned Dog": What Zheng Yi thought was fate was, to Tong Wanning, nothing more than two adults falling for each other and being swept away by passion. A sudden change in Tong Wanning's life left her overwhelmed, and she had no time for the clingy puppy-like younger man. She decisively cut off their relationship. Years later, Zheng Yi, still resentful over being abandoned, finally caught up with Tong Wanning. He had waited for this day so long that he couldn't eat or sleep. "I'm going to get revenge on you." "Whatever makes you happy." "You think I'm joking?" "No. When you leave, please take the trash by the door downstairs. Thanks." Weibo: @AugustThreeWriting Theme: The simple, peaceful life is the truest kind.