A Bite of Peach

The main story is complete. The next book will be Springtime Radiance or Winter Fairy Tale. /1/ Ying Tao and He Mingye grew up together, childhood sweethearts and next-door neighbors. Unfortunately, they were born to clash. They bickered whenever they met, so often that everyone around them had grown used to it. It wasn't until they started giving each other the cold shoulder, and even escalated to physical altercations, that their friends realized something was wrong. Worried, a mutual friend decided to go over and make peace between them. But as soon as they reached the door, they heard a heated argument inside. "He Mingye, are you a dog? Why do you keep biting me?" The mutual friend was shocked and was just about to knock, hoping to keep things from escalating further, when the man drawled lazily, "What? You didn't bite me last night? Want to take a look at the places you scratched?" Mutual friend: ? Mutual friend: Is this what you call fighting? Mutual friend: No, seriously, is the way you two are fighting even remotely proper? :) /2/ In Ying Tao's eyes, He Mingye was a carefree playboy, a spoiled rich kid, and a bully who had never acted like a proper older brother. She was genuinely perplexed. "When exactly did you start having designs on me?" When did it start? From the moment she wailed as a baby and reached out to grasp his finger. From the moment she began to babble and called him "big brother" in her baby talk. From the moment she took her first wobbly steps and tumbled into his arms. So "My dear Princess Taotao, your knight will always be loyal to you. Please allow me to covet you, shamelessly. I have loved you from the moment you were born, and I will love you until the day my heart stops beating." Childhood sweethearts / three-year age gap / retired gymnast vs. top-tier star Sweet girl of the world vs. cool, aloof guy (not really) Little Princess Tao and her devoted knight Immature brat vs. childish punk Coming Soon Springtime Radiance Lu Zhaozhao and Chen Yubai reunited after a long separation at the hospital. At the time, she was sitting in the emergency room, clutching a bleeding wound. Chen Yubai, wearing a white coat, hurried past her. His face was covered by a blue mask, leaving only a pair of cool, deep-set eyes visible. He didn't see her. And she didn't call out to him. Not long afterward, Lu Zhaozhao pushed herself up and left. She had no idea that, at the very instant she turned around, across the crowded room, the man lifted his eyes and watched her limp away. A faint emotion flickered deep in his gaze. A nurse asked curiously, "Dr. Chen, what are you looking at?" "Nothing," Chen Yubai replied coolly. "Just an ex-girlfriend who used me and then dumped me." They met again at a cafe, where she was on a blind date. Her date was talking big and spouting nonsense. Chen Yubai sat alone by the window, waiting for someone, his long fingers stirring his coffee with a spoon. A moment later, a beautifully made-up young woman arrived as promised. She looped her arm through his and smiled brightly, her lovely face radiant as she naturally acted coquettish with him. Chen Yubai's brows drew together slightly, as though he were impatient, but his posture was relaxed. He curled his lips into a lazy smile, his expression faintly indulgent. Lu Zhaozhao lowered her eyes and took a sip of black coffee. It tasted unbearably bitter. Lu Zhaozhao and Chen Yubai had been together for four years. She had touched every inch of his body and seen every expression he made, from his restrained and composed moments to his tenderness toward her, without a single limit. Only on the day they broke up did the usually cool and proud young man turn red-eyed and grip her wrist so hard it felt as if he meant to crush it. His voice hoarse, his brows shadowed by a fierce, murderous anger, he said, "Lu Zhaozhao, don't let me see you again." She thought there would be no future for them. That even if they met again, they would be strangers. But that night, under the heavy dew, the man came through wind and rain, his whole body radiating bone-chilling cold. "Lu Zhaozhao, I told you not to let me see you again. Otherwise, " "I will never let you go." The day they left the civil affairs bureau, Lu Zhaozhao held her marriage certificate, looking dazed. Chen Yubai merely glanced at her coolly. "You owe me this, Lu Zhaozhao." Cardiothoracic surgeon vs. society reporter * Hopeless romantic man vs. Miss Turtle "Heaven would grow old if it had feelings. Chen Yubai is a hopeless romantic." "The mountains rise high, the roads stretch far. Even deadwood will meet a carefree spring again." * Chen Yubai is completely smitten Winter Fairy Tale When Cheng Mi was nineteen and had nowhere left to turn, she met Shen Yanbai. At the time, her manager had pushed her to her feet with a wineglass in hand, trembling as she went to toast him. But she accidentally stained his pocket watch. Flustered and helpless, she lowered her head and apologized, carefully wiping away the wine. In a hesitant voice, she said, "Sir, I'll pay you back." The whole table burst into laughter. When she learned from the others that the watch was worth more than she could ever afford in her lifetime, her cheeks burned amid the roomful of mocking laughter. She stood there awkwardly, eyes lowered and flushed, tears welling up, anxious and at a loss. The man's features were as calm as distant mountains veiled in mist, but a gentle smile glimmered deep in his eyes. "All right," he said. That night, after the gathering ended, Cheng Mi received a special gift from Shen Yanbai's assistant. Everyone in their circle knew who was backing Cheng Mi. Everyone also understood that people in the world of fame and fortune used one another for mutual gain. So everyone was certain that Shen Yanbai was only looking for some amusement, enjoying something new. Even Cheng Mi thought so. She behaved herself and kept within the limits of her position. At the right moment, she tactfully brought up the idea of breaking up. That night, the man idly toyed with his pocket watch. His expression remained gentle and composed, making him look every bit the courteous gentleman. He chuckled. "Mimi, haven't I treated you well enough?" Cheng Mi shook her head. "Sir, you've been very good to me..." "Then," Shen Yanbai said with an inscrutable smile, "are you trying to cross the river and abandon the bridge, Mimi?" Cheng Mi denied it. "I just don't think I'm worthy of you. Our relationship isn't equal. Perhaps what you need is a wife from a family of equal standing, someone who can support you." Shen Yanbai closed the pocket watch, his smile still inscrutable. "Mimi, has no one ever told you not to bargain with a businessman?" "Besides," Shen Yanbai gazed at her with deep eyes, "how do you know that you aren't the woman I want to marry?" Powerful man of the capital vs. newcomer Theme: Growing together and meeting again at the top