Wait for Me to Make It Up to You

[Coming soon: "Playing Along" and "Sour Green Plums". If you like them, visit my author page and add them to your collection.] Blurb: The only time Ren Chengxin ever broke a promise was in elementary school. She and her deskmate had agreed that she would celebrate his birthday with him after the holidays. But it never happened, because she transferred to another school. Six years later, Ren Chengxin was cornered by high school thugs at the entrance to an alley. The thugs glared menacingly at her. "Hand over all the money you've got!" Ren Chengxin discreetly covered the pocket holding her money and summoned her courage. "I don't have any money on me. Really!" The thug saw how meekly she stood there without daring to resist, and was just starting to believe her when... Someone had appeared at the alley entrance without anyone noticing, leaning against the wall with a sneer. "Liar." The thugs trembled in fear. "Brother Chen..." Yu Chen looked at Ren Chengxin and raised an eyebrow. "You believe her?" He sneered. "Little liar. Not a single true word ever leaves your mouth." Ren Chengxin: "..." The thugs hurriedly left, even giving her a sympathetic look as they passed. Ren Chengxin stood there in a daze, watching him slowly approach. "Little liar." Yu Chen bent down to meet her gaze. "How are you going to repay me for what you owe?" Later, Ren Chengxin decided she should explain the misunderstanding behind her sudden disappearance all those years ago. She went to Yu Chen and said earnestly, "I never lied to you. I really did plan to celebrate your birthday with you back then. I'd even prepared your present." Yu Chen looked up and held out his hand. "Where is it?" Uh... She had no idea where a present from seven years ago might be now. When she couldn't produce it, Yu Chen smiled. "You say you're not a liar, but doesn't that make you a little liar after all?" "???" What kind of tongue twister is that?! Yu Chen's world was silent until third grade, when he sat next to a girl and it suddenly grew lively. She was his first friend, the only light in his world. Before the holidays, she held out her little finger and made a pinky promise with him. "When school starts, we'll celebrate our birthdays together. You can't take it back." Yu Chen held out his hand, and they sealed the promise. It was a deal. But when school started, the seat beside him was empty, and the world fell silent once more. Liar! He would never forgive her! Then, in his second year of high school, he saw a familiar, frail figure in an alley. The resentment he'd built up over six years collapsed in an instant. If she'd come to make good on her promise, he supposed he could reluctantly forgive her. Just this once. * Primarily a school romance, covering high school and college * Sweet romance, both leads are each other's first and only * The leads have known each other since elementary school ----Coming Soon 1---- "Playing Along" Jian Qing's family pressured her into a blind date. Her date was fair-skinned and well-mannered, so after spending a few days together, she decided he seemed acceptable for now. Then, on their way home from a movie, they ran into a drunk trying to rob them. At the critical moment, her date, Cheng Chuo, threw his bag at her and ran for his life, not even stopping to pick up a shoe when it flew off. "..." Not only was Jian Qing dumbfounded, even the drunk sobered up in fright. Jian Qing was incredibly glad that things had progressed slowly between them. They hadn't even held hands yet. Calmly, she took out her phone and blocked him on WeChat on the spot. She assumed they would never see each other again, but Cheng Chuo seemed utterly clueless. Every few days, he would either send flowers or come pick her up after work, trying to get back together as if nothing had happened. Even after Jian Qing moved, he doggedly tracked her down. Cheng Chuo stood outside her home with a bouquet. "Qingqing, give me one more chance." Jian Qing cut straight to the point, expressionless. "Sorry, I'm seeing someone." He was shocked and devastated. "Who is it?" "My neighbor." Just then, the door across the hall opened. Her boss, her former high school classmate, and the one person who had been her nemesis all her life, Yi Yunshao, stepped out, fastening the cuff of his shirt. He paused when he saw the two of them facing off. "!" Jian Qing shot her blind date a quick glance. In the blink of an eye, she nestled against Yi Yunshao and cooed, "Darling~" The refined man: "?" * One day, Cheng Chuo thought of Jian Qing, whom he hadn't seen in ages. He made a new account and added her on WeChat. [Are you there, Jian Qing?] Yi Yunshao saw Jian Qing admiring their marriage certificate and answered for her: [Getting married.] [Qingqing, you're still so funny. The more you joke like that, the more I can't forget you.] Yi Yunshao: [Who is this?] [Cheng Chuo, your ex-boyfriend.] Yi Yunshao gave Jian Qing a cool glance, then held down the voice-message button. "Sorry, I'm her current husband. Is there anything else?" [No.] ----Coming Soon 2---- "Sour Green Plums" Shen Qian and He Yunjin were famous rivals in their alley. The neighbors could see Shen Qian sobbing in frustration because of He Yunjin every day, while he laughed away beside her, carefree and delighted. Even so, Shen Qian still loved hanging around He Yunjin, because he kept the candy she liked in his pockets. Whenever she was unhappy, he would give her candy to cheer her up. One day, He Yunjin suddenly came over and beckoned her with a finger. "Come here. I've got a secret to tell you." Shen Qian obediently went over and looked up at him, curious. He Yunjin pinched her cheek and grinned. "I like you." Gazing at his handsome face, Shen Qian's heart skipped a beat. She was just about to say something when He Yunjin took out his phone and said to the person on the other end, sounding bored, "You heard that? I completed my dare. Stop nagging me. This is so boring." Shen Qian: "...He! Yun! Jin!" When He Yunjin got into college, he thought he'd finally managed to shake Shen Qian off. He never expected her to follow him the next year. Fine. You insisted on following me here. So on the first day of school, the moment Shen Qian stepped through the campus gates, she saw a huge banner that drew everyone's attention. [Congratulations to Shen Qian of Computer Science Class Three on getting into C University!] He Yunjin stood right in the middle, wearing a wickedly charming smile. Watching the two of them bicker and battle, He Yunjin's roommate joked, "I think you two would make a great couple. Why not give it a try?" He Yunjin scoffed and lazily folded his arms. "Forget it. If I liked her, would I have waited this long? I only think of her as a little sister." To his surprise, his roommate grabbed his hand in a burst of joy. "That's great! Then I won't hide it anymore. I've had a crush on Qianqian for ages. If you're her brother, then you're my brother too. My real brother!" He Yunjin: "???" Are you trying to steal my girl?! Once his roommate started pursuing Shen Qian, He Yunjin found him more and more irritating. But it was fine. Shen Qian had been clinging to him for twenty years. She wouldn't be so easily won over. But then Shen Qian went from looking for him every other day, to every two days, and then to not looking for him for a whole week. Only then did He Yunjin realize how serious things were. One day, when his roommate was about to confess to Shen Qian, he finally couldn't sit still. For the first time, the proud young master rushed to Shen Qian without caring about his image. Seeing He Yunjin, whom she hadn't seen in days, Shen Qian asked, "What are you doing here?" He Yunjin pulled her into his arms. "I like you." Shen Qian lowered her eyes. "Are you playing Truth or Dare again?" "Yes." Shen Qian laughed at herself, then heard He Yunjin continue. "But this time I chose Truth." Theme: Keep your promises