Pinning You in My Arms

[Complete] Next up: Take the L. Weibo: @TangerineGrowingBase

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- Blurb -

Shen Zhan, the genius prodigy of Huaqing University, has an otherworldly, devilishly handsome face. He has countless admirers and pursuers, yet spends every day looking aloof and lazy, treating everyone with indifference.

According to the classmate closest to him, anyone with an IQ under 200 doesn't stand a chance. Shen Zhan hates stupid women the most.

Lin Jiayin, from the dance department, has fair skin, a beautiful face, and a sweet smile. She's won the Golden Award at the Taoli Cup and is a shoo-in for principal dancer at the National Opera House. Unfortunately, she's naturally absent-minded and a bit dumb, often leaving people questioning reality.

The two were dubbed the couple everyone at Huaqing most wanted to ship, but never could.

Until one day, someone saw Shen Zhan take Lin Jiayin by the hand and lead her into Häagen-Dazs to buy a limited-edition sakura ice cream, then feed it to her himself. They even took a photo as proof.

Her roommate couldn't help asking, “I heard Shen Zhan is your boyfriend?”

Lin Jiayin, who'd just dumped Shen Zhan, denied it three times: “No, he's not! Don't make things up!”

The next second, Shen Zhan pushed open the classroom door, came over to her, and curled his lips into a smile. “Mom said to come home for dinner tonight.”

“...”

Her roommate: You tricked me again.

Everyone else: Mom? They're married! ...That's amazing.

[2]

The day the accident happened,

Shen Zhan told her to get lost, far away.

Lin Jiayin rolled away, “da-da-da-da-da-da-da.”

Shen Zhan laughed in exasperation. “...I didn't mean roll into my arms.”

Lin Jiayin wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him miserably. “If I roll away, who's going to love you?”

[3]

Though sometimes she's so dumb she seems to have no brain, I have to admit, I love her., Shen Zhan

Content warning: The secondary couple is a BL pairing.

Please add my ongoing novel Take the L to your reading list.

[Female Lead's Version]

Jiang Yinan was being pressured to marry by her mother. In a fit of anger, she went to a professional matchmaking website to rent a professional boyfriend. They arranged to meet at a cafe, table 009.

The man wore a black suit. His features were exquisite, and his bearing was noble. He was a devilishly handsome man, and Jiang Yinan was so dazzled by his looks that she was willing to pay anything. She boldly handed him a bank card.

“The PIN is XXX. Five hundred a day, and I can pay more. As for how long... until I'm satisfied.”

The man's expression was hard to describe. After a moment, he smiled and said, “Oh.”

The fake boyfriend did his job diligently. He brought her breakfast, picked her up and dropped her off at work, and called every night to say goodnight. He was more like a real boyfriend than a real one. Just as she thought she'd finally escaped her mother's nagging, a text arrived on her phone: Your bank card ending in XXXX has a balance of 1.3 yuan.

Poor Jiang Yinan had no choice but to reluctantly let the handsome man go.

Three days later, fortune fell into her lap. She was promoted from a branch office to headquarters, and on the day she reported in, an assistant led her to the twenty-eighth floor.

The “fake boyfriend” sat in the CEO's chair, lightly tapping the bank card on the desk with his fingertips. His tone was cool and casual. “The PIN is XXX. Fifty thousand a day, and I can pay more. As for how long... until I'm satisfied.”

Jiang Yinan: “...” ￥_￥!

[Male Lead's Version]

Qin Zheng had a phobia of women from a young age and refused to have any physical contact with them. The media once reported on him as a “woman-hater,” until he met the “culprit” from all those years ago.

Jiang Yinan had not only forgotten him, but had mistaken him for a human product from a fake-boyfriend rental service. He decided to play along, so she could get a taste of heartbreak too. The day Jiang Yinan fell for him, he put on the song “Don't Love Me, There's No Happy Ending.” Sure enough, her face filled with sorrow and sadness.

Just as he was working out how to say the most hurtful thing with the fewest words, the heartbroken woman came over and patted his shoulder. “Sorry, you're fired.”

She pointed to the person across from them. “My boyfriend.”

Unemployed Qin Zheng: “???”

Only later did Qin Zheng realize he'd fallen into her trap long ago.

Coming soon: Nobody Can Stop Me from Becoming the Top Student in My Grade

Bai Xingxing was known as the ultimate study grinder.

She attended the country's top university and could claim any first-place spot she wanted, but died suddenly in the library during a cutthroat academic rivalry.

When she opened her eyes again, she had become another “Bai Xingxing”: the beloved youngest daughter of Bai Youqian, owner of three major coal mines; the precious darling of Huo Ximei, founder of luxury brand KRO; and the cherished little sister of top-tier star Bai Qingqing.

Bai Xingxing, who used to apply for financial aid every year, had barely had time to celebrate when Lu Yan, first in his grade, first in looks, and first in being ill-tempered, blocked her at the school gate on her first day.

Lu Yan: Write me another love letter and I'll break your hand.

Bai Xingxing: ?

Lu Yan: Give me chocolate again and I'll break your leg.

Bai Xingxing: ?

Lu Yan: You're last in the class. You're not allowed to like me.

Bai Xingxing: ?

Lu Yan: Did you hear me?

Bai Xingxing: OK, OK, OK. No love letters, no chocolate, and I won't like you.

Bai Xingxing: I'll just take first place in the grade from you.

Lu Yan: ???

-

On the day the monthly exam results came out, Lu Yan crouched by the roadside with red eyes. Bai Xingxing stared at him for a long time.

Lu Yan got up to leave, but Bai Xingxing called after him:

“If you still feel like crying when you get home, call me.”

Deeply moved Lu Yan: Okay.

Bai Xingxing, expressionless: I want to know that you can have days like this too.

-

Years later, when they took the national college entrance exam, they tied for first place nationwide. A TV station interviewed them about their ambitions.

Bai Xingxing: “To be a pillar of society and a mainstay of our country, and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”

Lu Yan: “Bai Xingxing writing me love letters, Bai Xingxing bringing me chocolate, Bai Xingxing liking me :)”

Young viewers in front of the TV: So many, many, many plants.

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