A Dawn-to-Dusk Game

[The print edition is now available on major platforms. For details, contact @Fu Jin-Anemone] [Sweet-and-sultry little siren × seemingly refined gentleman with a dark side, nine-year age gap | A thoughtful guide to potential pitfalls below] During her summer break as a junior, Huai Xin interned at an investment bank and caught a glimpse of its young, accomplished, handsome, and refined vice president. The man was gentle and gracious, with elegant manners. Even the glimpse of his wrist casually exposed beneath his cuff was irresistibly sexy. He was dangerous enough to pique her interest, and she found herself paying close attention. At the same time, she realized how much their professional relationship constrained her. One day, Huai Xin dressed up in heavy makeup and went dancing at a bar, where she unexpectedly ran into Yu Cheng. He took a seat beside her. In the dim light, his striking features looked even more deep-set and rakish. Counting on him not to recognize her, Huai Xin pretended to be someone else, leaned close to his ear, and said with a soft laugh, “Hi. Can I try your Louis XIII?” Their breaths mingled, their warmth brushed together, and the tension between them hovered just out of reach. Huai Xin got what she wanted and exchanged contact information with him. They only chatted online. At the office during the day, they kept their distance, yet they often watched movies together over video calls late at night. Things seemed to be going quite smoothly in private. One night, Huai Xin put on heavy makeup again and, under her false identity, went home with him. There was a morning meeting the next day, so Huai Xin slipped away early and went to the conference room looking plain and unadorned. Yu Cheng sat at the head of the table, his peach-blossom eyes half-lowered. Impeccably dressed, he seemed distant and abstinent. After the meeting, her colleagues went downstairs together for lunch. Huai Xin suddenly realized she couldn’t find her favorite lipstick anywhere in her bag. The elevator was crowded. From a hidden angle, the man bent slightly toward her, his warm fingertips brushing her palm as his low voice turned her head. “Looks like you left it by the floor-to-ceiling window at my place.” ***The leads wear two different faces, by day and by night. A sweet-and-sultry little siren who knows how to put on a show × a refined gentleman who quietly watches her perform A player × an even more sophisticated player [At first, he thought it was just a game. Then he fell for her for real.] Reader’s Guide: 1. Nine-year age gap. The leads are evenly matched, one-on-one romance, happy ending. 2. Important: This is not purely a workplace novel. It features wealthy families in Hong Kong City; the male lead later returns to his family, and business rivalry takes center stage. 3. The first four chapters have more financial terminology. There’s less of it afterward, and the story is easy to follow. The first half of the blurb takes place in Chapter Nine. 4. The heroine in the blurb has another reason for thinking the hero won’t recognize her, not just because she’s wearing makeup. 5. A realistic fairy tale, romantic to the very end. 6. The cover was purchased from a commercial asset library. P.S. [A thoughtful guide to enjoying this story] This novel may be a good fit for readers who: ① Are empathetic and sensitive, for example, those who tear up when a small detail in a movie touches them. ② Have a vivid imagination and are comfortable with some plot points being more fairy-tale-like than realistic. ③ Admire the strong and enjoy seeing them conquered. ④ Enjoy the build-up of romantic tension. ⑤ Like business intrigue and power plays, rather than wanting to read only about romance. ⑥ Can accept some melodrama. This is subjective: I personally think it stays within reason, but I still want to flag it. ⑦ Don’t mind the leads watching movies together, including some descriptions of movie scenes. ⑧ Enjoy sweet romance and a touch of being love-struck. These traits are listed in order of importance. The first is essential, and the story is likely to suit you if you have at least four of them. I really don’t recommend it to everyone else, who probably won’t enjoy it. Just close the page and move on; no hard feelings!~ Also, please don’t rush to buy the whole story just because the beginning grabs you. Try reading one chapter at a time and see if it suits you!~ Coming Soon: Hidden in the Rainbow Tan Ni and her boyfriend met while they were both unknown, brought together by a drama they worked on. Who could have guessed that her boyfriend would later become famous overnight, with acting offers pouring in? Not only did he break his promises and prove faithless, he openly flirted with other actresses and staged couple rumors with them. By chance, Tan Ni met at a banquet a powerful man she would never have dared even dream of meeting. The Fu family was one of Hong Kong City’s most renowned families, presiding over a business empire worth billions. The man had striking, deep-set features and a tall, well-built figure. Even the veins and contours on the back of his hand were beautifully defined. Everyone admired and idolized him, yet he remained utterly out of reach. That night, a blurry photo of her ex-boyfriend walking hand in hand with his new rumored girlfriend once again trended online. Summoning her courage, Tan Ni knocked on Fu Tingyou’s hotel-room door. She couldn’t let this go. She wanted to be famous. - Tan Ni had flawless, porcelain-smooth skin, a slender waist, and red lips. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and once her screen time began to rise, her career took off at breakneck speed. She went on to win the Best Actress award. Rumors had long claimed that she had a powerful backer, but the media searched in vain for a shred of evidence. Tan Ni’s career history was spotless, with no suspicious details whatsoever. It wasn’t until the day top-tier star Gu Sichen was blacklisted that their once-secret romance finally came to light. - At first, Fu Tingyou thought of the little bird who had come to him of her own accord as nothing more than a diversion. But later, what began to trouble him was this: The little bird seemed to care only about how much money she’d made. The little bird refused to admit she cared about him. As the Fu family’s heir, Fu Tingyou was decisive, always rational and calm, and masterful at planning ahead. He had never imagined he would one day savor the full range of love’s pleasures for someone, losing control until he tossed and turned, unable to sleep night after night. In the dim room, the man gripped Tan Ni’s slender waist. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he said in a hoarse voice, “Nini, tell me you love me.” #A story about someone who keeps a little bird and falls in love with her Theme: Embrace yourself; learn to love and be honest.