From Youth to Love

[For publication updates, see Weibo: @XiaoLuA] 1. Shan Jiqiu sometimes wonders whether, if she could choose again, she would wish not to have been Lu Yun's childhood friend, protected by him from the time they were little. Then at least she'd have the courage to like him openly, instead of guarding this bittersweet secret and constantly fearing that, if he found out, they wouldn't even be able to stay friends. Lu Yun is handsome, funny, and a little too laid-back, the low-key campus heartthrob everyone at No. 7 High School agrees on. There's nothing wrong with him, really. If she had to pick something, it would probably be that his childhood friend has been beating him in the rankings for years. Lu Yun: "Let's make a bet. If I score higher than you this time, you have to wash my socks for a month." Shan Jiqiu: "..." Lu Yun, speaking without thinking: "If you win, I'll wash your socks for a month, and your underwear too." Shan Jiqiu: "Get lost." You must have a brain hemorrhage. 2. Years later, a friend asks Lu Yun, "I hear you had a childhood friend who got better grades than you. I'm really curious, since someone managed to beat you, but how come I've never met her?" Lu Yun lounges in his car, an unlit cigarette between his lips. His peach-blossom eyes gaze intently through the window at the cool, beautiful girl standing by the school gate, her face expressionless. "It's been... a long time." 3. Later, when Shan Jiqiu returns to No. 7 High School, she runs into someone who used to pursue Lu Yun in high school. The woman gloats at Shan Jiqiu. "I hear Lu Yun's getting married. You two can't be as close as you used to be now, can you?" After speaking, she looks past Shan Jiqiu. "Well, speak of the devil. Isn't that Lu Yun?" Shan Jiqiu turns around. The man is dressed in a suit, exceptionally handsome. The boyish awkwardness of his youth is gone, replaced by a thoroughly masculine air. Shan Jiqiu gives him a faint smile and reaches out in front of everyone. "Long time no see." Lu Yun looks at Shan Jiqiu and shakes her hand with a calm expression. "Long time no see." Shan Jiqiu: "I hear you're getting married. Congratulations." Lu Yun: "Thanks." Shan Jiqiu: "I'll head inside, then." Lu Yun: "Mm." Shan Jiqiu has barely taken a step when someone hooks an arm around her neck from behind and pulls her back. A low, amused voice sounds beside her ear. "I only went to park the car. How did it become 'long time no see'? Mrs. Lu." Back then, all our youthful feelings were secrets. Ever since, every joy has been you. The best kind of love is giving you open, unapologetic favoritism and making an exception for you. *A hardworking girl who doesn't believe in fairy tales x a gifted boy who wants to create one *Childhood friends, mutually secret crushes, both virgins, from school to the city (from school uniforms to wedding dresses), sweet happy ending. *The author's blurb-writing is terrible. Please make do. Core message: Hold on to your ideals, and be upright and kind