Drowning in Light

[Blurb]

At eleven, Jiang Si was refined, gloomy, insecure, and world-weary.

His parents were notorious scum in Huaixu. On the way from the north side of town to the south, everyone wanted to kick him while he was down.

Some people declared with certainty, "He's destined to be despised. Nothing good can grow from rotten roots."

"Who knows what kind of evil he'll get up to when he's older."

There was a spoiled little darling in the same courtyard, fair and soft as a porcelain doll, with rosy marks that appeared at the slightest bump.

When she smiled, she looked like a New Year doll from a painting, her clear, water-cut eyes holding a brilliant galaxy.

Unlike Jiang Si, Shi Yue was everyone's precious treasure, held in the palms of their hands.

In the dead of winter, he was kicked out of his home.

Everyone else watched, waiting for a laugh, but only Shi Yue timidly approached, reaching out her chubby arms to ask him to pick her up.

Jiang Si's face darkened. He fixed her with a freezing stare and warned, "Go away. Stop getting in my sight."

-

Nine years later, Jiang Si had indeed become the complete scoundrel everyone expected.

He was cold and dark, fighting evil with evil, volatile and arrogant.

He believed violence could crush all resistance.

No one in Huaixu dared say a bad word about him anymore.

At the height of his success, the moon he had buried deep in his heart suddenly returned to his side, more captivating than in his memories.

At eighteen, Shi Yue had dark hair and shining eyes, like a rose dusted with snow.

Her pink dress showed off her curvy figure, every inch of her body perfectly proportioned.

Her face was impossibly innocent, yet her figure stirred wild fantasies. Her natural advantages quickly made her the school's undisputed beauty.

The first moment Jiang Si saw her again, an outrageous thought took root in his mind.

He wanted to pamper his moon, stain his moon, defile his moon, hide her away, hold and kiss her every day, and never let anyone else look at her again.

--She was the cleanest, most beautiful moon on the river.

--Rabid dog & white rabbit

#Your boss will always be your boss#

Content warnings:

1. The male lead grew up in harsher circumstances than most. Don't judge him after reading only one chapter, or even half a chapter.

2. The male lead can be very uncouth in certain ways (only toward the female lead). Don't read if that's not for you.

3. Both leads are sexually inexperienced and faithful. Don't argue about the male lead's morals. He isn't a good person at first (but he doesn't break the law), though he will eventually turn onto the right path.

4. The characters' values don't represent the author's values. The author encourages everyone to study hard and keep improving!

5. According to reader feedback, the second male lead is pretty disgusting.

Coming next: "Paper Rose." Please add it to your reading list!

*Chasing his wife after losing her, but failing / second male lead takes the place of the first / second male lead's unrequited love comes true

*Coming next: "Green Plum Wine." Please add it to your reading list. Blurb below~

Ji Mian's parents died when she was young, and she grew up living in other people's homes. When she suffered the worst discrimination and bullying, it was Chen Yuchuan who saved her.

Chen Yuchuan was born to shine, carefree and wild. She was quiet, obedient, and sensible.

Their personalities were worlds apart.

While she studied hard at school and ranked first in every subject, Chen Yuchuan was at university surrounded by girls, with one girlfriend after another.

She saw him making out with people in a hallway corner and watched him flirt with one person after another.

One time, while drunk, Ji Mian accidentally let slip that she had loved Chen Yuchuan for seven years.

With everyone watching, Chen Yuchuan smiled playfully. "I've thought of you as my little sister since we were kids. I had no idea you felt that way about me."

After that night, she became a laughingstock throughout the city.

Everyone mocked her for deluding herself, saying that there was no way the young master of the Chen family could fall for her.

She gave up on him and from then on treated him only as an older brother.

Later, she met a man whose heart and eyes held only her.

When intimate photos of Ji Mian with someone else came to light, Chen Yuchuan was suddenly consumed by jealousy.

He followed her all the way to her doorstep, refusing to leave. He mocked her, apologized, and begged with red-rimmed eyes, all just for another chance.

The villa door opened, and an elegant, distinguished man stepped out.

He looked at Chen Yuchuan and said mockingly, "Trying to steal someone's girl right in front of her actual boyfriend. Sir, are you out of your mind?"

-

The day after Ji Mian gave up on Chen Yuchuan, a torrential rainstorm trapped her in the library.

Amid the rustle of writing, the man across from her stopped, closed his laptop, and looked up by chance. Their eyes met.

He raised an eyebrow and pointed toward the rain. "Look. The drops splashing out of that puddle, don't they look like fireworks bursting in the sky?"

As the rain pattered, she looked out the window. Before she could come to her senses, he added, "A rainstorm of fireworks, just for you."

Ji Mian knew the roguishly charming man in front of her.

She had always believed her connection with Duan Shizhou began with that untimely rainstorm.

Only much later did she accidentally discover the high school photo he kept on his bedside table. Among all their classmates, she was the one smiling brightest.

On the back of the photo was a message: To the girl I love most. May she shine forever and always leave people in awe.

Signed: Duan Shizhou.

#Someone will always love you in silence#

Reading guide:

1. Happy ending.

2. Ji Mian's feelings for Chen Yuchuan are mostly dependence and admiration. They never shared any romantic intimacy.

3. Inspired by the line "Rain is God's fireworks" by Yamamoto Cheese.

4. A screenshot of this blurb has been saved.

--Coming next: "Green Plum Wine." Please add it to your reading list~

Meet Wen Yao:

1. His parents are both dead.

2. He's lame.

3. He has a childhood sweetheart ten years younger than him.

4. At twenty-nine, he's worth tens of billions.

5. He spoils his childhood sweetheart.

His beloved little sweetheart brought a male classmate home to spend the night while he was away on a business trip.

He caught the man scrambling out of her bedroom.

His sweetheart was wearing a matching couple's ring with someone else.

Wen Yao looked at his slightly limping foot, raised his head, and gently announced, "A Yu, your freedom is over."

Note: The male lead is pretending to be lame.

Theme: Love and respect, and repaying kindness.