Strawberry-Colored Marks

Next up: I Like You, For Many Years. Available to pre-order in my author profile!

[This novel]

◇Unexpected Daddy and Sweet Temptress | Mutual Crush Becomes Love | Both Hearts in Sync | No Angst, All Sweetness

Tu Shu first truly met Chi Junyao when she was sixteen.

In the drizzle, he strode through the commotion and into the courtyard, a black umbrella in hand. A vivid red glow flared between his long, pale fingers. When he saw her, he put out his cigarette.

Tu Shu called to him, bewildered and at a loss: "Uncle Yao..."

Chi Junyao was born at the top of the pyramid. Refined, intelligent, handsome, and accomplished, he had few surprises in life, except for the delicate, quiet doll of a girl he took in when he was twenty-three.

-

Tu Shu rarely saw Chi Junyao. After she came of age, he spent most of his time abroad, and even canceled his regular visits home.

She hid her fantasies in her dreams, careful and afraid to speak of them.

Then, in her sophomore year, she saw the longed-for figure again downstairs.

A video of Tu Shu sharply rebutting a biased report about Chi Junyao made its way to the man himself.

Chi Junyao saved the video, his wrist turning the black agarwood beads.

When he decided to return to China, his friend asked, baffled, "You've been coming back regularly ever since you became Tu Shu's guardian. Then, over a year ago, you suddenly canceled those trips. Why?"

Chi Junyao: "Probably because I'm not a good person."

-

One day at a dinner, she irritably cut off the women's teasing. "Mr. Chi isn't anything to me. You don't have to make a point of telling me."

Then, beneath the moonlight, Chi Junyao pinned her roughly against a tree trunk. "Tu Shu, who am I?"

Tu Shu answered softly: "Uncle Yao."

Chi Junyao took her chin in his hand, anger surging in his eyes. "I'll ask you again. Who am I?"

Tu Shu: "My husband..."

-

At first light, Tu Shu sleeps curled beneath a soft butter-yellow quilt. She turns, her brows knitting slightly. A ring of strawberry-red marks circles her pale, delicate wrist.

Chi Junyao, sitting against the headboard and reading some documents, reaches out and draws her into his arms.

Tu Shu murmurs sleepily: "Uncle Yao."

Chi Junyao's gaze darkens. He takes his tie and gently covers her eyes, coaxing her: "Say it again..."

Tips:

1. The professions are fictional and not based on real people.

2. Sweet romance, one-on-one, both leads' first love, happy ending.

#You Are Both the Unexpected and the Only One#

Coming soon: I Like You, For Many Years

◇Cross-dimensional romantic pursuit and regret | Silent man loses control | Mutual crush

As a minor celebrity in the entertainment industry, Shi Wu is hated by countless people online.

"Spoiled, arrogant, and full of herself!"

"If you won't do kissing scenes, you shouldn't be in this business. Quit already!"

"The entertainment industry isn't a place for you to hunt for men. Get out, you pretty but useless vase!"

And yet, whenever she appears in public, the dresses she wears are always at the forefront of fashion.

Her haters don't understand: Why would Phoenix, an internationally renowned luxury fashion brand that even the top-tier stars struggle to borrow from, keep sponsoring an unknown like Shi Wu?

Her manager: "At tonight's dinner, you need to play along. Stop acting so high and mighty!"

Shi Wu: "I'll play along, as long as the other person is actually human!"

And besides, to hell with acting high and mighty! It's just that one person has occupied her heart and body for many years...

-

Lu Qi, a rising star in fashion design, has a mysterious background. He's aloof, reserved, and taciturn.

As for his love life, the only public ripple was Shi Wu's grand confession back when she was still unknown.

In a private dressing room backstage at a global product launch,

a supermodel complains in a coquettish voice: "Brother Lu Qi, Shi Wu's been pestering you for almost seven years. Why is she still stuck to you like a dog-skin plaster?"

Lu Qi says nothing for a moment.

His mind is filled with the image of Shi Wu last night, her wrists and ankles bound with a tie, the lovely dip of her waist as she struggled, and her tearful, pleading eyes...

Outside the door, Shi Wu throws the million-yuan dress she was about to return into a trash can and walks away.

This time, she's truly giving up.

-

The online world is the perfect place for someone like Shi Wu, who's barely a public figure, to hide behind a secret identity, lick her wounds, and let loose.

Meeting the singer Feng Tong is an accident.

One day, drunk, she showers the singer she likes with gifts in his livestream,

then shamelessly flirts with him in the public chat: "Big brother, I'll support you!"

The livestream goes silent in an instant.

At dinner,

a friend teases Lu Qi: "Hasn't Shi Wu liked you for years? How come she's trending now for spoiling a singer?"

Lu Qi says nothing.

That night, Shi Wu returns to her van with the Best Actress trophy she just won, only to see someone she never expected.

Lu Qi pins her against the armrest. She tilts her head back and whimpers.

Meeting her accusing gaze, Lu Qi intensifies his movements and demands, "Between Feng Tong and me, who do you want to support?"

Phoenix perched on the paulownia: No matter who you choose, I'm the only one who gets to sleep with you!

Lu Qi has a secret: He chose fashion design over singing because it would bring him closer to her.

And later, returning to singing as Feng Tong, he could relive the intimacy of being close to her.

Theme: You are my Zen. I fear no flowers that dazzle my eyes.