You're Sweeter Than Time

[Starting my next novel, Longing Day and Night. You can add it to your to-read list from my profile.] The moment news broke that the Shi family would form a marriage alliance with the Xu family, the whole social circle was shaken. A friend teased Shi Yu with a laugh: "The Xu family's princess is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. So many people envy you!" Shi Yu glanced at the little shadow who had been following him around every day lately and said nonchalantly, "You want her? You can have her." A clingy little white rabbit, all delicate and tearful. He couldn't wait to break off their childhood engagement. The day the engagement was finally called off, Shi Yu went drinking with his buddies to celebrate, only to unexpectedly run into Xu Anlan, who seemed to be celebrating too. He saw his supposedly "weak and delicate" former fiancée holding up a bottle and smiling brightly and boldly at her friends. "I'm finally rid of that cold, aloof beauty on his lofty perch. All those years of pretending to be Lin Daiyu were worth it." Shi Yu: ... The day after they completely cut ties, Shi Yu attended a three-party meeting as usual. He'd heard that the other side's representative was forceful and sharp. As one of his subordinates put it: "A tough one to deal with." When he saw the person across the conference table, he froze. The delicate, ladylike Miss Xu he remembered was now dressed in a smart suit, her gaze sharp as she gave him a faint smile. "Mr. Shi, I look forward to working with you." Shi Yu: ... Later, Shi Yu followed Xu Anlan to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. At the summit, 4,680 meters above sea level, he looked at her. "I've been seriously pursuing you for so long. What do you think?" * Profile: Passing Years Weibo: Orange Juice Lover Mo Mo. ~*~*~* [New novel in the works: Longing Day and Night, by Cheng Momo] *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* [Blurb:] When word got out that Zhao Simu had won over Jiang Mingyi, the aloof beauty, everyone was stunned. A friend specially invited Jiang Mingyi out for drinks to get to the bottom of it. "You hate girls who all seem cut from the same cloth. How did Zhao Simu manage to win you over?" Everyone in their circle knew that Zhao Simu came from an outstanding family, was gorgeous, gentle, and well-behaved. She was a top-tier star among socialites, and exactly the kind of woman Jiang Mingyi had the least patience for. Jiang Mingyi's eyes softened. "Who says she was the one pursuing me?" The group chat: !!! Later, seeing Zhao Simu boss Jiang Mingyi around, everyone finally caught on. Who said Miss Zhao was gentle and well-behaved? The group chat: Jiang Mingyi has it rough. Her jealous, backstabbing gal pals: When are those two finally going to break up?! Later still, after Zhao Simu supposedly split up with Jiang Mingyi and returned from overseas, Jiang Mingyi cast aside all his pride, dropped to one knee, and declared his love in public. Her backstabbing gal pals stared in shock. "What on earth did Zhao Simu give Jiang Mingyi to make him act like this?!" Zhao Simu raised an eyebrow and calmly stepped around him to face her friends. "What should I do? I want to know too!" Jiang Mingyi smiled, her reflection in his eyes, his gaze full of affection. His Simu, the one he had longed for day and night. ~*~*~* [New novel by a friend: The Silent World, and Him, by Meng Xiao'er] *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* [Blurb 1:] "A new student has transferred to our class. His name is Qin Yu." "Qin Yu spoke to me today. He asked where the homeroom teacher's office was. If only I could talk." "I got a new deskmate today: Qin Yu, the top student and heartthrob. It's one in the morning, and I can't sleep." "During the long break today, two girls from another class came to see Qin Yu again. That's the fourth group of girls this week." "I haven't seen Qin Yu for three days during the May Day holiday. Pu Chen, what are you thinking? You're a mute girl, and Qin Yu is a star destined for greatness." Pu Chen never imagined that a classmate would see her notebook. The classroom suddenly fell silent. Everyone quietly watched from the front rows, eager for the drama. Pu Chen, an average student whose damaged vocal cords left her unable to speak, had a crush on top student Qin Yu. Everyone wondered how Qin Yu would react. At that moment, the notebook had just been passed to Qin Yu. Pu Chen gripped her book tightly, mortified. Qin Yu took the notebook and walked over to Pu Chen's desk. "I liked you from the first day I transferred here. What about you?" [Blurb 2:] Her father was deaf and mute. With his disabled body, he had built her a whole world to stand beneath. To her, her father was the most handsome man in the world. When she was sixteen, she met a wild and rebellious young man. Later, in her eyes, he was as handsome as her father. Time passed. He became more mature and charming. What never changed was the way he doted on her, just as he had from the very beginning of their love. In her silent world, there was her father, and there was him. ~*~*~* [New novel by a friend: The Only You in This World, by Su Muyü] *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* [Blurb:] When Yang Tao was in high school, she fell in love at first sight with a senior in his final year. She pursued him openly and in secret for a year, but he never budged. In the end, he graduated, and that was that. They met again seven years later on a matchmaking show. Yang Tao's pretty eyes tilted up at the corners. "Well, well. Even the school heartthrob is here to find a date?" Mu Ningfan narrowed his eyes and stared at the woman in front of him for a few seconds. "Aren't you here too?" "I'm the host!" "Oh. I'm a sponsor." "..." After the show, Yang Tao called her friend, fuming. "No way! If I ever fall for him again, I'm a puppy!" Later, Mu Ningfan suddenly realized that this really was the same sweet, adorable girl who used to chase after him every day. At the time, he was standing by the meeting room door, eyebrows raised, listening to Yang Tao's boss earnestly lecture her. "Tao, just put up with it for now and things will calm down. Take a step back, and you'll have more room to maneuver." Yang Tao answered crisply, "Why doesn't she put up with it? And why should I be the one to take a step back?" Mu Ningfan: ... Later still, Mu Ningfan pulled Yang Tao into his arms, lifting her delicate, fair chin. A dangerous glint shone in his dark eyes. "Who the hell wants to be your best man? I want to be your groom!" Yang Tao gave a careless hum, stepped on his spotless black leather shoe, and smiled contentedly. "You want to be my groom? Then try a little harder." Theme: Love and growth.