The One Who Falls First Loses

[Originally titled "Absurd," updated daily without fail]

Ruan Qiuqiu, the heiress of Ming'an Group, has never been popular with the opposite sex. Even her childhood friend, whom she grew up with, never became anything more than a friend. Then, at his wedding banquet, she accidentally mistook wine for grape juice and drank it. People assumed she was drowning her sorrows over a broken heart, and the gossip spread far and wide.

The next day, Ruan Qiuqiu woke up in bed, rubbing her pounding head. Beside her was a handsome young man with dark, gloomy eyes.

Oh no. She'd messed up.

*

Yu Shi'an is a little-known singer in the entertainment industry, with neither money nor connections. People pick on him at every turn. He gets dragged to a drinking party, and someone slips him something without his knowing.

When he wakes up, there's a young woman beside him.

Who could have guessed that she'd cling to him, buy him the stars and the moon, arrange a dazzling career for him, and say with a grin that she'd take responsibility for him?

Later, Yu Shi'an finds out that she's already deeply in love with her childhood friend, and that he's nothing more than a plaything she can toss aside whenever she likes.

Yu Shi'an's face turns cold. He digs his fingers into his palm until they leave bloody marks and lashes out at her: "Don't follow me anymore. I hate all you people who pretend to pity me."

The young woman presses her lips together, then turns and walks away without looking back.

At a banquet some time later,

the young woman who used to follow him everywhere is dressed in a couture gown, her features exquisite and one shoulder bare. She chats and laughs with the childhood friend of legend, without sparing him so much as a glance.

For the first time, Yu Shi'an loses control.

Ignoring the eyes of everyone around them, he drags her into a corner and hides her away.

He lowers his head, crushing every last bit of his pride. His eyes redden, and his voice comes out hoarse, restrained:

"Even if it's only pity, could you look at me and me alone?"

-Proud heiress X insecure, sensitive singer

-SC. The male lead is insecure and overthinks everything, bringing about his own groveling redemption arc

-Sweet romance

[The book after next, "The One I Defeated," with an advance blurb]

Shen Changge and Ruan Chi first meet at a bidding conference. Everyone says the Ruan family is fighting tooth and nail for the project so they can drive the once-down-and-out Shen family into a corner and then swallow it up.

No one expects Shen Changge, the Shen family's heiress, to meticulously stage a car accident, even injuring one of her arms, to stir up public opinion and make Ruan Chi infamous as a ruthless, sinister villain.

At the bidding conference, the Ruan family loses.

Looking at Shen Changge, whose wound is still bleeding after putting on an act,

Ruan Chi says mildly, "Miss Shen, hurting your enemy while injuring yourself in the process isn't the cleverest move."

Shen Changge lowers her eyes and says nothing as she wraps white gauze around her wound, without even furrowing her brow.

She smiles faintly. "But I still won, didn't I, Mr. Ruan?"

*

It's an open secret among industry insiders that Miss Shen and Mr. Ruan are bitter enemies.

Later, a fearless financial magazine interviews the two legendary powerhouses. One is strikingly elegant, the other distinguished and cool. They don't exchange a single glance throughout the interview, and the atmosphere is oppressive and silent.

The young reporter trembles with nerves. "One last question: could each of you describe the other in one word?"

Shen Changge doesn't even turn her head. "A defeated loser."

Ruan Chi glances at the woman beside him, then suddenly smiles. "My ideal person."

-When they first met, all he wanted was to drive her into a corner.

-Later, he was more than willing to become the one she defeated.

The down-and-out but still formidable Miss Shen x the formidable Mr. Ruan, who falls into Miss Shen's hands

Theme: To love someone, you must first love yourself.