Land of the Midnight Sun

Coming soon: Misty Hues and The Ice-Cold Beauty Has Been Plotting to Win Me Over. Please add them to your favorites! Blurbs below.

# No real-life inspiration

# Entirely fictional

# Please don't associate this with anyone

Within half a year, Cheng Shu had become famous across Asia. Wherever he went, he was surrounded by adoring fans. He was undoubtedly the entertainment industry's hottest top-tier star.

Backstage at the Asian Film Awards, a reporter asked Cheng Shu the question everyone was dying to know the answer to.

"What kind of girl do you think will become your girlfriend someday?"

An ordinary celebrity would never be allowed to give an answer like this, but Cheng Shu was different.

Netizens criticized him from head to toe, and even a simple remark could be interpreted in countless ways. His agent was always telling him to watch what he said, but he never cared.

"I'm not as perfect as my fans imagine. I have plenty of flaws. I won't coax anyone, chase after anyone, or wait for anyone. I'm afraid very few people could put up with me. To be with me, you'd have to accept all of that."

A friend sent the interview clip to Wen Ning. 'No matter how he answers, people will interpret it however they want, so he might as well say whatever he likes and not care what anyone thinks. That's so crazy. No wonder I like him!'

Wen Ning stared at her phone. In the quiet of midnight, the last words the man in the video had said to her the day they broke up echoed in her ears again and again.

"You'll regret this someday."

Watching Cheng Shu walk away without looking back, Wen Ning burst into tears.

She didn't need to wait long to regret it. From that day on, she hadn't gone a single moment without regretting it.

*

Cheng Shu caused a sensation throughout the school on his first day after transferring to No. 7 High School.

His looks were flawless, though he seemed cold and gave off an unapproachable air. He was an undisputed star student.

Wen Ning sat in the front row. The moment her eyes met Cheng Shu's, she immediately lowered her head. He didn't look like he was in a very good mood.

One spring afternoon, on the rooftop terrace at the top of the library.

Wen Ning cupped Cheng Shu's face in both hands and soothed him as if he were a child. "Don't be mad. I misunderstood you. I was wrong, but hitting people is still wrong."

Cheng Shu looked down at her. Three days earlier, the two of them had argued because he had punched the jerk who'd been fantasizing about her behind her back. He had never liked explaining himself, and he was even less likely to swallow his pride and make up.

But after receiving Wen Ning's message, he had still come.

*

A popular immersive mystery show invited Cheng Shu, who never appeared on variety programs, drawing countless viewers' attention.

Wen Ning, a moderately well-known illustrator, also took part in the show.

In a moment of danger, Wen Ning accidentally triggered the emergency SOS function on her phone.

At the same time, the scene on the other side appeared before millions of viewers, and Cheng Shu's phone began to ring.

*

One day, a netizen suddenly posted a photo of a man and a woman embracing in a snowy night.

The netizen also tagged Cheng Shu. The repost said, 'You said you never wait for anyone, but that day you waited three hours for her in the snow.'

The whole internet exploded.

Everyone waited for Cheng Shu's response.

Half an hour later, Cheng Shu commented on the post.

--I'd wait for her as long as it took.

A little scene

During the interview backstage at the film awards, Cheng Shu paused for a long time after answering the earlier question, so long that the reporter thought he was done.

Then Cheng Shu continued, "But I would change for the person I love."

Misty Hues

One is an impoverished university student who has to worry about paying her tuition. Other than her face, which could be considered exceptional, she has no other assets. The other is a wealthy young master, noble and supremely proud, surrounded by admirers. Countless people want to get close to him.

The gap between them couldn't have been clearer to Yun Zhi when she first heard Shen Chaoyi's name on the news.

At a banquet, with nowhere else to turn, Yun Zhi happened to find Shen Chaoyi alone for a moment after speaking with someone. In that instant, she didn't know where she found the courage. She copied a cheesy scene from a romance drama and deliberately bumped into him.

Whether by the favor of fate or not, everything unfolded just as she had imagined.

Shen Chaoyi glanced at the trousers she'd splashed with red wine, then looked her up and down. Just as she was about to give up, he slipped a business card into her cleavage.

"Get in touch with me later."

Yun Zhi blushed and clutched the card in her hand.

*

Shen Chaoyi knew all about Yun Zhi's schemes, but he didn't care at all. In his presence, all Yun Zhi had to do was be a quiet, obedient canary.

He thought he would always be in control, but he never imagined that Yun Zhi wouldn't stay by his side forever.

When she left, he remained calm. "Tell me what you want. I can give you anything."

"You can't give me what I want."

Yun Zhi left without looking back or showing the slightest regret.

Three years later, Yun Zhi and Shen Chaoyi met again. She had become a famous ballet dancer who had returned from overseas. She handled media interviews with ease, showing none of the awkwardness and inexperience she'd once had.

Shen Chaoyi now had a female companion by his side. Yun Zhi looked at him and saw him staring at her without blinking, just as he had the first time they'd met.

It was the vulgar, lustful gaze of a man looking at his woman.

Halfway through the banquet, in an overlooked corner, Shen Chaoyi pinned Yun Zhi against the wall. "Have you been doing well since you left me?"

"Of course!"

Shen Chaoyi took out a cigarette and leaned toward Yun Zhi with a wicked look. "You haven't forgotten what to do, have you?"

Yun Zhi skillfully lit his cigarette. The moment the tip caught fire, she regretted it, hating that her hand had moved faster than her brain. Just as she was about to recover her dignity, she lifted her head, and Shen Chaoyi's kiss landed precisely on her lips.

"I've been miserable, Yun Zhi."

Theme: Never give up hope