Do You Like Me?

1.

In high school, Song Yi was radiant and vivacious, from a wealthy family, and at the top of her class. She was every teacher's favorite, and Jiang Linsheng could only admire her from afar.

Back then, Jiang Linsheng ate the cheapest food in the school cafeteria. His shoes were falling apart, and the edges of his uniform were fraying. His only consolation was that the uniform was well made and wouldn't wear out.

At university, Song Yi was the campus goddess, still someone everyone looked up to, with countless admirers.

Jiang Linsheng still ate the cheapest food in the cafeteria.

The difference was that Jiang Linsheng had become one of Song Yi's many suitors.

After six months together, Song Yi asked to break up. Jiang Linsheng refused and asked her why.

Song Yi gave him an amused look. "You're too naive."

2.

Years later, they met again. Song Yi was a foreign correspondent, still radiant and elegant, intelligent and capable.

Jiang Linsheng was a visiting researcher abroad, successful in his career, mature and steady.

She was assigned to interview the youngest and most handsome researcher in the visiting delegation, Jiang Linsheng.

After the interview, Song Yi treated Jiang Linsheng to a farewell meal before he returned home. They had lunch on the busiest street in town.

An explosion suddenly rocked the street that day. Jiang Linsheng shielded Song Yi with his body, but his ears were injured, leaving him temporarily deaf.

After he was discharged, Song Yi took him home to recuperate and looked after him. Her firmly held principles crumbled one by one beneath his unabashed advances.

After wrapping up an interview, they went on a picnic on a mountaintop. Jiang Linsheng pressed her about their relationship.

Song Yi lay on the grass, gazing at the star-filled sky with a dreamy look in her eyes. She smiled sweetly. "Count the stars in the sky. If you get it right, then we'll be together."

"Three thousand seven hundred and nine." Jiang Linsheng looked up at the stars and murmured, "That's how many days I've missed you since we broke up."

3.

Later, Song Yi went to a war zone and was injured in an airstrike. Jiang Linsheng rushed to her side overnight and stayed by her hospital bed for two days and two nights.

A staunch materialist, he prayed to every god and Buddha in the heavens.

[Once I've washed away the dust and stand before you, polished and radiant, will you look at me just a little longer?]

* Radiant, pampered heiress x humble, devoted poor boy

* Alluring foreign correspondent x mature, reserved quantum satellite researcher

* Flirtatious and fickle x devoted romantic

The male lead has a secret crush; older woman-younger man romance; two-year age gap

Entirely fictional setting; includes some author-invented details later on

Super sweet!!!

[Pre-order: After Dawn. If you like it, please add it to your collection~]

Blurb:

Yun Yao's lifelong dream was to escape her mountain village.

After weighing her options, she set her sights on the young master of the wealthiest family in the area.

That day, standing on a hilltop as the mountain wind lifted her glossy black hair and colorful scarf, she held her stomach and said calmly, "I'm pregnant."

The young master wiped his face excitedly.

Then she added, "I want to get rid of it. Give me money."

The young master emptied his pockets and scraped together 237 wrinkled yuan.

With that scrappy 237 yuan, Yun Yao traded a motorcycle for a car, then a car for a train ticket. After a week, she had finally left the mountains far behind.

-

With her good looks and an abundance of nerve, Yun Yao made a name for herself in the big city's glittering nightlife. She even managed to get close to the most powerful member of the city's prestigious Yan family.

That day, she walked out of a private club on Yan Boyu's arm and saw a man staring fixedly at her from the street. She stopped without thinking.

Yan Boyu asked, "Do you know him?"

She smiled coquettishly. "Some country bumpkin? Who would know him?"

That night, the man cornered Yun Yao against a wall. His voice was low and cold as he asked, "Where's my child?"

*

After they met again, Zhou Kunming was publicly mocked and chased away by a woman outside a bar.

Later, on a stormy night, he heard her weak voice on the phone: "Wutong Alley. Help me, please..."

"Why should I come?" he asked, gripping his phone, his voice calm and distant.

- Bold woman x honest man

- Imperfect characters; the heroine has her reasons

- Short story

Theme: Persevere through hardship and strive to improve