Wild Berry Patch

[Honest Guy X Untouchable Beauty: Fauxcest, secret relationship, possessive love] During the summer vacation of her first year of high school, Wen Lan moved north with her mother, who married into the Xie family. Wen Lan gained a stepsister, and next door lived a stepbrother, Xie Zhi'ang. When they first met, Xie Zhi'ang wore a blue-and-white school uniform, carried his backpack over one shoulder, and had headphones around his neck. He gave off an unmistakable stay-away-from-me aura. His dark eyes turned toward Wen Lan, studying her coldly. Wen Lan greeted him politely. "Hi, big brother." Her stepsister cried out, "You're not allowed to call him that!" After school started, Wen Lan learned that Xie Zhi'ang was a legend at their school, the unattainable dream of countless girls. When he helped her out, Wen Lan thanked him. "Thanks, big brother." Xie Zhi'ang frowned, keeping her at arm's length. "Don't call me that." Who could have imagined that the summer after the college entrance exams, Wen Lan and Xie Zhi'ang would end up tangled together? The room was dim, the curtains tightly drawn. No one could glimpse what was happening inside. Xie Zhi'ang's palm was slick with sweat as he covered Wen Lan's mouth. The cicadas sang louder and louder. Wen Lan heard Xie Zhi'ang whisper in her ear, "Don't call me big brother. Call me big bro." /// When their secret was discovered, Wen Lan's mother sent her abroad to study. So be it. This ill-fated relationship was never going to last. On the day Wen Lan returned home with her boyfriend, Xie Zhi'ang was there to meet her at the airport. Her boyfriend asked, "Who is this?" Xie Zhi'ang smiled faintly. "I'm her brother." Wen Lan silently prayed that she and Xie Zhi'ang could go back to being stepsiblings in public. Until... Wen Lan's wedding dress was torn to shreds, and her engagement ring rolled away. Xie Zhi'ang pinned her in a corner, just as he had years ago. She cried and begged him to let her go, but he only treated her more cruelly. "You look beautiful in that wedding dress." His palm gently stroked her face, never pausing. "Want me to take a picture so your future brother-in-law can have a look?" /// "There are wild strawberries over there, and summer. That's where I first kissed you." Smultronstället (Wild Strawberries) ▲ Please note ▲ 1. The male lead is the female lead's step-cousin through marriage. They are not blood-related and are not registered in the same household. 2. The leads' intimate moments take place after they are adults. 3. This is not a realistic story. The setting is fictional, and the author's worldbuilding takes precedence. Theme: Working together to build a better life