A Ridiculous Secret Crush

Jiang Zhi was the apple of her parents' eyes, raised to be gentle and demure. Once she started college, she became a regular on the campus confession page and was adored by everyone.

The afternoon after military training ended, the sky was ablaze with the colors of the setting sun.

A flashy black luxury car stopped at the school gate. A man got out and walked toward her, refined and distinguished. He loosely put an arm around Jiang Zhi's slender waist.

It was none other than Fu Jiarong, the head of the Fu family, a man of great status and influence.

He was also the older boy next door who had grown up with Jiang Zhi.

His gentle, deep gaze shone through his gold-rimmed glasses, and his low, magnetic voice rang out: "A Zhi, your parents asked me to come pick you up."

Someone photographed the scene and posted it on the confession page. Countless male students mourned that the campus beauty was already taken.

That night, torrential rain blocked the roads, leaving the Fu family stranded at the Jiang family home.

The elders took the opportunity to tease the childhood friends, who were eight years apart.

"A Zhi, would you like to marry your Fu-gege?"

The idea of turning from siblings into spouses made Jiang Zhi's eyes go wide. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she shook her head again and again, making everyone else laugh.

In the end, Fu Jiarong came to her rescue, gently patting her head. "Our A Zhi is still young."

Jiang Zhi looked at him gratefully.

The man gave a faint smile and lightly tapped the tip of her nose with a curled finger.

Jiang Zhi had never dared to dream of Fu Jiarong, the favored son of heaven. She thought of him only as a good older brother.

Later, she got a boyfriend in college. On New Year's Eve, she secretly replied to messages on her phone beneath the dinner table.

Fu Jiarong asked who she was messaging. Away from the rest of the family, Jiang Zhi shyly told him she had a boyfriend.

That night, her plans for a movie date were ruined. Fu Jiarong trapped her in the dimly lit car, dropped his gentle facade, and glared at her as he coldly demanded:

"Break up with him."

Jiang Zhi was forcefully kissed by Fu Jiarong.

Shocked, she pointed at his nose and called him crazy.

From then on, Fu Jiarong really did go crazy.

Later, Jiang Zhi was forced into a tangled relationship with him, until the two families' arranged marriage was set in stone.

On their wedding night, Fu Jiarong, slightly tipsy, pulled his wife back when she tried to keep her distance. He intertwined their fingers and kissed her tenderly.

"Be good. Open up."

-A Zhi, I waited in silence until my secret love finally saw the light of day-

Coming soon in the author's collection: Burning

The first time Qiu Qingzhi set foot in the Nian family home, she looked at the grand old mansion, steeped in history, and felt awkward all over, as fresh and innocent as a young peach.

Tang Wennian's thumb brushed over her red lips. "I'll ask you one last time: if you come with me, will you really have no regrets?"

The man had a cool, detached look about him, and his smile was dangerous yet captivating.

Qiu Qingzhi stared at him blankly and said she had no regrets.

It was a bitter winter day, and snow lay deep in the courtyard.

He led her into a world of glittering wealth and fame.

Tang Wennian, head of the Tang family in the capital, was refined and distinguished, with a handsome face.

Women loved his looks, and they loved his power.

Tang Wennian spent lavishly on her, carefully laying out a road to a dazzling future.

Qiu Qingzhi went with him, and from then on rose to great heights.

In just four years, Qiu Qingzhi won countless awards and became the leading star in both film and television.

And she was only twenty-three that year.

*

Qiu Qingzhi had lived in the Nian family home for four years.

The awkward, innocent girl who had arrived there had long since been nourished by money and power until she was glowing with health.

Another bitter winter came, and snow lay deep in the courtyard.

Qiu Qingzhi stood barefoot by the window. Outside, the cold was biting and the snow lay thick, yet she wore a thin qipao whose embroidered satin traced her graceful figure.

Behind her, bodyguards carried in box after box of rare and precious treasures, all collected from around the world at Tang Wennian's order, just because she liked them.

"Where is he?"

"Mr. Tang has some personal matters to attend to, so he won't be coming back. He asked me to wish you a happy birthday."

Falling in love with Tang Wennian and dreaming of marrying him had been a beautiful dream for Qiu Qingzhi.

Now that she had woken up, she was ready to let it go.

For the last time, she was passionate, clinging to Tang Wennian without tiring. The man held her close, showering her face with tender, lingering kisses. When he chuckled, his magnetic voice was alluring and full of affection.

"Why are you being so good today? Hmm?"

Qiu Qingzhi looked at his gentle features and remembered the countless nights they'd spent together, when his gaze had always been as deeply focused and affectionate as ever.

But she knew Tang Wennian's heart could never be warmed.

He didn't love her, and he had never intended to marry her.

"Tang Wennian, after we sleep together this one last time, let's go our separate ways."

"There you go talking nonsense again."

He smiled and tapped the woman's nose, not taking her seriously.

*

Tang Wennian thought Qiu Qingzhi would never leave him.

She was greedy, ambitious, spoiled, and domineering. Who else could give her everything she wanted and indulge her without question, besides him?

He waited for his sulking lover to go out into the world, suffer some hardship, and come meekly back. But instead...

After leaving him, Qiu Qingzhi continued to thrive. She even threw wild parties on an island he had once bought her, partying night after night...

Tang Wennian, usually composed and self-controlled, found himself at a complete loss for the first time.

Theme: Secret love is eventually returned, and our love endures