When she enrolled at Xing University, Xu Jiuxin only wanted to solve cases and study.
But Su Yibai, the campus celebrity, kept trying to drag her into trouble.
*
On Xing University's BBS, there was a ranking of the least likely couples. At the top were:
Su Yibai, a handsome bad boy, carefree and dazzling, with one girlfriend after another. He lived wildly and was known as a playboy.
Xu Jiuxin, aloof and proud, petite and quiet, allergic to men. She'd once declared she wouldn't date throughout her four years at university, earning a reputation as a little weirdo.
But at one campus gala, the two were forced to dance together.
Su Yibai wrapped an arm around the girl's slender waist, pulled her close, and asked with a smirk, "I heard you won't date during your four years at university. What about me?"
A blush spread across the usually composed girl's face, but she answered earnestly, "If it's you, I can make an exception."
Su Yibai was momentarily stunned. He leaned close to her ear, his warm breath teasing her as his voice turned bewitching and flirtatious. "Let's sneak away after this dance."
*
They met again eight years later.
He'd reined in his wild ways and grown more steady and mature, while she had transformed into someone dazzling and radiant.
They both hid their feelings well, but their cases kept bringing them together.
In the end, Su Yibai's armor crumbled, and he was utterly defeated by her.
Drunk, he pinned her against the wall, his breath brushing her lips as he said through clenched teeth, "Xu Jiuxin, do you even have a heart? Is messing with me that much fun?"
But then his voice softened: "...Fine. Go ahead and mess with me!"
*
For 2,888 days, he trusted only himself and his gun. It was only when she returned that he finally found someone he could give his heart to.
*I picked up shells along the way, like gathering flowers as I came toward you; ah, you surprise me so. Who knew you'd be such a little elf in a black dress? -- Zheng Chouyu, "I Test You with This Gentle Song"
*Elizabeth Baird: The way to avoid lying is to believe it wholeheartedly, so you end up deceiving yourself more than others. -- Criminal Minds
*Su "The World's Playboy" Yibai vs. Xu "The World's Clear-Eyed One" Jiuxin
(Handsome, flirtatious bad boy vs. seemingly composed, scheming girl)
Mystery / personal growth / sweet romance / campus / unrequited love (unconventional) / mutual healing
1. Both leads are each other's first and only. The heroine is aloof, scheming, and highly intelligent. Her appearance will change quite a bit later on. The hero becomes a police officer later, and his personality also mellows. Both of them go through character growth.
2. This story features a lot of different elements, with romance interwoven with mystery. It's sweet, exciting, and thrilling, and well worth reading. The student council is included to serve the story, and the setting is fictional.
3. Sources include the internet and books.
Theme: The world is full of falsehoods, yet I still love the real you.
