Falling for You at First Snow [Flirty Male Lead]

[Updating now. Please add my next book, "Carry the Bunny Away", to your reading list. Please, please, please give the author some motivation!! orz]

Also known as "Welcome to Cat Isle Book Cafe" and "Cheering Up the Little Cat"

A crush come true | Mutual healing | Everyday life

1. There's a book cafe on the corner, and business is a little slow.

They say the owner is a young, pretty woman who has a very cute cat.

The shop has a special sign: This world needs kittens and music. Hope you have a happy day :)

It gets plenty of people to stop and look, but nobody comes inside.

One day, Qi Can passes by and sees another line added to the sign:

Everyone is welcome, except Qi Can.

His friend can't help laughing. "Wait, what did you do to offend her?"

Qi Can shoots him a cold look, and he shuts up.

2. Thanks to Boss Jiang's tireless efforts, with publicity and marketing working hand in hand, the book cafe finally becomes the latest hot spot, and business takes off.

A popular singer even reaches out to ask if it can be used as a music video location.

Before the owner, Jiang Youchu, can say anything, the employee Gu Tangyuan claps her hands. "That's great! Chi Xu is really popular lately. I hear he's handsome and has a great personality!"

That night, she gets Chi Xu's contact information, but something feels a little off.

Outside of work, he likes to chat about all sorts of things.

He especially likes sending voice messages at dusk, his voice alluring and pleasant to listen to.

"Miss Jiang, you don't seem to be in a very good mood lately. You can talk to me about it."

"Miss Jiang, have you eaten? Remember to eat properly. Don't let yourself get hungry."

"I wrote a song recently, about first love. It's called 'Do You Know?' Would you like to hear it?"

Until he carefully asks, "Have you... fallen for someone else?"

Jiang Youchu stares at the message, her gaze complicated.

They seem to be flirting, and she can't stop herself from falling for him.

3. Later, the first snow arrives, and warm yellow lights glow inside the book cafe.

Jiang Youchu opens the door and sees Qi Can.

Beneath the streetlamp, his shadow stretches long. He's wearing a knit cap and a thick scarf, showing off his handsome, refined face.

"You knew all along that I was Chi Xu, didn't you?"

"Then why did you pretend you didn't know?"

Jiang Youchu looks up at the boy who used to be so proud, now a shining superstar, his eyes lowered and his expression dim.

At that moment, her heart starts racing again, beyond her control, but her voice is icy. "Because I hate you."

She suddenly remembers that year, long, long ago, when she secretly had a crush on him.

His straight back, cold tone, nonchalant manner, and a time she could never get back.

You don't remember.

But I remember everything.

She thinks that's the end of it, but soon after, he somehow comes back with a bouquet of cappuccino roses and offers it to her.

"I said I hate you. Can't you understand?" Jiang Youchu's eyes grow moist.

"I hate you."

"I hate you!"

"I know." Qi Can reaches out, instinctively wanting to wipe away her tears, but pulls his hand back. "I'm here to make you feel better."

"I'll keep cheering you up until you don't hate me anymore."

"...I'm sorry I was late."

#When I hate you, my heart just won't listen to me#

#'Do You Know?' I love you#

#So this song can be dedicated to myself, too#

-The male lead's real name is Qi Can, and his stage name is Chi Xu.

-No real-life inspirations. The male lead is devoted to making music and keeps a very low profile.

-The female lead initially "hates" the male lead for certain reasons. The misunderstanding will be cleared up later.

A warm, healing story, guaranteed to be sweet.

Starts in the city, with high school flashbacks.

Theme: Success in both love and career.