Island in Flux

[This novel has undergone major revisions several times and is completely different from pirated versions. Thank you for supporting the official release.] 1. The night Chu Yu ran into Jiang Tuo again, she had a dream. She dreamed they were still in high school. Three minutes before evening study began, he grabbed the collar of her uniform and dragged her against the flow of people toward the stairs. As he dragged her along, he casually parted the crowd pressing in around her, calling out in a brazen voice, "Hey, bro, make way. Make way." Chu Yu struggled. "Class is about to start, Jiang Tuo." He stopped at once. "Can't be helped, then." "You're the one who always bolts faster than anyone else as soon as class ends." He leaned in close. "Are you avoiding me?" A sudden clap of thunder, and Chu Yu awoke from the chaotic, disjointed dream. Half an hour later, her roommate was wriggling around on the sofa beside her. "President Jiang was your classmate in high school?! What was he like back then? Was he this cold and distant, too?" "I can't remember." "He was always sleeping back then." "I only remember that I was always ordering the guy in front of me to get me water, and he'd call Jiang Tuo to do it." "Tsk, he's so fierce. Would he really get you water?" "He would." "When they woke him up, he'd go without changing his expression." "What about when he was already awake?" Chu Yu thought of those long, bright, expressive eyes. "Then he'd stare at me with this meaningful look." Her roommate let out a shriek. "He's just like a novel's male lead!!! I knew he was acting differently around you today! What happened after that? What happened next?" The corners of Chu Yu's eyes reddened. "After that?" "I don't remember..." Her voice grew softer and softer. "Why don't I remember...?" 2. No one could figure out what had gotten into the powerful young master of the Jiang family, keeping him in this shabby little place called Huaicheng. Then one night, Jiang Tuo got dead drunk. When he saw a girl in a No. 1 High School uniform pass by his car window, he broke down and murmured, "Didn't you tell me to wait?" "He treats you badly. I would never let you cry like that." "Was it because I didn't listen? I won't go this time." At last, his voice sank to a near-plea. "Could you come find me?" School life in the first half, reunion after years apart in the second. One-on-one romance, more to come. Both leads are devoted only to each other. The companion novel, "Messed-Up Summer," is now underway. Carefree, scatterbrained childhood friend vs. grumpy, cold-faced boy who does his own laundry When Xue Yan and Fu Chinan announced they were together, none of their friends were surprised. "We've known A Chi liked you for ages." "I remember one summer in middle school. One evening, you were sitting in the courtyard to cool off and chatting with me. A Chi kept standing nearby, pretending to fan himself, but he was really fanning you. He was worried you'd get hot, and worried the mosquitoes would bite you." "You didn't notice because you're too dense. You didn't even realize you liked him." "He was dense, too. He never realized you liked him back. He got jealous over this and that every day, nearly driving himself mad, and you still didn't know. Ah Shuo and I were practically dying of frustration sometimes." "But I knew you two would end up together." "Haven't you noticed? No matter what happens, you both stand firmly by each other's side, and you both know the other will always stand firmly by yours." #PuppyDiary: We've been together for so long that I can't seem to imagine what life would be like without her by my side. I've always thought we'd walk side by side from childhood until we were old. Coming soon: "Meeting Joy" Yet another blind date. Yun Xi sat down, still catching her breath. "My requirements: cooking, housework, having kids, raising kids, being..." A pair of elegant hands reached over from across the table, poured her tea, and gently pushed it over. A low, languid voice said, "Take your time." Yun Xi paused. She raised her eyes to the man across from her. His features were refined and aloof. His slender eyelids lifted slightly as he raised an eyebrow with casual indifference, signaling for her to continue. Looking at him, Yun Xi silently swallowed the rest of her list: tall, handsome, good figure, big butt, good at having children. She picked up her tea, took a small sip, and said calmly, "That's all for now." The man's voice remained lazy. "Anything but having kids is fine. If medical technology advances enough in the future, I could have them myself." "You can accept being child-free, and the man getting a vasectomy?" He pushed the menu toward her and replied as casually as if it were nothing, "Sure." Yun Xi had somewhere to be and very much wanted to leave, but he had agreed to every single one of her demands. She picked up her bag and stood, brushing him off. "How about this: you've passed the interview. There's a three-month probation period. Can you accept that?" The man lifted his chin and reached for his phone and car keys on the table. "Want a ride?" "...No, I drove." That evening. After her mother's endless questions, Yun Xi remembered that blind date. She checked WeChat. The chat was empty. What a pro. Maybe she could learn from him and play dumb to get out of it next time she went on a blind date. The next morning. Mr. Shi Feng sent her a WeChat message. [I've left breakfast downstairs for you.] Yun Xi: ? [Marriage Before Love] [He secretly loves her. He loves her deeply. He's a devoted simp.] Theme: Love should always be mutual