A Delayed Heartbeat

"Next book: Storm Fantasy"

Back in high school, everyone at Haicheng No. 1 High knew that Lin Yun, the problem girl, and Chu Yeze, the genius from the competition class, were incredibly close.

Everyone silently assumed they planned to make their relationship official after graduation.

But before graduation even arrived, the two had already gone their separate ways.

When they meet again, she's under fire from public opinion, with fake stories and rumors swirling everywhere. The piano goddess has fallen from her pedestal overnight.

By then, he's the heir to the Chu Group and the head of Shengsheng Entertainment, with the best resources at his fingertips and a place at the top of the food chain.

To avoid the awkwardness of a relationship that had long since fallen apart, Lin Yun doesn't ask her old friend for help. She forgets, though, that her father and Chu Yeze are close despite their age difference. The moment something happens to her, Chu Yeze hears about it.

Left with no other choice, and out of gratitude, Lin Yun treats him to dinner three times.

The first time, Lin Yun sincerely thanks him.

Chu Yeze's gaze is distant as he draws a line between them. "I was only protecting my own interests."

The second time, Lin Yun earnestly expresses her gratitude.

He glances up, showing no emotion. "I did it for your uncle's sake."

The third time, before Lin Yun can even thank him, he speaks first.

"You've always been good at getting into trouble. This is nothing new."

-

At a gathering later on, their friends see the two people at the center of the latest scandal sitting in opposite corners, acting like they never want to see each other again. One of them teases,

"Did the lovebirds have a fight?"

Chu Yeze insists, "We're not a couple."

Their friend laughs. "Keep pretending."

"Don't think I don't know you bought those trending gossip tags yourself."

"..."

Mutual unrequited love | Sweet romance, with a little angst for the guy

Pianist x entertainment company CEO

Rekindled romance | An unconventional showbiz romance

◆ Upcoming book: My Supportive Little Brother Won't Listen. Blurb below ◆

*Older woman-younger man romance | Set in college; the younger man is an adult | Please add it to your favorites, mwah

*Game content is for reference only (Honor of Kings)

When her younger brother was in high school, Shi Yu forcibly grabbed his hand and made him press a red fingerprint onto a secret agreement.

My sister gets first pick of your most handsome friend.

It was just something she'd done for fun, and Shi Yu had forgotten all about it.

Until one day, Shi Yu came home and found a fair-skinned young man sitting in the living room.

His fingers, long and distinct, hooked under the tab of a drink can. Blue veins appeared and disappeared beneath his skin. Pop! The can opened.

Shi Yu thought it wasn't the sound of metal clinking. It was the sound of hormones exploding.

Noticing someone there, Sheng Xun narrowed his eyes and glanced over. Most of the careless insolence vanished from his face. He stood up and greeted her politely.

"Hello, Jie. I'm Shi Lin's friend."

Pop!

This time, a nerve in her brain snapped.

-

As time went by, Shi Yu and her brother's friend grew closer and closer, until they even had a secret her brother didn't know about.

One day, Shi Lin gets into a fight with his sister. Furious, he calls Sheng Xun out in the middle of the night and vents at him in a bar.

"Don't hang around her so much from now on! Only a dog would hang out with her."

The person he'd called lazily raises his eyes, then lifts a hand to discreetly cover the red mark on his neck.

"Watch what you say. She's your sister."

"Like hell she is. I don't acknowledge her!"

"And one more thing..." Sheng Xun cuts him off, the corner of his mouth lifting. His tone is casual, almost boastful.

"Let me introduce myself properly."

Shi Lin: ?

"I'm your brother-in-law."

"????????"

[Bonus Scene]

Da Yu, a gaming streamer with tens of millions of followers, takes leave every other day. When he finally streams again, he's playing the assassin role.

[Is this what you call a stream?]

[Support players have the heart of a carry, let her do it!]

[Ahhh, please switch roles! Mage is fine too!]

While Sheng Xun turns around to tuck Shi Yu in, the barrage of comments is about to flood the screen, all telling him not to throw the game.

"I won't throw." A man's voice comes through. The screen goes blank for two seconds, then is met with a flood of question marks.

"I'm filling in for my little support today."

Fans: ? Crap, has Da Yu been kidnapped???

Fans: Who are you!! Give Yu Yu back to me!!!

By chance, the person in bed wakes up and protests in a hoarse voice.

Shi Yu: "Bull! Which one of us is the support? You know damn well!"

Sheng Xun immediately backs down: "Yeah, I'm the support."

Fans: ::::::

Theme: Be brave enough to speak up, and stay optimistic.