Young Xia [Age Gap]

Blurb:

Song Zhi first met Bai Yanli when she was seventeen.

Her parents had both died, and at their funeral, relatives shoved one another, none of them willing to take in a burden like her.

In the chaos, a man's cool, deep voice rang out: "I'll raise her."

Song Zhi heard that Bai Yanli was her father's prized student, and the sole heir to the Bai family.

Bai Yanli treated her with warmth and kindness, gave her a privileged life, and fulfilled nearly all her wishes without question.

At the same time, the man's concern never went beyond what was proper. He always kept a courteous distance.

But Song Zhi wanted more than that.

For her eighteenth birthday, Bai Yanli threw Song Zhi a lavish party that stunned the whole city, celebrating her coming of age.

After the party, emboldened by alcohol, Song Zhi pushed open the door to Bai Yanli's bedroom and demanded a much more outrageous gift.

When she woke the next morning, she found Bai Yanli in his study.

Beside the man, who never touched alcohol or cigarettes, lay a pile of cigarette butts.

Bai Yanli, who hadn't slept all night, looked up at her and apologized in a hoarse voice. "A Zhi, I'm sorry."

An apology wasn't what Song Zhi wanted.

So she left the Bai family that very day.

-

Lately, the story of the young woman adopted by the Bai family running away from home had become a favorite topic among the city's elite.

Wherever Song Zhi went, she could always spot an understated yet luxurious Maybach. Bai Yanli, rumored to be the man least interested in women, sat in the back seat.

People later said that anyone hoping to marry into the Bai family would first have to get past the young woman.

At S University's centennial celebration, the Bai family heir made an unexpected appearance, but after watching just one solo ballet performance, he got up and left.

Someone saw a man's figure in Song Zhi's dressing room.

"A Zhi," Bai Yanli gently kissed the cut at the corner of her lips. "You haven't been home in two weeks."

Song Zhi was so breathless from the kiss that she could barely speak, but refused to give in. "I'm an adult now, Mr. Bai. You have no right to control me."

"It was my fault."

The man lowered his eyes to her flushed cheeks and chuckled. "Then may I ask, Mrs. Bai, if I might have the honor of taking you home?"

18 x 30

12-year age gap / unconventional groveling pursuit / both leads' first relationship / happy ending

Theme: People must have the courage to fight for their own future.