Less Ice, Extra Sugar

[Pre-release: Taro Milk Tea, a parallel-world story with no ice. Blurb below, please add it to your shelves] [Strawberry sweetheart x gentle, scheming man] 1. One summer afternoon, under the blazing sun, her older brother came home after playing basketball, carrying the ball and drenched in sweat. Behind him stood Chen Qinian, whom Qiao Xiyu was meeting for the first time. He wore a basketball tank top and flip-flops. His lean, muscular arms were clearly defined, and he carried his basketball shoes in one hand. His short, tousled blue-black hair framed a quiet, gentle face. They had both just come from the court, but her brother was covered in dust and smelled awful, while Chen Qinian was spotless. Only a few beads of sweat occasionally dripped from his short, tousled hair. When he noticed her staring, he raised his brows, laughter in his eyes. "You're Jian Shuyi's little sister?" Qiao Xiyu's face suddenly turned red. She froze for a long moment, then managed a cool, "Mm." * 2. Qiao Xiyu didn't know that Chen Qinian had noticed her long before they first met. That day, she had come to watch Jian Shuyi play basketball, keeping an eye on her brother's water bottle and phone from the sidelines. Chen Qinian had just been subbed out and was sitting across from Qiao Xiyu, on the other side of the court. Chen Qinian spotted her at once in the crowd. Long, straight black hair, a white dress dotted with little flowers, and neat, sweet bangs. When she smiled, she pressed her lips together, quiet and gentle. He held back for almost half the game, planning to go ask for her contact information, but Jian Shuyi got there first. Chen Qinian had no idea Jian Shuyi was her brother. He could only watch, his eyes burning, as she stood beside his good friend, handing him water and a towel. He squeezed the bottle in his hand until it was crushed, jealousy making him score three-pointers like crazy in the second half and crush Jian Shuyi by twenty-five points. * [Bonus Scene] Later, Chen Qinian finally learned that Qiao Xiyu was Jian Shuyi's biological little sister. Chen Qinian: "Let's cut to the chase. I want to be your brother-in-law." Jian Shuyi: "Don't even think about it, kid. Absolutely not!" Chen Qinian carefully plotted every step, patiently staying by her side, all to win her heart. He did it for the day he could see her in a pure white wedding dress, then take her hand and walk with her through the rest of his life. * [Did you know that while you were falling for me, I was already paying attention to you?] * Reading Guide: 1. A sweet, slice-of-life comfort read 2. Both are virgins, secretly in love with each other, and mutually devoted 3. Wishing everyone a beautiful love story~ 4. Older man romance with a 3-year age gap Pre-release: Taro Milk Tea, blurb [I would gladly fall to earth and spend the rest of my life with her amid life's simple joys] When He Yu'an first met Ni Ni, she was 22 and still in college. Her skin was snow-white, and her bright, innocent eyes curved into a smile when she looked at people. She had long, slightly wavy hair like seaweed and wore a cherry-red dress. Every time she came by, she would bring He Yu'an a taro boba tea. Her smile was as sweet as taro, and He Yu'an liked her very much. Unfortunately, at the time, she was dating his younger brother, He Lin. Later, He Lin cheated on her and dumped Ni Ni. That day, Ni Ni stormed into an upscale club. The woman who was usually as soft and sweet as a little rabbit expressionlessly poured an entire cup of taro boba tea over her ex-boyfriend's head, then grabbed her bag and walked away without looking back. He Yu'an knew his chance had come. * He Yu'an was the heir apparent to the He Corporation. Unlike his notorious playboy younger brother, He Lin, He Yu'an came from a distinguished family and was calm, responsible, powerful, and reliable. After studying in the United States, he returned to take on an important position at the He Corporation. He was a rising star, the best of the best. His private life was also exceptionally discreet and spotless. In 28 years, he had never been linked to a single woman. He was practically a handsome block of ice. Then one day, someone secretly filmed a video. In the video, at a roadside stall in a bustling night market, He Yu'an sat casually on a little stool in an expensive tailored suit, accompanying a girl with long, wavy hair and smiling eyes. He watched her quietly and indulgently as she ordered a heap of skewers and happily devoured them. The girl held a cup of taro boba tea. Her smile was sweeter than the tea. Everyone was amazed. At some point, the lofty young heir of the He Corporation had been drawn down into the ordinary warmth of everyday life. 1. A powerful, reliable, aloof, wealthy CEO who says one thing but means another x a newly graduated, usually soft and adorable little rabbit who'll bite when provoked 2. I just want a super powerful and reliable CEO, okay? QAQ Theme: Meeting you was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me