A Slow Burn

The first volume of the print edition goes on presale at 6:00 p.m. on July 13. [Reserved, shy wallflower × brash young heir] [Female lawyer × male doctor] In high school, Chen Yuzhou was handsome and wild, adored by countless girls and convinced of his own superiority. Yet he always treated Ming Fu, the little girl who stuttered, a bit differently. He stood up for her when people laughed at her, and listened to her with patience and care. On graduation day, Ming Fu hugged everyone in the class, saving Chen Yuzhou for last. He smiled, drew her into his arms, and patted her back. “Why are you crying? We’ll see each other again.” Ming Fu remembered those words for eight years. When they met again, he stood tall and straight, his features clear and refined. He looked at Ming Fu with nothing but recognition’s opposite: “Hello, Ms. Ming.” Only then did Ming Fu finally come to her senses. The reunion she had longed for day and night had been nothing more than a casual bit of comfort he’d offered back then. Later, Ming Fu went to a friend’s birthday party and was mistaken for someone’s girlfriend. Through the curling smoke, she met Chen Yuzhou’s inscrutable gaze. In that instant, her heart pounded like a drum, and there was nowhere to hide. In the glittering corridor outside the restroom, music drifted in, muffled and hazy. The man pinned her hands behind her against the wall, bent down, and nipped her earlobe. His voice was low, colored by the liquor on his breath. “You like that kind of guy? Then what about me?” Reading Guide: 1. One-on-one romance, both leads’ first time, secret crush reunited after years apart; starts in school and moves into the city. 2. The hero says one thing and means another: sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. The heroine is insecure and emotionally awkward, with an avoidant attachment style, though not exactly. Her stutter improves later! 3. No real-life inspirations. Don’t be weird about it. Coming Soon 1: Don’t Get Any Ideas About Me "A story in the Slow Burn series, about Chen Yuzhou’s older brother Huo Yanxing and Sang Yin" [Marriage first, love later; five-year age gap] [Hot-tempered firecracker × composed, scheming CEO] Everyone in Beijing’s social circles knew that Sang Yin and Huo Yanxing were complete opposites. Sang Yin was arrogant and domineering, impossible to ignore, with nothing but a pretty face. Huo Yanxing was steady and levelheaded, ruthless in business. Still young, he had already secured his position as head of the Huo family, and he hated spoiled, willful people most of all. The day the Sang family went bankrupt, everyone in their circle waited to see Sang Yin make a fool of herself. Instead, they got the news that she and Huo Yanxing were getting married. Everyone was astonished and started gossiping. Someone boldly went to ask him about it. The elegantly dressed man slowly turned the wedding ring on his finger and replied calmly, “We were betrothed as children.” - At a banquet, Sang Yin ran into her longtime rival. The other woman struck a haughty pose and sneered, “Sang Yin, now that the Sang family can’t protect you, let’s see what you have to be so arrogant about.” Before Sang Yin could retort, a strong arm wrapped around her waist. The man’s voice was low and commanding. “Am I a powerful enough protector for you?” Sang Yin was quick-tempered and lively, and she couldn’t stand stiff, boring men like Huo Yanxing. On their wedding night, she stood two meters from the bed and glared at him warily. “I don’t like you, so don’t get any ideas about me.” Huo Yanxing leisurely loosened his tie and glanced at her. “Don’t worry.” Sang Yin thought he meant it as a promise. It wasn’t until one night that she finally understood what he had really meant by “Don’t worry.” Clutching the blankets, Sang Yin sniffled, “You said I didn’t need to worry.” Huo Yanxing brushed aside the damp strands stuck to her forehead and finished what he hadn’t said on their wedding night. “Exactly. You don’t need to worry, because I’ve had my eye on you for a long time.” Coming Soon 2: Burning Ears [Arrogant bad boy × ditzy beauty] [Rapper × comic artist] Ruan Er first met Tan Xiao outside a convenience store. Dressed all in black, the man squatted by the entrance smoking. The light behind him cast a lonely silhouette across the ground. For some reason, Ruan Er thought of her lost husky. Her heart softened, and she bought him a bottle of milk. “Smoking’s bad for you. Drink this and hurry home.” Tan Xiao stubbed out his cigarette and was about to take the milk when Ruan Er added in a muffled voice, “Don’t be like my dog. It got lost and didn’t even come back to tell me.” Tan Xiao: “…” How could a dog come back if it was lost? Wait, did she think he was a dog? - The second time Ruan Er saw Tan Xiao was outside the bar restroom. A curvaceous woman stood in front of him. “Handsome, can I get your WeChat?” The man replied with undisguised disdain. “Stay away from me. That cheap perfume is offending my eyes.” Ruan Er was stunned. Wow, even Duanmu Lei would have to admit that was pro-level. - The third time Ruan Er saw Tan Xiao was at a gathering organized by a friend. While playing a game, Ruan Er drew a dare. The card read: Kiss the first person of the opposite sex on your left through a sheet of paper. That person was Tan Xiao. Remembering how coldly he’d rejected the woman, Ruan Er felt awkward and quietly changed the dare. “H-hello, could I hug you?” Tan Xiao lounged in his chair. “No.” Ruan Er clenched her fingers, mortified. “But you can kiss me.” The man’s voice was mild, yet strangely seductive. “No tissue in between.” Theme: Stay positive