Glory in Midsummer

Cocky, cool jungler x poised beauty. Second chance romance and forced cohabitation. Please add my next book, Shirts and Long Skirts, to your reading list.

During the three-month internship of her senior year, Xia Yanzhi finds the apartment of her dreams: the landlord is away, the master bedroom and study are locked, and only one spare bedroom is for rent.

A few days after moving in, she learns that the landlord is her high school first love, Xiang Heng, once the most handsome jungler on the field. He's past his prime now, but still as cool and cocky as ever.

As she hurriedly packs to move out, the man opens the front door. In the deathly silence, Xia Yanzhi hears his casual voice as she drags her suitcase along:

"Trying to steal my base?"

*

Despite their various misgivings, the two end up living under the same roof.

One day, a coworker invites Xia Yanzhi out shopping, and she spots Xiang Heng apparently on a blind date. To avoid being seen, she hides in the shrubbery, but Xiang Heng catches her anyway.

"Sixth player?" He keeps his hands in his pockets and bends down to peer at her, a smile tugging at his lips. "Were you waiting in the grass to ambush me?"

Xia Yanzhi: "..."

*

One day, after a group dinner, a very drunk Xia Yanzhi is carried home on Xiang Heng's back.

Realizing that she's using him to fend off admirers, the man's voice turns low and husky. "Xia Yanzhi, are you treating me like a mid-lane utility player?"

Xia Yanzhi lies against his back in silence. A single tear slips from the corner of her eye.

The man stops and gazes into the vast night, his eyes narrowing slightly. Switching to mid lane is fine, too.

Content notes:

1. The leads were each other's first love. Neither dated anyone after they broke up.

2. The game tournament setting features Honor of Kings and KPL, but this is not an esports novel.

3. No characters are based on real people.

Shirts and Long Skirts: A foreign affairs translator x a classical dancer. Marriage first, love later.

At a bar gathering, Gu Xiang's high school desk mate teases her: "Gu Xiang, you're almost 26 and still haven't dated anyone. Let me teach you how to flirt with cute guys."

Then she turns around, spots the most popular boy from high school, and stammers, "He Qingchen?"

He's still as handsome as ever, fond of wearing shirts, and works as a foreign affairs translator. He's the pride of the whole school, teachers included.

He Qingchen smiles like a spring breeze and slips an arm around Gu Xiang's slender waist. "I just got back from abroad to pick up my wife... What a coincidence, catching you red-handed?"

Everyone: "..."

Gu Xiang is embarrassed, too. The last time they met was a year ago: they went on a blind date in the morning, got their marriage certificates that afternoon, and he left that evening. She can't exactly tell people about the marriage.

*

Gu Xiang's childhood friend hears the shocking news and drives back in the middle of the night.

"Wait, how did you two just go and get married like that?"

He Qingchen looks at his former "rival in love" and smiles faintly. "You get married when you're compatible. If you're not, you shouldn't get married."

"Fine, you're brilliant. I'm not going to argue over words with a diplomat."

"But Gu Xiang, how could you get married without telling me? And to one of my high school buddies, no less."

Gu Xiang has no answer.

On the drive home, He Qingchen can't help biting her lip, a hint of inexplicable jealousy in his kiss.

*

He's like an early summer rain, washing away the dust that has settled in Gu Xiang's heart.

But Gu Xiang can't understand why He Qingchen married her after just one blind date. Was it simply because she's pretty, and they'd met a few times before?

Then, at the old He family home, she finds a collection of sketches in his study, all depicting Gu Xiang in long skirts. She vaguely recalls that on the few occasions they'd met, she'd been wearing a long skirt each time.

He Qingchen says calmly, "I drew those in high school and college. Too bad my skills were so poor. I couldn't capture even a tenth of your beauty."

A few things to know:

@ Both leads are committed to each other, and they're the same age.

@ From his perspective: He fell for her in high school, and then it came true.

From her perspective: He's her childhood friend's buddy, and they aren't very close. Marriage first, love later.

Theme: A beautiful relationship helps people grow.