Married Young

Now published under the title Keeping Our Promise, and available for sale. Childhood sweethearts, both moving toward each other: "Even a coward's unrequited love can have a sweet ending."

Jiang Yu, the heartthrob of the medical school, was coming back to China the following week. His roommate Tao Yue excitedly sighed to Xu Nian, "He's so handsome, practically a dream guy! Nian Nian, do you know him?"

Xu Nian nodded. "I do. And I'm going to see him next week."

Her roommate was stunned. "What for?"

Then she saw the little red booklet in Xu Nian's hand. The words "Marriage Certificate" were clearly written on it, and the photo inside showed Xu Nian and the soon-to-return heartthrob, Jiang Yu.

Xu Nian said, "To get a divorce."

*

Xu Nian had had a crush on Jiang Yu for years. The day they registered their marriage, her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.

But she knew Jiang Yu had no feelings for her. They had only gotten married temporarily because it was his grandfather's dying wish.

She didn't want a Jiang Yu who didn't love her, so she planned to give up.

On the day Jiang Yu returned to China, Xu Nian went to meet him. They sat down for a farewell meal, and Xu Nian took out their marriage certificate. With a serious expression, she said, "Jiang Yu, let's get a divorce."

Jiang Yu lowered his head and was silent for a while. Xu Nian thought he had agreed.

After a moment, Jiang Yu stood and came over to her. He took a hair tie from his wrist and gathered up her loose hair for her.

As Xu Nian stared at him in a daze, Jiang Yu's cool voice, edged with confusion, reached her ears.

"Xu Nian, when did I ever agree to a divorce?"

P.S. They both had crushes on each other. Turns out the person I like likes me too.

Happy ending, both leads' first times.

--2022.04.21

Blurb for Puppy Eyes (available for pre-order):

Shen Sizheng did exceptionally well on her college entrance exams and got into Jiangbei University, one of the top universities in China.

The Shen family held a banquet to celebrate and specially invited the Shang family, partly to discuss the childhood engagement arranged long ago between their children.

Shen Sizheng remembered the younger son of the Shang family from her childhood. He had skipped two grades, worked so hard it was frightening, and even called her stupid. She promptly pretended to be sick and stayed away from the banquet.

*

After starting university, Shen Sizheng filled in for her roommate Feng Lutong at a class and fell for an upperclassman two years ahead of her. She asked his name, and he told her he was Shang Ningzhou.

Shen Sizheng was stunned. Wasn't he the boy she was engaged to? He was also the shadow of her childhood, and now, despite being three months younger than her, he was two years ahead because he'd skipped grades.

She hadn't expected him to grow up so handsome. Shen Sizheng fell for his endearing puppy eyes, which were exactly her type.

To make up for missing the banquet, she decided to make the first move and win him over.

*

Shang Ningzhou had recently been pestered by a junior student. To get rid of her, he said he was engaged, to his childhood sweetheart, and that they were in love with each other.

She replied, "I don't mind."

She even seemed happy about it.

What a shameless woman.

Shang Ningzhou was furious.

With no other choice, he remembered that he had a childhood fiancee. "Could you help me fend off my admirers?"

Shen Sizheng said, "Sure, but on one condition: come celebrate my birthday with me."

Shang Ningzhou agreed.

The moment he saw Shen Sizheng, Shang Ningzhou turned green with anger. He couldn't believe the junior student was Shen Sizheng. She had played him for a fool, and he stormed off in a huff.

*

Shang Ningzhou had always been hardworking and ambitious. At university, he was top of his entire school, dedicated to his studies and uninterested in dating. His childhood fiancee, on the other hand, was lazy, undisciplined, fickle, and utterly shameless and immoral. Shang Ningzhou would rather die than be with someone like her.

And yet, later on, Shang Ningzhou did end up dating her, and he refused to break up even if it killed him.

It goes to show how unpredictable life can be.

Shang Ningzhou accepted his fate. He'd probably be in her hands for the rest of his life.

And that was just fine.

Message: The world is full of light, and life is full of love.