The Boy Secretly Hid a Rose

[Coming soon: Marriage in Hand, a story about two people who can't stand each other, only to fall deeper and deeper until they both fall in love. The blurb is at the very end.]

Blurb:

A sweet-talking, heartless woman x a tsundere puppy

Two-year age gap

Everyone around Yu Wan says she was born with a face people can't help but like: gentle and elegant, with graceful, polished manners.

Only she knows how coldhearted and insincere she really is.

She's dated plenty of men, all younger than her. The reason is simple: they're young, obedient, and easy to control.

Lu Jingyu isn't quite her ideal type. When they first met in Nancheng, the night was dark, he was dressed in black, his jaw stern, and his glance was cool.

Arrogant and untamable, he looked impossible to win over.

But for some inexplicable reason, he was exactly Yu Wan's type.

She wanted to hear him call her "Sis."

She wanted to strip away every one of his defenses until he willingly gave in.

-

Later, Yu Wan realized it wouldn't be easy. Getting him to call her "Sis" was a pipe dream.

She never expected that one day, with his face buried in the crook of her neck, he would murmur "Sis" over and over...

The phone he'd snatched from her was pressed against Yu Wan's chin. On the other end, her ex-boyfriend was pathetically pleading, "Sis, let's get back together..."

He silenced her with a kiss, then leaned to her ear. The two words "Sis" slipped from his throat, hot against her breath.

"...Do you like it when I call you that?"

Yu Wan, dazed, nodded aimlessly. His voice dropped even lower, deliberately beguiling her.

"Then tell the guy on the other end."

"From now on, I'm the only one allowed to call you Sis."

He pinched her waist. His words sounded like a request, but his commanding presence pressed in on her. "All right?"

-

Lu Jingyu used to hide in the shadows beneath a tree, watching Yu Wan change boyfriends time and again.

He told himself that starting tomorrow, he would stop liking her.

But the moment she beckoned, he couldn't stop himself from running to her side.

See the author's note in Chapter One for content warnings.

Coming soon: May the Stars Shine Forever. Visit the author's page to add it to your collection.

Ruan Xing was the least notable member of a wealthy family in the capital: meek, compliant, and an easy target. The boldest thing she ever did was brave a downpour to secure a marriage for herself.

People in their circle all thought Ruan Xing was madly in love with Xu Jinci. Even though he had kept her waiting for four years, refusing to honor their engagement, she followed him without complaint and even put up with his flirtations with countless women.

Lu Yanzhou was born into one of the capital's most prestigious families, the Lu family's only heir. Arrogant, unruly, and dazzling, he was always the center of attention.

His personality was the complete opposite of Ruan Xing's. Almost no one would ever have thought to connect the two of them.

Years later, they met again by the swimming pool at a private club. Through the lush trees, Ruan Xing heard a friend teasing Lu Yanzhou.

"Why are you so nervous when you hear I like her? Don't tell me you're interested in her?"

He flicked the ash from his cigarette. His profile was indifferent and weary in the cold light as he lowered his eyes and scoffed. "I'm not that pathetic. I'm not the least bit interested in someone else's fiancee."

Ruan Xing left in silence, once again stamping out the secret spark of her unrequited love.

Later, they met again in Washington. After Ruan Xing finished a call with her fiance, she turned to the man beside her.

The window was half open. The wind caught her skirt and wrapped it lightly around his leg.

His burning gaze held her captive. "Are you trying to seduce me?"

Ruan Xing was about to explain when he yanked her inside through the doorway. Her back pressed against the cold door as he kissed her hard and deep.

"Then you've succeeded."

*

Ruan Xing thought that the two years she spent with Lu Yanzhou in Washington had been a mutually understood affair, nothing more than a bit of fun.

Later, when they parted ways and she returned home to honor her engagement, he sent her to the airport without a care in the world.

Until one day, at a party.

The door was locked. The man pinned her against the wall. Footsteps drew closer on the other side, and Ruan Xing instinctively tried to wriggle free of the hand clamped around her waist. He let his fingers roam and tightened his grip, even more brazenly, pinching her chin so she couldn't move.

"Why are you hiding? You don't want the people outside to get into trouble either, do you?"

"Tell him to get lost."

"Or do you want him to hear us fucking?"

*

Xu Jinci had always thought his fiancee was dull and boring, incapable of giving him the excitement he wanted.

In the fourth year of their engagement, Ruan Xing went overseas to study. As she was leaving, Xu Jinci looked at the gentle woman before him and flicked his cigarette ash. There was no telling whether he meant what he said.

"Let's spend the next two years doing our own thing. When you come back, we'll get married."

He said they could each do as they pleased, but Xu Jinci knew Ruan Xing wouldn't do anything outrageous.

Until one day, he discovered that during those two years in Washington, she had been entangled day and night with his sworn enemy.

The cigarette burned his fingertip, but he didn't care. His eyes were bloodshot.

"Cut off contact with him. I'll pretend none of this happened, and I'll take you seriously from now on."

She smiled, her features gentle and clear, but her words were merciless. "Xu Jinci, don't you understand? I've been using you from the very beginning."

-

Lu Yanzhou had been dumped by Ruan Xing five times. If there were a sixth, he had no doubt that the moment she beckoned, he'd run back to her like a dog.

Theme: Believe in love.