Shattered White Camellias

[My next book, Wild Wind Knows Me, is being drafted. Check my profile and please add it to your reading list!]

Mu Tang is the universally acknowledged belle of Nancheng Arts High. Bright and beautiful, she is the little princess cherished by her family and friends. But she hits a wall with Chi Yanbai.

At the oil painting festival, she mistakes him for the new nude model, hooks a finger at him, and nearly takes off his suit.

His peach-blossom eyes narrow slightly, while her lips curve playfully:

"Your muscles are toned, and your figure is better than any male model's. Why not be my private model? Two hundred yuan an hour."

Chi Yanbai is cool and refined, neither agreeing nor refusing. He indulges her antics for two months, right up until Mu Tang's art school entrance exam.

The brazen girl turns to stone when she sees a familiar man on the panel of experts. Clutching her skirt, she lowers her eyes in embarrassment:

"Big Brother, people should be reasonable. You're not going to abuse your position to get back at me, are you?"

The man is aloof and imposing. He reaches out and flicks her dark hair.

"That depends on how you behave."

#

Everyone in their circle knows that the genius painter Chi Yanbai was born into a wealthy family, yet keeps women at arm's length and leads a spotless life. His only hobby is visiting exhibitions and looking at paintings around the country. At twenty-five, he has never been in a relationship.

That is, until a girl named Mu Tang appears, tugs at his sleeve, and breathes into his ear:

"Would you wear a low-cut shirt for me to paint you today?"

Her spoiled, shameless ways are both adorable and outrageous.

Yet Chi Yanbai never resists. He puts an arm around her shoulders, agrees to every request, and spoils her to the core.

"Whatever you say."

#

Only Chi Yanbai knows that on countless intoxicating nights, his clingy little sweetheart would hide behind the door like a sly fox, refusing to let him kiss or hold her.

"Tangtang, could you help me take off my jacket?"

Her porcelain-white skin glistens with moisture. Her cheeks flush rose-red as she rises onto her toes and smiles:

"Let's see how you behave, sir."

Flirtatious, innocent-seeming troublemaker x aloof, powerful CEO. Both are virgins. Happy ending.

Reader's guide:

1. The male lead has never taught the female lead, and they are not in a teacher-student relationship.

2. The line on the cover is adapted from Milton Kaplan. The original reads: My heart was beating wildly. "Like spring."

3. The male lead is eight years older than the female lead.

4. A short, sweet treat. Add it to your library and come enjoy the sugar! (≧▽≦)

My next book is Wild Wind Knows Me, previously titled Raising a Little Fox. It launches on 2025/10/02. Please add it to your reading list, mwah:

Shu Li had spent fifteen years living an ordinary, proper life. During the year she was fostered by the Cheng family in the imperial capital, she did two outrageous things.

First, she fell for an unattainable male star as a fan.

Second, as a foster child, she fell for the "older brother" in her foster family.

They were the same person: Cheng Fengzhi. Back then, he wasn't famous yet. When she fainted during military training, he bought out all the milk tea on an entire street to bribe her into keeping quiet. And on deep summer nights, he would run hand in hand with her.

He taught her that "your future should be spent on what you love," but the year he became famous, he personally drew a line between them:

"You're still young. You'll meet someone better."

From then on, the moon was no longer gazed upon by just one evening primrose.

Later, in a torrential downpour in Jiangcheng, Shu Li brought her childhood friend into the building's stairwell.

Headlights split the blinding curtain of rain. Cheng Fengzhi got out of the car, his shirt soaked, a crescent-shaped scar faintly visible by his collarbone. He clamped down on the hand holding her umbrella, gripping so hard he nearly snapped the red cord on her jade pendant.

"Tell him to leave."

"Big Brother." Shu Li raised her eyes slightly and twirled the umbrella handle with her fingertips. "Is it against your rules for adults to let a friend stay the night?"

The last thread of his self-control snapped. He leaned in, pressing a hand to the back of her neck and drawing her toward him.

"Rules?"

"Go upstairs, or come with me. You choose."

[I don't know how to describe this conflicted feeling. You're a piece of jade I treasured against my chest. I finally warmed you, only for you to be displayed to the whole world. You deserve to be seen, but I'm afraid that under the spotlight, you won't need me anymore. I'm afraid you'll become famous, but even more afraid you'll become too famous.]

On the first day she met Cheng Fengzhi, Shu Li wrote in her diary: "When the orange candy burst in my mouth, I tasted the Milky Way in summer."

Later, an orange candy ad starring top-tier star Cheng Fengzhi covered the subway stations of the imperial capital. He posted a screenshot of her diary online: [@Su Li: The Milky Way is in your eyes when I look at you.]

Reader's guide: 1. A foster-family story with a six-year age gap, from school to city life. Both are each other's first love, and both are virgins.

2. No real-life inspirations! There's little entertainment-industry content, and the male lead isn't an idol, so he can date.

3. A slow-burn story about growing up, three parts angst and seven parts sweetness. Happy ending.

Theme: Study hard and improve yourself.