The Character Trap

I'm looking for readers for my other upcoming campus novel, Echoes. The blurb is at the very end.

The first time Shi Yao saw Xiao Ye, he knew he was exactly his type.

Broad shoulders and a narrow waist, abs occasionally revealed when he played basketball, with a sheen of sweat clinging to them. He had a quiet, irresistible allure.

They'd feel great to touch, no doubt.

Rumor had it Xiao Ye liked well-behaved people, so Shi Yao pretended to be sweet and obedient to get close to him.

He got up early every day to study with Xiao Ye in the library, waited in line for hours to buy him milk tea, and even braved a downpour to pick up Xiao Ye when he was stranded at the library. He didn't care if he got soaked to the skin.

Everyone thought he loved Xiao Ye to the core, cautious and humble.

But Xiao Ye was always lukewarm toward him, as if he had no interest in Shi Yao at all.

Before long, Shi Yao couldn't be bothered to keep up the act.

Whenever Xiao Ye was with him, he was always bundled up from head to toe, as if he were afraid Shi Yao might see something he shouldn't. He was so prudish it was ridiculous.

But that was exactly what Shi Yao was after.

So he gave up without hesitation and walked out of Xiao Ye's world.

He thought the two of them would become strangers from then on.

But as he watched a handsome freshman play basketball on the sports field, wondering how to get his contact information, someone suddenly pulled him into their arms from behind and covered his eyes with a hand. The voice at his ear sounded almost gritted out:

"Enjoying the view?"

_

Xiao Ye had always known Shi Yao was pretending. He should have hated it, but somehow, he still fell into the trap Shi Yao had set for him.

Even though Shi Yao always fell asleep while keeping him company in the library, never bought him the milk tea flavor he liked, and used the excuse of bringing him an umbrella to get handsy...

Xiao Ye still fell for him, hopelessly.

And yet Shi Yao flirted with him and ran, then got caught checking out another man.

Shi Yao stopped pretending too and flashed a cheeky smile. "Should I look at them, or you?"

_

Everyone thought Xiao Ye, having seen Shi Yao's true colors, would be disgusted with him. They had no idea that Xiao Ye would lead him away with jealousy written all over his face, then hold Shi Yao in his arms and refuse to let go.

"Don't look at anyone else. I'll let you look at me instead..."

He lifted the hem of the clothes he usually kept buttoned up, and Xiao Ye shut his eyes, looking resigned.

"Don't touch."

--Upcoming story: Echoes--

[The story of a sickly beauty and a vicious dog]

A sickly "mute" moved into the Jiang household. Frail and delicate, he had a strikingly pretty face.

Jiang Wang hated people who acted all meek and helpless.

But the very next day, they became desk mates. Jiang Wang was even more annoyed and said coldly, "Stay away from me from now on. Don't talk to me."

Su Yu nodded to show he understood.

Jiang Wang had always been domineering and arrogant. He smoked, got into fights, and did everything else expected of a delinquent. Whenever anyone passed him, they instinctively held their breath and kept quiet. He was a complete menace.

Someone once saw Su Yu drink a huge glass of water to hold back a cough because Jiang Wang found the sound annoying. His ears turned red, but he didn't cough again for the rest of class.

Everyone felt sorry for Su Yu. He barely spoke, and now he was being bullied like this.

So whenever Jiang Wang wasn't around, his classmates would secretly help Su Yu.

Then one day, a boy slipped a love letter into Su Yu's schoolbag.

At the next class, Jiang Wang tore the letter to pieces and threw it in the trash.

That evening, both Jiang Wang and Su Yu were absent from study hall.

In an abandoned classroom, Su Yu sat on a desk, silently watching the restless boy across from him.

"Su Yu, you haven't said a word to me all day!" Jiang Wang snapped. "Don't tell me you actually like him?"

Su Yu looked at the half-closed door and said nothing.

His silence made Jiang Wang even more agitated. He gripped Su Yu's chin, turned his face toward him, and forced him to meet his eyes.

The grip was uncomfortable, so Su Yu kicked Jiang Wang. "Let go."

His voice was hoarse, but its lovely tone was unmistakable.

Jiang Wang looked at the dusty shoeprint on his chest. His eyes darkened, but he still stepped back with a grim expression.

They kept their distance, yet Jiang Wang stared fixedly at Su Yu like a vicious dog on a leash, always ready to lunge.

A few minutes later, when Su Yu's expression softened, Jiang Wang finally dared to approach and pull him into his arms, tightening his hold little by little.

It was a possessive embrace, yet it was as if he were placing the leash around his own neck into Su Yu's hands.

"Say one more thing to me, and I'll forgive you."

Su Yu pushed him away.

Jiang Wang's arms froze around him.

The next moment, Su Yu spoke:

"Lock the door, then you can hold me."

Theme: Among a crowd, the person who loves you will always find the real you.