1.
It was pouring rain the day Yu Xingchen was brought to the Song family home, and she was soaked through.
She was a mess, her shoes caked with mud.
The moment she walked into the villa, a tall, slender figure came down the stairs. His fair, handsome face was turned toward her, his gaze full of disgust.
Yu Xingchen heard Song Jingxi's icy voice.
"Get out."
Much later, at school.
Someone saw Yu Xingchen in white sneakers, splashing through puddles as she ran toward Song Jingxi.
The boy who always looked down on everyone crouched down and used his clean, slender fingers to tie the girl's shoelaces, damp with raindrops.
His voice was gentle as he chided her, "How many times have I taught you? If you don't tie them tight, you'll fall."
2.
Yu Xingchen had once witnessed the class beauty from the neighboring class shyly hand Song Jingxu a love letter.
He had replied with complete seriousness, "I'm not interested in dating. Also, you used the Chinese particles 'de' incorrectly throughout this letter. I suggest you go home and study them properly."
The class beauty ran off in tears.
That was when Yu Xingchen understood what kind of person Song Jingxi was: a genius, yet cold by nature, with a hard heart and a sharper tongue.
Until one day.
While preparing for a competition, Song Jingxi stayed up late helping her study, and finally fell asleep while she was working on problems.
Yu Xingchen looked at his delicate profile, his long lashes and finely shaped nose.
Unable to resist, she lowered her head, closed her eyes, and secretly kissed his cheek.
She had no idea when he had opened his eyes and begun quietly watching her.
Then he sat up, leaned closer, and smiled.
"My turn."
3.
Yu Xingchen had always thought Song Jingxi hadn't wanted her to move into his house back then.
But she didn't know...
When Song Jingxi was fifteen, his mother met a girl from a remote mountain village who had endured one misfortune after another. She worried about the girl so much that she lay awake night after night.
Song Jingxi said to his mother, "Bring her home."
His mother replied, "But I'm afraid I won't know how to take care of her."
Song Jingxi glanced at the girl's photo. Her big eyes sparkled, and she smiled like a flower turning toward the sun.
He said expressionlessly, "I'll learn to take care of her."
Later, all the many ties between them began with that one extra look from him.
4.
When Yu Xingchen was first brought home by the Song family, she was full of gratitude and had no way to repay them. On a whim, she decided to cook one of her signature big-pot dishes in the villa's open kitchen.
Smoke billowed up, and the alarm went off.
The young master of the Song family came racing downstairs in his pajamas and slippers, scooped Yu Xingchen up, and carried her outside.
Later, after the alarm was turned off, his face was cold as ice. "You're not allowed to cook in my house again."
Yu Xingchen stammered, frightened by him. "B-but I like cooking for you all."
Song Jingxi: "..."
On Song Jingxi's birthday, his parents asked him what he wanted.
His gaze fell on Yu Xingchen, who had cream all over her mouth, and he pondered for a moment.
"I want a door installed in the kitchen... and maybe an air conditioner too, so it's warm in winter and cool in summer."
Mr. and Mrs. Song: "Huh?"
[Cold, top-of-the-class, untouchable beauty (actually a clingy, clueless sweetheart) × Warm, bright ray of sunshine (actually levelheaded and self-possessed)]
[Hardworking, heaven-blessed prodigy × Unyielding student from a humble family]
Reader's Guide:
* Happy ending, one-on-one romance, both leads are each other's first and only
* The blurb has been revised many times due to review requirements, so it differs from the original version. However, the jokes mentioned in the first two versions will all appear in the story.
* The romance takes place when the characters are adults
* The heroine is not adopted by the hero's family, she is only staying with them temporarily
(Blurb revised on 2022.10.10; screenshot saved)
Theme: Growing up in a healthy way and having a healthy relationship.
