Words Are Useless

[Coming in early August: Temporary Residence. Please add it to your reading list.]

[Movie mogul x rising screenwriter / stubborn x reserved / reunited after a long separation / rekindled romance]

In everyone's eyes, Shen Chongyan, a film directing major, and Qi Guiluo, a dramatic literature major, were a golden couple, made for each other.

Any film they made together was sure to sweep the awards.

But on the day Shen Chongyan took his master's graduation photos, he was alone, searching everywhere for Qi Guiluo without finding her.

-

At Shen Chongyan's graduation dinner, Qi Guiluo arrived late because she was busy. Outside the private room, she heard someone inside say with absolute certainty, "Don't forget to invite us when you and Qi Guiluo get married."

She stopped at the door, hoping to hear Shen Chongyan's answer.

"We're just business partners."

The room fell silent. Qi Guiluo didn't hesitate again. She turned and walked away without looking back.

Those seven words seemed to prove that all the effort she'd put in over the past year had been worthless. The relationship she'd thought was barely holding together shattered completely.

-

Later...

Shen Chongyan became a film investor renowned for his distinctive taste, while Qi Guiluo became a promising new screenwriter.

One was discerning and exacting about scripts; the other maintained a reserved, impeccable secret identity.

After many twists and turns, Shen Chongyan went to great lengths to contact the writer of a script he loved, then reached out with an offer.

To put Qi Guiluo at ease, a well-connected investor in the industry told her, "Rumor has it Mr. Shen isn't interested in women, so you can relax, Miss Qi."

The dinner went smoothly, and they settled their collaboration in just a few words.

But when Qi Guiluo stepped outside to take a call, Shen Chongyan followed her out and grabbed her wrist as she turned around.

Before he could speak, she pulled free and said, "We're just business partners. Please show some respect, Mr. Shen."

-

All characters are single, with a three-year age gap.

*The title is taken from the song "Dictionary and Bible" by Juno Mak and Karena Lam.

Note added 2022/06/29

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Temporary Residence

[Female lead who grows over time / three-year age gap / love at first sight and a long-planned pursuit]

2004, southern China.

Lin Zhenyi experienced a warm winter for the first time. Listening to the bustle below her rented room, she thought of her parents' advice before she left and wondered how she could make a place for herself in this city.

She wandered nearby like a headless fly, remembering the corner shopkeeper's suggestion: "There's a landlord around here named Zhou. He's pretty easy to deal with."

Lin Zhenyi found the tallest apartment building and spotted a tall, graceful figure below. She never imagined that one day, that figure would be etched clearly into her heart.

-

Zhou Yu had grown up in this city and naturally learned the local language. The cultural differences around him created an innate barrier. He fit in here, but never felt he belonged.

The neighbors' most common description of him was that he had money, but no heart.

But later, he realized he couldn't leave this place.

-

Their first meeting: a tenant and her landlord's son.

Their second meeting: Zhou Yu rescued Lin Zhenyi from a difficult situation.

In the end, the turning wheels of the times brought fate to make two parallel lines intersect.

Theme: Only by relying on yourself can you become invincible.