Candlelight

[Entering paid serialization on April 9]

[Goofy, adorable underclasswoman x cool, gentle upperclassman]

Lin Xiaoxiao, a modern-day otaku, meets a cosplayer at an anime convention who totally steals her heart. In her excitement, she forgets to add him as a friend. Heartbroken, she offers a "generous reward" for a month to find him, but to no avail. Then, when junior year begins, she discovers that the dreamboat she's been thinking about all month goes to the same school!

Lin Xiaoxiao: I can't believe there's a handsome guy at school I don't know about. (*/?\\*) That's my fault as a college girl~

From then on, Lin Xiaoxiao begins secretly plotting to win him over.

At first, nobody pays much attention. But a public confession during an audit class soon makes her famous in the math department. Everyone says the girl is deluding herself, though they envy her courage.

Just as everyone assumes she has no chance, someone reveals that Lin Xiaoxiao, who fell asleep in the library while pursuing her crush, is being watched with burning eyes by the cool campus heartthrob. The young man carefully edges closer to the girl, hoping to get a little nearer to his light.

Born into poverty but refusing to give up, he excels both academically and morally. That's how the many students at T University describe their campus heartthrob. He is refined and courteous, and always considerate of others.

But he has two secrets no one knows:

First, he was reborn.

Second, in his previous life, he had a crush on her for eight years, from the age of twenty-two to thirty.

At thirty, he finally married her.

Sadly, after just fifteen short years with her, death tore them apart.

[The candlelight may fade, but love will not.]

[Reading Guide]

1. The author isn't very familiar with anime culture, but will do their best to get the details right. Information about degrees, teaching credentials, and university life comes from online research. If anything is inaccurate, please assume the story takes place in a fictional world and does not reflect reality. Thanks for understanding!! Mwah!

2. No spoilers or warnings, but I can tell you there's a twist, because spoilers aren't fun, hahaha. They like each other mutually. It's a double-j, double-c pairing, and Zhou Xu, the male supporting character, is just a trashy cannon fodder.

---- Next up, taking the shortcut to overtake everyone ----

"Little Jasmine"

[Sensitive, tragic, down-on-her-luck songstress x forthright, successful young master back from studying abroad]

Her family falls into decline, and she becomes a songstress. A sheltered young woman is forced to compromise.

She gives herself a name: Little Jasmine.

Jasmine blossoms are pure white and flawless. This is the only fantasy Little Jasmine allows herself.

He is an ambitious young man returning from abroad, brimming with confidence. She is an embodiment of the ordinary woman in feudal society, sensitive and fragile.

She cannot resist the light that shines upon her, just as she once could not resist him reaching out to draw near.

Later...

Little Jasmine dies in winter.

They reunite in winter, and bid each other farewell in winter.

Little Jasmine never gets to see the future Zhou Huaiqing spoke of. All she leaves him is a broken love.

Theme: Eternal, unchanging love