Half Tide

The novel is complete. My new novel, The Sleepless Crossing, is now underway. Visit my profile to read it~

[Powerful family scion x female student]

[Refined, scheming man x resilient, hardworking woman]

Song Yun met Yu Gusen during her final year studying in the UK.

They first met by chance. He picked up the keychain she'd dropped on the ground and handed it to her. "Be careful."

The second time, she couldn't help but approach him first.

Just as she had imagined, Yu Gusen was a dashing gentleman, warm and refined, the perfect boyfriend. He was exactly as his friends described him.

Only later did she understand that what she knew was simply what he wanted her to know.

What she hadn't known was that he was immensely powerful, a man best not crossed, and that their different worlds meant they were never destined to stay together.

So Song Yun backed away.

In the gloom, she saw Yu Gusen looking at her, the corners of his mouth twisting in self-mockery. "Then I guess I'm pretty miserable."

"..."

-

Afterward, they got together, only for their relationship to end without going anywhere.

Song Yun was the one who initiated the breakup.

"Yu Gusen, can we part on good terms?"

They had always been worlds apart. Her predetermined path had simply taken a detour along the way.

So when she said those words, she left herself no room to turn back.

After a moment of silence, he finally replied in a calm voice. "Okay."

-

After returning home, Song Yun completed her studies and followed her family's wishes, finding a stable job and living life one step at a time.

Her days were peaceful and warm, with nothing to disturb them.

Until she was ready to accept another man's advances and become his girlfriend.

That day, fog hung in the air. A discreet black car, understated yet worth a fortune, stopped by the roadside, and Song Yun was cornered against a wall.

"Why has Mr. Yu come back to the country?"

Yu Gusen abandoned his former gentleness and forcefully pulled her into his arms. After taking what he wanted, he said calmly, "Be good and leave him. We can't end things."

-

[The day they met, it was damp and rainy, just like the entanglement that followed.]

[She and Yu Gusen shared a time between tides.]

Reader advisory:

1. Many details are fictional. Please don't scrutinize them or map them onto real life. The early setting is the UK overseas; the later setting is China. All specific locations are fictional.

2. She pursues him first. A love story between two strangers, with a class difference and a bittersweet tone.

3. Slow burn / SC / age gap.

4. The title refers to a tidal phenomenon called the neap tide.

Please add the companion novel to Ripen to your reading list~ Find it on my profile. Here's the blurb:

Chen Ran and Zhou Ting'an began with a ridiculous accident.

That night, she went looking for her boyfriend. In a dim, secluded corner, she mistook someone else for him.

Her boyfriend was a little tipsy. He pulled her over to introduce her to the man she'd mistaken him for. "Mr. Zhou, this is my girlfriend."

Zhou Ting'an lowered his eyes and brushed off the sleeve she'd just wrinkled. "She's very pretty."

His manner was mild and indifferent.

He hadn't even looked at her face.

Chen Ran was reassured. Zhou Ting'an was just as the rumors in their circle described him.

Cool and distant, but not one to make things difficult for people.

That was until she landed an interview with him. In an empty conference room, he leaned close to her ear and said bluntly, "End things with him and start something with me."

-

Zhou Ting'an was born into a prominent family and held a high position. He kept his brilliance hidden, yet was famous far and wide.

Perhaps only Chen Ran knew how ruthless he could be. Over the two years they were together, she learned all his tricks in private.

They parted for several years. When they met again, he was the one who reached out.

Clutching her interview notes, Chen Ran peered through the crack in the door at Zhou Ting'an, who stood by the window on a phone call. She hesitated several times before finally raising her hand to knock.

Zhou Ting'an held the phone and looked toward the door. Then he walked over, opened it, took her by the wrist, and pulled her inside.

Chen Ran greeted him politely. "Long time no see, Mr. Zhou."

Zhou Ting'an ended the call, then used that same hand to take hold of her lips. "Why didn't you dare come in? Afraid I'd kiss you?"

Theme: Bloom where you are planted, and the breeze will find you