Avoiding a Passionate Romance

[A Little Reporter with Avoidant Attachment x A Successful, Secretly Scheming Man] Seven years ago. "Hey, classmate, could I get your contact information?" Young Chu Nianxiang stood on the school field with a bright smile. Sunlight fell on her, sparkling, and shone straight into the boy's heart. "Sure." The aloof Qi Yan, who usually kept everyone at arm's length, made an exception and let a girl scan his QR code. Seven years later. "Hello, could I get your contact information?" After losing a game, Chu Nianxiang stood beneath the dim lights of a bar. Her cheeks were faintly flushed, making it hard to tell whether she was tipsy or shy. The cigarette smoke cleared, gradually revealing Qi Yan. His dark eyes held a lazy look as he studied Chu Nianxiang with an indifferent gaze. She silently turned to the man beside Qi Yan. "I meant your contact information." Later, Chu Nianxiang ran into Qi Yan, who lived across the hall from her best friend, in the apartment corridor. She softly called his name. "Can I add you on WeChat? It's for work..." Qi Yan nodded. "Sure." Chu Nianxiang lowered her head and opened the work group chat, finding Qi Yan's profile picture. Just as she was about to add him, Qi Yan held out his phone and interrupted her, stubbornly insisting she scan his QR code, just like seven years ago. Once, Chu Nianxiang had avoided a first love that should have burned bright, like a deserter fleeing the battlefield. Now, fate had brought them together again, and she was willing to summon the courage to pursue her sun once more. - Chu Nianxiang leaned against the cupboard, holding the honey water Qi Yan had made for her as she gazed at him, slightly tipsy. "Heehee, at the annual party tonight, I helped a coworker get the contact information of the person she likes. Now all my other coworkers are asking me for tips." She laughed without a care, but Qi Yan was so displeased that he crunched the mint in his mouth. His voice was low and hoarse. "You're really so keen on getting other people's contact information. Were you using me to practice?" Chu Nianxiang blinked, as if she only half understood. She put down her cup, wrapped both arms around Qi Yan, and murmured: "With you, I don't need any tricks. It's all from the heart." [Reading Guide] * Mutual pining, rekindled love, and a seemingly timid heroine bravely pursuing the man she loves. In truth, he's been waiting for her. * The heroine has avoidant attachment, not only toward the male lead, but toward everyone around her. She did hurt him to some extent in high school, so please don't read if that's not for you. * Avoidant attachment: A person can genuinely like someone, but when that person shows affection in return, it can trigger fear and a desire to run away. * The heroine only learns she has this condition after rejecting the male lead. She doesn't know about it and then knowingly act like a jerk. After finding out, she consistently sees a therapist. The fact that she's still close with the best friend she met in college also shows that she's getting better. * Both leads are each other's first and only partner. Sweet romance, with some possibly angsty flashbacks. Happy ending. * I'm not very good at writing romance, so I hope readers will offer suggestions for improving the parts I haven't handled well. (But please be gentle if you can. I have beauty marks under my eyes and cry easily, sob.) Blurb last revised on November 27, 2022 Theme: Be brave and pursue the one you love