The Delicate Darling Next Door

Xie Jue was certain something was wrong with his body.

"First my fingers, then my knees, the backs of my hands... It only hurts a little, so I can bear it. The main thing is that it comes with physical tears for no apparent reason."

It was a downright insult to his immaculate image as an elite.

The doctor examined him for a long time. "Mr. Xie, all the data shows that you're perfectly healthy. Perhaps you should get an assessment of your mental stress?"

"..."

After three courses of treatment in the psychiatric department, Xie Jue walked out in a daze. Downstairs, he spotted the little short neighbor from next door, wearing a childish fluffy nightgown and carrying a bag of apples. She clumsily stubbed her toe.

A sharp pain immediately shot through Xie Jue's own toe.

She looked down at her foot, pouted, and teared up.

Two warm trails of tears ran down Xie Jue's face before he could stop them.

He thought expressionlessly that perhaps he needed to call a Taoist priest more than he needed the psychiatric department.

*

"So you help your neighbor air out her bedding, make her bed, cook, do laundry and dishes, cut fruit, fix furniture, buy clothes, and come running whenever she calls, but you're not a couple?"

Xie Jue was furious. "How could I like an idiot like that?"

That damn idiot!

Every day, she's either bumping into something or falling over. Her survival skills are abysmal. She's home causing trouble for twenty-five hours a day, and she pouts and cries over the tiniest thing.

His friend asked, "How's the beagle you used to have?"

Xie Jue sneered. "Now there are two."

His friend was stunned. "A male beagle can give birth too?"

*

Xie Jue was finally rid of them. One day, his shared sense abruptly disappeared for good.

He'd even given the beagle away.

At last, he'd gotten rid of those two huge nuisances.

Jiang Ya couldn't find Xie Jue for days. Feeling miserable, she took the birthday present she'd just bought him to a bar to look for him.

She heard Xie Jue telling someone, "How could I like an idiot like that?"

It was raining outside. Jiang Ya crouched at the entrance of the bar, clutching the present, all night long.

She knew their shared sense had disappeared, and Xie Jue didn't want her anymore.

He'd given the beagle to his ex-girlfriend. He didn't want it anymore either.

After dawn, Jiang Ya smashed the lock on Xie Jue's ex-girlfriend's home and stole the beagle.

The girl and the dog left the city together.

Insisting on loving someone who doesn't love you is what makes you an idiot.

And she didn't want to be an idiot.

*

It took Xie Jue a long time to understand that, in this relationship, he'd always been the hopeless idiot.

A few things to know before you read:

1. The synopsis has been revised. The male lead doesn't have an ex-girlfriend. The romance is sweet with just a hint of angst.

2. The female lead is a little airheaded due to a physiological condition. If that's a deal-breaker for you, please don't read. All the potential triggers are already in the synopsis.

3. Happy New Year, everyone! Wishing you peace, good fortune, and a wonderful time reading!

Theme: Love life