1. Song Youyi had always known that she and Jiang Che were from different worlds.
She was a small-town student struggling to make ends meet, borrowing money to pay her tuition. Jiang Che was the pampered heir to a wealthy family, surrounded by admirers.
When she was seventeen, Song Youyi moved into the luxurious Jiang family residence. The much-talked-about young master was tall and graceful, aloof and strikingly handsome. She lowered her head and kept her distance, wisely avoiding any trouble.
Six months after she moved in, everyone said Jiang Che was arrogant and hard to tame, with his nose in the air. Countless girls liked him, but none dared get close.
At the coming-of-age ceremony, Jiang Che took the stage to give a speech, commanding everyone's attention. Her deskmate quietly told Song Youyi, "I heard the campus belle confessed to Jiang Che last night and got rejected. She cried her eyes out. That guy really has a heart of stone."
Song Youyi said nothing, thinking of the WeChat message she'd received minutes ago from "JC": "Leave the door unlocked for me tonight."
No one knew that in the study, where the white curtains billowed in the summer breeze, Jiang Che had pinned Song Youyi against the desk and kissed her. Her fingertips clung to his taut, corded arms, and his ragged, uneven breathing enveloped her.
The cicadas kept up their deafening chorus. The young man chuckled and nipped her earlobe. "You act like you don't know me during the day, so why are you melting in my arms at night?"
2. Compared to Jiang Che, Song Youyi knew her future mattered more. So on graduation day, she was the one who suggested they break up, leaving with cool resolve.
Jiang Che had never bowed his head to anyone in his life. He was certain he wouldn't lose this battle of wills with Song Youyi, but on her birthday, he found himself inexplicably rushing to that shabby, cheap rental room. Gripping her shoulders, he said, "If you'll just come back, we can go back to how things were."
Song Youyi looked up at him, her eyes clear and cool. "Don't tell me you actually got serious?"
3. Years later, they met again. Jiang Che had inherited the family business and was a rising legend in the business world. The moment he saw Song Youyi, he calmly watched her bow and scrape before a client, his expression so composed it seemed he had long since forgotten their past.
Song Youyi stayed strictly professional the whole time, acting like they were strangers. It wasn't until after the banquet that the man shoved her against a car door and kissed her almost breathless. She kicked and hit him, but Jiang Che didn't budge.
With a clear handprint on his face, the man curled his lip and laughed instead of getting angry. His voice was low and hoarse. "Don't you like playing with me? Then let's play until you've had enough."
After all these years apart, Jiang Che had finally understood one thing: even if she treated him like a plaything, he still wanted to stay by Song Youyi's side.
Theme: Staying positive.
