Making an Exception

[Cheerful, outgoing, free-spirited photographer x charming, scheming, mature male executive]

Because of her work, Zheng Yuwu came into contact with her temporary supervisor, Shao Li.

The man had broad shoulders, a slim waist, and long legs, a physique to rival a top male model. Yet his manner was reserved. He lightly touched his gold-rimmed glasses with long fingers, and a faint smile was always on his lips.

Once she realized she liked him, she threw herself into pursuing him. Unfortunately, the man kept retreating, and was incredibly difficult to approach.

The first time, she softly hummed along to a slow English song, using the lyrics to express her feelings, but got only a mild response from him.

"You're drunk."

His voice was cool, his smile gentle. He let her down without embarrassing her.

The second time, she used a birthday party as an excuse to invite him out, then trapped him in a narrow, cramped storage room. At a distance where they could feel each other's breath, she confessed in a low voice, but all she got in return was another bland reply.

"Happy birthday, Miss Awkward."

As the saying goes, three times is enough.

She didn't want to keep losing herself in him, so she gave up, thinking he had never been moved by her. Yet this man seemed to be everywhere, blending into her life like water, leaving her nowhere to hide.

The first time Shao Li felt a real connection with the woman before him was over her clumsy joke about her name.

"My name is Zheng Wuyu. The 'Wu' is from 'barren,' and the 'Yu' is from 'feather.' You can also call me Miss Awkward."

"Because I talk too much and too fast, so people often can't get a word in and end up speechless."

He smiled and praised her quick wit, calling her a ray of sunshine.

After rejecting her the second time,

Shao Li went back to the karaoke room to retrieve the documents he'd left behind. At the door, among the din, he heard her singing Zhang Jie's song "He Doesn't Understand."

The dazzling, shifting lights fell on her lovely face. He could almost see tears in her eyes, glistening in her bright gaze.

His palm rested on the door. After a long moment, he finally left without retrieving the documents.

When the feelings he had deliberately suppressed caught fire, the usually self-controlled Shao Li hurried about until he found Zheng Yu sneaking cake in a corner. He said softly,

"I've come to catch the suspect who's been sneaking cake."

But she grabbed his tie and pulled him down. Warm cream touched the corner of his mouth as she whispered by his ear, her voice as delicate as silk: "Now we're accomplices."

"No," he chuckled, the sharpness in his eyes finally showing. "We're partners in crime."

At last, the ferocious lion bared its claws, drawing its prey into its arms. And the one who willingly became the prey got what she wanted.

In a dim corner, he held her against a red velvet sofa and kissed her with reckless abandon.

The coward who had always held back finally broke the rules and played the hypocrite for once.

Additional notes: The woman pursues the man at first. Later, the male lead will secretly try to tempt the female lead. She is 23, and he is 31.

They are each other's first love, and it has a happy ending.

Theme: A coward like me will make an exception for you.