Unexpectedly, You

[This book is getting a major revision over the summer: cutting the online-friend subplot and adding more interactions to the blurb and elsewhere.]

★ The complete book costs only 3 RMB. A new school story is being written and saved up now: the blurb for Stars Hang Low, the Moon Surges is below.

★ High school | bickering couple | two top students | secret identities revealed | groveling chase | healing

★ Arrogant, unruly bad boy & prickly black-hearted cat

Upcoming story blurb:

As one of the school's top students, Sang Yue is cool and composed, and keeps strangers at a distance.

She has a childhood friend who gets away with everything thanks to his good looks. He's unruly and arrogant, and became the talk of the affiliated high school on his very first day as a transfer student.

Word has it that the school's heartthrob is also a talented player. A friend asks Sang Yue, "Want to go watch the heartthrob's match?"

Sang Yue watches her notorious childhood friend walk toward her and spares no effort in her sarcasm. "What kind of dog have you ever seen that can play badminton?"

"I wonder who cried, threw a tantrum, and rolled around on the floor begging me to go easy on them," Shen Xingnan fires back, swaggering like he owns the place.

The onlookers exchange looks that say, "Ooh, there's a story here!" and immediately ship the two of them.

The pair: Don't bring this up. I can't show off this childhood friend of mine.

The girls rave that Shen Xingnan is so handsome it's unfair, the kind of guy you fall for at first sight.

Sang Yue mutters, "I've never seen a dog who looks like a proper human being. I don't believe it."

The boys praise Sang Yue as a quiet, gentle top student.

Shen Xingnan scoffs. "What part of that describes her? She's a little firecracker who'll snap your head off."

Then, at a friend's birthday party, Sang Yue accidentally drinks half a bottle of alcohol and goes on a drunken rampage at Shen Xingnan, scolding him for half an hour, from leaving without a word to failing to wait for her after school.

Shen Xingnan's face turns livid. Their friends fear they'll start fighting and hurry to intervene, only to see Shen Xingnan silently hoist her over his shoulder and carry her away.

Sang Yue stomps on his shadow and accuses him of being a dog.

The boy records her on his phone, his voice indulgent. "Yeah, Shen Xingnan's almost your dog now. Could you look back at him for once?"

-------------Main story blurb

Lin Anxuan is the undisputed school beauty of Jiang City No. 1 High School, gifted with both beauty and brains.

She seems cool and composed on the surface, but in truth she's a sharp-tongued little firecracker who doesn't care who she offends.

Then her archnemesis, He Qing, appears out of nowhere. On the day he transfers in, his outrageous good looks set the school forum ablaze.

For Lin, who has always been unbeatable in a war of words, this is the first time she's met her match.

Especially those innocent yet roguish peach-blossom eyes. Whenever he smiles at her, she can't help blushing, but she can't bring herself to look away either.

They accidentally bump into each other on the bus. Seeing her blush, He Qing deliberately quirks his lips and asks, "Had enough of hugging me, Little Lin?"

Lin Anxuan: "That was an accident! Who wants to hug you?"

When she learns that the students have started shipping them, Lin Anxuan reflexively dodges the teasing. "Me and He Qing? My future partner should have the same personality as my online friend. A soul that funny is one in a million."

She doesn't realize he's heard her. He Qing's peach-blossom eyes crinkle with amusement as he teases, "Oh? You like that online friend that much?"

Lin Anxuan deliberately snaps back, "My online friend is funny and smart. They're miles ahead of you."

He Qing merely laughs, his voice lazy and teasing. "Tsk, what a double standard."

Then Lin Anxuan unexpectedly discovers that the online friend she's been getting along so well with is none other than the annoying He Qing!

When He Qing is about to apologize, the dean of discipline suddenly shows up.

He Qing braces one hand against the wall, blocking Lin Anxuan's way, his tone a little cheeky.

"A boy and a girl hiding in the depths of the garden. Think you can explain that?"

Looking at He Qing leaning closer, Lin Anxuan blushes slightly and is just about to snap at him.

He Qing bends down, bringing an index finger near her nose, and deliberately lowers his voice. "Shh. Now that we've been caught, there's really no explaining this."

Content warnings:

1. They meet through a game, but there aren't many scenes about the game, so feel free to give it a try.

2. Both leads are each other's first and only. No dating or intimate behavior in high school.

3. Ensemble cast. The male lead had emotional difficulties as a child, but he'll heal later on.

Theme: They meet because of the light and find their way out of the darkness before dawn.