The Summer You Inspired

[Mischievous sweetheart × forgotten idol]

During the summer after the college entrance exams, Lin Biexi meets a mysterious boy by chance on an island during her graduation trip. He won’t tell her his name, but he offers to be her guide, takes her cycling around the island, and gives her shelter on a stormy night when a typhoon hits.

With the sea wind roaring and the air hazy with moisture, she kisses him.

The next day, a TV crew arrives on the island to film a show. The rumored participant is Zhui Heng, a former trainee who left the entertainment industry long ago.

On a crowded street, Lin Biexi spots him at a glance, shining under the camera lights. The spectators are chanting Zhui Heng’s name.

And not long before, he had whispered close to her ear, his voice full of affection: “Since we’ve already kissed, how about dating me?”

///

Before all this, Zhui Heng had always hung around Lin Biexi pretending to be a male fan, asking what she thought of Zhui Heng and even earnestly asking her for a favor.

She had been well looked after by him, and since they always helped each other out, she immediately agreed.

Lin Biexi: “What do you need?”

Zhui Heng: “Help me fall in love with Zhui Heng.”

Lin Biexi, realizing what he meant a moment later: Whoa!?

·The story starts after the college entrance exams. Most of it takes place during the summer after graduation, with the later part set on campus.

·Island summer days, a little ensemble cast, slow burn.

·The entertainment industry is barely part of the story.

·Little squabbles and minor misunderstandings, youth is invincible when you have each other.

·Two top students. All main characters are adults when they appear.

Next story: Let You Steer Off Course. If you like it, please add it to your collection!

Composed, lively career woman × a stubborn, always-defeated stray dog

1.

The Jiang and Shen families are close. On his deathbed, Mr. Shen entrusts his grandson, Shen Ke, to the Jiang family.

Shen Ke has a vicious temper, and even the principal says he’s hard to handle.

Outsiders worry for the Jiang family, especially since the person taking him in is a young woman in her twenties, Jiang Yiyin, who has just started out as a company manager.

When he first meets Jiang Yiyin, Shen Ke is arrogant and overbearing. He deliberately puts on a suit to imitate her and provoke her.

But Jiang Yiyin remains cool and unruffled. She gives him the cold shoulder all day: stands him up, doesn’t answer his calls, and doesn’t even give him a key to the house...

After work that evening, Jiang Yiyin comes home to find Shen Ke crouching by the door like a stray dog, looking dejected.

She opens the door, but he still doesn’t move. “Are you staying out here because you like crouching?”

Shen Ke gives a mocking snort. “Sorry, sis. My hobby is being a guard dog.”

Jiang Yiyin says, “Oh,” then bends down, grabs his tie, and pulls him to his feet. “By seniority, you should call me Auntie.”

“And that’s not how you train a guard dog. I’ll teach you properly in the days ahead.”

2.

Jiang Yiyin never expected that after diligently mentoring so many outstanding interns, enough to make her half a teacher, she would end up turning Shen Ke into her lover.

The turning point seems to have been the day she broke up with someone. Dead drunk, she stumbled into Shen Ke’s room by mistake.

In her dream, she was overflowing with kindness and agreed to every outrageous request he made.

Then she woke up and turned to find Shen Ke sleeping peacefully. Clear red marks circled her wrists, exactly where the person in her dream had gripped her arms...

3.

Shen Ke has been oddly well-behaved lately. Not only did he turn his college entrance exam results around, he also obeys Jiang Yiyin without question and spends his vacation at home instead of going out. He’s starting to seem like a proper guard dog.

That is, until a man she calls Mr. Zhou and introduces as a child starts spending time around Jiang Yiyin, getting on his nerves.

Shen Ke lowers his brows. “When are you breaking up with him?”

She thinks he’s being childish and teases him. “When I get tired of playing with him.”

On a bleak, rainy night, he catches her swaying body. Amid the smell of alcohol, he presses his face to her cheek and asks hoarsely, “If you’re tired of playing with him, why not play for real with me? I’ll treat you well.”

Theme: Grow in the face of adversity and fear no danger.