Moon in Hiding

[Print edition now available from major retailers] [Complete] In high school, Chen Yannan was the darling of the heavens, admired by everyone. He transferred from the capital to a small city. Rumor had it that his family was wealthy and had donated money to build the school's gymnasium. With him around, no one else ever took first place in the grade. He had striking features, with deep yet delicate eyes. His first day at the new school caused quite a stir. Qin Zhi saw him from afar. He was a dazzling boy, carefree and confident on the basketball court, someone everyone looked up to. He belonged to a world completely unlike hers, and she never imagined their lives would intersect. Until her parents divorced and sold their house, forcing her to move in with Grandpa Chen. She walked along a muddy path, soaked through and awkward, and knocked on the door. She never expected Chen Yannan to answer it. His expression was cool, his distant gaze seeming to pierce right through her bedraggled appearance. Qin Zhi stayed. After being ignored for several days, she finally worked up the courage to ask if he hated her. Without turning around, Chen Yannan replied in a voice as cold as ice, "I wouldn't say I hate you. I just look down on you." At school, Qin Zhi kept her distance and never crossed the line. At home, they lived under the same roof. At school, they were strangers who acted as if they had never met. Yet in the dead of night, with the room pitch-black, Chen Yannan crept closer, lifted her onto the desk, and held her as his breath turned scorching. He said her name and asked, "Am I good enough to be your boyfriend?" Later, Qin Zhi moved out of the Chen home. When they met again, she had graduated from college and settled into a regular job, eventually becoming a photographer. Chen Yannan returned from abroad. When someone asked if they knew each other, Qin Zhi denied it. They didn't know each other. Firelight fell across Chen Yannan's stern face as he said, "If living together for six years and dating for three doesn't count as knowing each other, then I suppose we don't." The next time they met was at a friend's wedding. He kept closing in until she was trapped by the door with nowhere to go, his shadow looming over her. She asked what he wanted. Chen Yannan lowered his eyes and said, "Someone slept with me." "Then dumped me." "I have to find someone to take responsibility." Later that night, Chen Yannan's hands shook so badly he could barely hold the ring. His voice trembled as he recited the proposal he'd written out a hundred times, but his words were firm: "Qin Xiaozhi, from now on, let me look up to you." New novel: Burning Hot, now available Jiang Ruan and Chen Zexu have been married for two years. They met through an introduction arranged by their elders, dated for three months, and then married. They aren't deeply in love, but their shared interests are enough to maintain a respectful, harmonious marriage. Chen Zexu is the perfect husband: tall and handsome, accomplished inside and out. Though somewhat cold, he treats others with respect and consideration. The only strange thing is that they never share a bed. No matter how passionate things get, he always coolly pulls away, returns to his room, and says good night. If nothing unexpected happened, they would go on living like this forever. Until Jiang Ruan accidentally opened a hidden door in his bedroom. The walls were covered in photos of her, from her student days to the present. On the desk lay an open notebook, filled with line after line: Jiang Ruan, Jiang Ruan, Jiang Ruan, Jiang Ruan, Jiang Ruan, Ruan, Ruan, Ruan, Ruan, Ruan, wife, wife, wife, wife, wife, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, smells so good, I want to kiss her more, kiss her, kiss her, kiss her, kiss her... Theme: Live life with a positive attitude