He's Really Easy to Win Over

[A short, sweet story. Don't leave Sesame Paste author hanging by letting your collection grow cold (sobbing)]

[1]

It was the school basketball tournament, and the whole class was watching a movie that evening.

In an unnoticed corner, Wen Shinian looked at Xie Zhiyun, whom she had asked to meet. "Top student Xie, I've been pursuing you for ages. Give me an answer?"

The murky, dim light fell across Xie Zhiyun's sharply defined features. He looked down at her. "The school doesn't allow students to date. You're ranked 120th right now..."

No one knew that his fingers, hidden beneath his school uniform, had curled slightly.

Wen Shinian lowered her head, looking dejected.

Then she heard Xie Zhiyun's firm, solemn promise. "But you will be the only girl I ever date."

Her heart pounded.

Wen Shinian looked up. Xie Zhiyun's dark eyes held only her.

[2]

As the top student at No. 1 High School, Xie Zhiyun had always ranked first. He acted as if he cared only about his studies and had no interest in romance, making him the student teachers trusted most.

Until one day, the grade director cracked down on early dating and harshly reprimanded Wen Shinian for setting a bad example.

In front of everyone, Xie Zhiyun clasped Wen Shinian's hand and declared with conviction, "I'm the one who pursued her. I'm the one who wouldn't leave her alone."

"I'll take responsibility for her grades, and I'll take responsibility for her for the rest of my life."

[3]

Later, someone asked Wen Shinian how she had won over the aloof beauty of No. 1 High School.

Wen Shinian thought for a moment, then said softly, "He really was easy to win over."

Her friends laughed and teased her. Just then, Xie Zhiyun's gaze landed on Wen Shinian.

"I really was easy to win over, but only for you."

Wen Shinian smiled. Wasn't he easy to win over?

All she had to do was take the tiniest initiative, and he would come to her without hesitation.

The girl pursues the boy in the first half, then the boy pursues the girl in the second half. A sweet romance.

Weibo: @Shi Nanxingnuoya

Upcoming story: Half My Headphones

[1]

That year, snow and wind lashed the city. Nan Mingyue came to the capital for the first time to appear on the reality show Swapping Lives.

She also met a spirited young man.

In high school, Wen Qingli was a celebrity at Boya No. 1 High School, heir to the Hengtian Group, fabulously wealthy, proud and arrogant, with his eyes set above everyone else. He never stopped for anything.

But one humid summer during his first year of high school, outside a narrow, damp alley, Nan Mingyue happened to hear the boy threaten someone in a cold voice.

"The show may be scripted, but you can't keep forcing her to play the villain."

"If you keep pushing her, I won't mind beating you up a few more times."

Later, she heard more rumors about Wen Qingli.

She heard that he'd pulled his advertising investment, that he'd beaten people in a fit of rage, and that he had fallen for someone.

There were plenty of rumors, but Nan Mingyue believed just one:

He liked her very much.

[2]

No one had ever imagined Nan Mingyue and Wen Qingli would have anything to do with each other.

One was a wealthy, rebellious, unconventional, rule-breaking campus celebrity who had never cared about any of his admirers.

The other was a quiet, taciturn nobody from a remote town who always liked to sit in the very last row.

Then filming for the show was halted, and Nan Mingyue had to return to the mountains. Wen Qingli openly pursued her again.

During the rainy season, after evening study ended, the classroom was empty.

In the darkness, moonlight shone through the window and lit one corner.

Wen Qingli leaned against the wall, looking at her in silence. His voice trembled. "Can you stay?"

"I told you I'd protect you for the rest of my life."

[3]

When they met again, he was a rising star in tech, and she was an intern.

Through the surging crowd, Nan Mingyue met his gaze. Her heart tightened, and then she quickly lowered her head and looked away.

Wen Qingli strode past the surrounding crowd of eager flatterers and stopped in front of her. He glared at her, his voice trembling as he gritted out, "Nan Mingyue, how dare you show your face?"

Only later did Nan Mingyue learn that he had waited for her to appear through countless days and nights.

Just like the song he wrote for her:

You're the one I miss through every shift from day to night.

Back then, headphones shut out the rumors, and she hid her feelings in them.

Now, she shared one earbud with him and let her love show through the other.

Brooding and devoted x sweet-natured and sensitive

The first half is about redemption after bullying; the second half is a city romance after a reunion.

Theme: Hard work will eventually pay off.