Hidden Embers

Ever since Lu Qi transferred to No. 3 High School, one misfortune after another had befallen her. First, she was inexplicably harassed and teased by Xie Ran, the school's most famous student. Then his admirers targeted her for no reason. Finally, she learned from her deskmate that, without knowing it, she had become someone's stand-in. And the culprit behind all of it still had the nerve to grin at her smugly. He raised an eyebrow slightly, grinning without a care as he drawled, "Someone giving you a hard time?" Lu Qi answered flatly, "Obviously." His usual carefree grin faded a little. "Why are they picking on you?" Lu Qi looked him up and down. "Obviously." Xie Ran: "..." * Lu Qi: "I have limited brain capacity. I never remember people or things that upset me." Xie Ran was silent for a long time, his eyes gradually darkening. "Does that mean I was such a terrible memory for you that you didn't remember me?" Lu Qi blinked. "Did we know each other before?" He gave a soft, casual laugh. "What do you think?" * Xie Ran and Lu Qi's first meeting was anything but pleasant. He was being held down and beaten. Rain mingled with blood and ran into his eyes. Through a field of red, Xie Ran saw a pair of empty eyes. She was standing some distance away. She could have run and saved herself, but instead she chose to help him, only to be dragged into the mire herself. Xie Ran thought that after sharing a brush with death, at least she would remember him. But when they met again, she had forgotten him completely and asked him, "Did we know each other before?" * She thought she'd become someone's stand-in, but it turned out she was the one and only. Reckless, laid-back, and a genuine top student who never plays by the rules x cold and composed, with answers that never follow the script, a fake underachiever. * Next up: Slowly. Add it to your reading list if you're interested~~ * /Rekindled romance/Their reunion opens the story/Mutual pining/Patient pursuit of a wife/ * "Jiang Shiyang, you don't really like Cheng Mian, do you?" Eight-year-old Jiang Shiyang heard his friend's question, drew in a breath, and blurted out a denial without thinking. "What are you talking about? How could I like Cheng Mian!" After saying it, he guiltily turned his head and saw Cheng Mian standing not far away. She had heard their conversation, including his denial. Though heartbroken, she still forced a smile. That smile pricked Jiang Shiyang's heart every moment of every day. Later, Cheng Mian ran away, and she ran fast. He couldn't catch up. * "Jiang Shiyang, do you like Cheng Mian?" At seventeen, Jiang Shiyang heard the same question from a classmate again. This time, he didn't hesitate. He boldly admitted how he felt. "I like Cheng Mian. I've liked her for a long time." But Cheng Mian still ran away without hesitation. Fortunately, this time he caught up with her. * "Jiang Shiyang, do you really like Cheng Mian?" At twenty-five, Jiang Shiyang listened to his friend's question, lowered his head, and gave a soft laugh. "I'm trouble. I'm not good enough for her." * At a family reunion on Lunar New Year's Eve, his aunt and uncle surrounded Cheng Mian, introducing one potential match after another. Unable to refuse, Cheng Mian took out her phone, ready to agree to add someone as a friend. After remaining silent for a long time, Jiang Shiyang realized she was starting to give in. Claiming that his last relationship had broken his heart and that he had sworn off love, Jiang Shiyang immediately stood up to shield her from the "attack." He spoke to his uncle, but kept his eyes on Cheng Mian. He said casually, "How come Uncle Wen never introduces anyone to me?" Theme: Be happy every day.