You're as Fiery as Summer

[The author's other novel, Fireworks and Fairy Tales, is now underway. Please add it to your reading list! The upcoming novel Lost in Spring also needs some love (crawls around in the shadows) (gets up and flashes a peace sign, begging cutely).]

That day, Liang Ruxia felt unwell and listlessly rested her head on the desk for a nap.

Nearby, her classmates chatted.

"Hey, have you seen that new Korean drama? The male lead is so handsome. That beauty mark under his eye is killing me."

"Me too! Also, did you know that they say a man with a beauty mark under his eye is usually very devoted in love? Men like that aren't the kind to fool around, so the male lead must be a loyal, devoted guy in real life, too!"

Just then, Chen Sichuan returned to his seat and set a pink thermos full of hot water on the desk beside him.

At the sound, Liang Ruxia looked up and stared at him for two seconds.

"You seem to have a beauty mark under your eye."

Chen Sichuan twirled his pen and replied, "Yeah. What, do you want one too?"

She wasn't sure if it could tell whether someone was faithful and devoted, but it did look pretty nice.

Liang Ruxia nodded.

"That's easy," Chen Sichuan said, stopping his hand and suddenly leaning toward her. "Come here, I'll draw one for you."

"..."

Awkward, chatty girl x cheeky young master

Note:

■The female lead's feelings for the second male lead, Zhou Yi, are mostly admiration. She doesn't truly love him, and there will be no romance between them.

■Both leads are each other's only sexual partners.

■No intimate contact while underage.

■No teenage romance in high school.

■This story is entirely fictional, and its characters are not based on real people.

↓

Blurb for Fireworks and Fairy Tales~

[From campus to the city~]

That night, Jiang Zhiyi lowered her head and called his name: "Zhou Yuncheng."

The boy lifted his eyes.

"I'll draw your profile. This time, I promise it'll look like you."

Zhou Yuncheng looked down at the sheet of paper on the table.

"Do you believe me?" Jiang Zhiyi suddenly looked up and asked him.

One second, two seconds, three seconds. When he still didn't answer, she puffed out her cheeks and asked again, "Do you believe me or not?"

Zhou Yuncheng didn't really believe her.

But he didn't say so.

He had a feeling she'd get upset and keep pestering him.

So he gave a soft "Mm."

Jiang Zhiyi couldn't help smiling. She decided to push her luck a little.

"You can't just say 'Mm.' You have to say 'I believe you' or 'I don't believe you.'"

Her voice rose and fell, her expression changing with it, lively and adorable.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yuncheng replied without hesitation, "I don't believe you."

"..."

-

Years later, they met again. A misunderstanding left them sitting in silence across from each other in a restaurant.

After a long while, Jiang Zhiyi, dressed simply and casually, awkwardly lifted the glass of water on the table and took a sip.

Then she looked at the handsome man in a suit across from her, gave an awkward smile, and forced herself to sound casual and composed. "Long time no see, Zhou Yuncheng."

The man across from her curled his lips. He lifted his eyes and replied coolly, "It's been a while. By my count, this is the seventh year since you dumped me."

-

Later, on the first snowy day of the year in Beicheng, Jiang Zhiyi ran out, panting, and stopped in front of a man wearing nothing but a hoodie.

"Jiang Zhiyi," Zhou Yuncheng said, looking down as he reached out to straighten her hood. "Do you know what date it is?"

The unexpected question caught Jiang Zhiyi off guard. Her breath hitched, and her heart inexplicably began to race.

"It's December 16," Zhou Yuncheng answered himself.

He looked into the distance, then turned his gaze back to her and said, word by word, "Even after being dumped by you seven years ago, I still like you."

So, do you still want me?

-

In her senior year of high school, things took a sudden turn, and Jiang Zhiyi cut off all contact with Zhou Yuncheng on her own.

She thought Zhou Yuncheng must hate her.

In truth, he had never once stopped loving her.

Note: They're each other's only sexual partners and first love. The story is entirely fictional, with no real-life inspiration.

↓

Please add the next novel, Lost in Spring, to your reading list~

An urban-set sweet romance about a reunion after years apart~

On the afternoon the mock exam results came out, Cheng Sh Mian was in low spirits after doing poorly and walked home alone.

Just as her tears were about to fall, someone gave her ponytail a gentle tug.

She turned around to see Zhao Jingyu riding slowly behind her on his bicycle.

"Why are you crying?" the boy asked lazily.

Cheng Sh Mian wasn't in the mood to banter with him. She insisted, "I'm not crying. I just didn't do well on the exam, so I'm a little upset."

"So what if you didn't do well? It's no big deal." Zhao Jingyu rode ahead of her and stopped, chin lifted, looking carefree and cocky. "Hop on. I'll take you out for a feast."

-

On a sunny day after the college entrance exams, Cheng Sh Mian heard the boy's most heartfelt and passionate confession.

Though a voice inside her kept saying "accept him," she still replied bitterly, "Sorry, I don't like you."

-

They reunited years later at a class reunion.

After the gathering, the drunk Cheng Sh Mian leaned against Zhao Jingyu's back, talking nonstop.

"A-as a thank-you for carrying me, I'll tell you a secret," she said, her voice soft and sweet, warm breath brushing his ear. "I-I like Zhao Jingyu."

In the dark, the man's expression faltered for a moment, then he scoffed softly. "You say you don't like me, then you do. You change your mind so easily. Do you think I have no pride?"

"I like him so, so much."

Zhao Jingyu said, "Oh."

After a moment, his lips curled into a smile, and his voice dropped low. "Funny. I feel the same way."

Strong-willed girl x carefree, cocky boy

Note: They're each other's only sexual partners. The story is entirely fictional, with no real-life inspiration.

Dated 2024-02-06, screenshot saved

Theme: Live positively and bravely overcome every hardship