There's No Shame in Falling for Your Ex

[Rekindled romance / Angsty at first, sweet later / Happy ending]

Tough, poor girl * A haughty young master who's aloof in public and a shameless poser in private

In high school, Zhou Yimo was a pitiful girl living under someone else's roof, working the front desk at her relatives' guesthouse.

One day, a banished young master from a wealthy family arrived at the guesthouse. He was aloof and arrogant, a darling of fate, with countless admirers around him.

No one would ever have thought to pair timid, quiet Zhou Yimo with him. No one knew that Chen Jizhou was planning to give up everything and elope with her.

When things got out of hand, Zhou Yimo chose to take the money and end things.

The two parted on terrible terms. In a fit of anger, Chen Jizhou threw a custom-made necklace worth a million into the river and left her with a cold ultimatum: "Zhou Yimo, don't let me see you again."

*

They met again on a film set. He was now the untouchable head of the Chen Group, surrounded by admirers, refined and cool.

She was merely an unknown dance double.

When their eyes met, his gaze was calm and distant, as though she were a stranger.

One stormy night, she got into his car. In the dim back seat, a mutual friend brought up the past.

"I heard someone in Qinglan swindled you out of both your money and your virtue. What kind of beauty had that much nerve?"

Zhou Yimo sat beside them, squirming with discomfort.

Chen Jizhou scoffed and denied it. "I threw the necklace away myself, and we never dated. Calling it a scam is ridiculous."

After their friend left, the two who had been pretending not to know each other finally laid their cards on the table.

Chen Jizhou sneered. "Didn't I throw this necklace away? Why do you have it? What, can't you get over me?"

After a pause, he added unhurriedly, "It's not as if getting back together is out of the question."

Zhou Yimo was silent for two seconds. "I thought the necklace looked pretty expensive. It seemed a shame to throw it away."

*

On the day news broke of the wedding of Chen Jizhou, head of a top-tier wealthy family, his friends learned that Mrs. Chen was just an ordinary dance teacher. One after another, they took him aside to give him heartfelt warnings.

"Be careful you don't get swindled out of your money and your virtue again."

Chen Jizhou leaned lazily against the door, displeased.

"What do you mean, again?"

The man curled his lip, his tone full of grievance. "That time doesn't count. Back then, you wouldn't take the necklace, and you didn't want me either."

He lowered his eyes and leisurely turned the dazzling wedding ring on his left ring finger. "This time, I'm the one who swindled her out of her money and her virtue. This time doesn't count either."

His friends were stunned. So it was the same woman after all?

How could anyone stumble twice over the same person?

#The first time I loved you, it was love at first sight. Falling for you again was beyond my control. I should honestly and openly admit my love. Loving you is nothing to be ashamed of. -- Chen Jizhou

1. There is a misunderstanding, but its reason isn't as simple as it seems. The story will explain.

2. A slow-burn, slice-of-life story. They are each other's first love.

Theme: Fearless in the name of love