Sweet Peaches of Summer

[I'll make sure to finish this one properly this year. Sorry, everyone.]

Scheming x Eccentric

Venture capitalist x Cellist

[1]

After the New Year's performance, two discussions appeared on the campus forum.

[Let's praise Yu Tao's cello performance today]

[Does Lu Yanchi seem to have a girlfriend?]

No one connected the two, just as no one would have thought a carefree playboy like Lu Yanchi would date Yu Tao.

"Give me a title," Lu Yanchi said when he confessed.

The cello performance had just ended that day.

The evening breeze was gentle, and a bright moon hung in the night sky.

Yu Tao carried her old cello on her back and saw Lu Yanchi. He wore a loose coat, looking cool and tired. Lazily, he told a friend passing by that he was waiting for someone.

"Who could make our young master Lu wait this long?"

Lu Yanchi's lips curved slightly. "Someone I have to coax."

Yu Tao heard him, and her ears grew warm.

*

Everyone said Lu Yanchi was dazzling enough and never short on affection, but he never gave his heart when he dated.

They did break up soon after.

Yu Tao was the one who ended it.

[2]

A few years passed in a flash, and Yu Tao had long since stopped playing the cello.

Lu Yanchi's gaze was cool, just as nonchalant as when they broke up. "Long time no see, ex-girlfriend."

He used to say her name with lingering tenderness at the end. Now, all that remained was distance and politeness. Yu Tao thought that Lu Yanchi really would never love her again.

After discussing work with him, Yu Tao turned away, trying to hold back the sting in her eyes. Then she suddenly heard Lu Yanchi speak in a self-mocking tone:

"I'm so pathetic."

"After all these years, I still can't let you go."

[Bonus Scene]

One day, with a light dusting of snow falling, she tipped her head back and said she wanted to date someone.

Lu Yanchi said nothing. He took the ring off the chain around his collarbone and very carefully placed it in Yu Tao's palm.

"Would you consider me?" He smiled softly.

Yu Tao blinked, dazed. "You're giving me the ring?"

Lu Yanchi replied, "Yes."

He lowered his eyes, his voice slightly hoarse.

"So Lu Yanchi belongs to you now."

[Reading Guide]

1. One-on-one romance, both leads' first love, happy ending

2. Pretend playboy, true romantic. The male lead is pretty obedient, but a little sharp-tongued.

3. Plenty of melodrama, sweet with angst

-Coming soon: A Love in Cool Tones-

Melodramatic wealthy family | Rekindled love | Redemption | Light ensemble cast

Cool, aloof young master x Sweet girl with a scheming side

[1]

Wen Shiyu was brought to the Chi family.

Her name was chosen by Chi Suihuai.

Even then, Wen Shiyu knew that as long as she stayed by Chi Suihuai's side, she would never be bullied again.

And her duty was to protect Chi Suihuai at all costs.

*

In the humid summer, clusters of pink climbing roses bloomed beside the vine-covered window.

Years later, whenever Wen Shiyu tended the garden, that window would open, and Chi Suihuai would call to her:

"Wen Shiyu."

"Come give me a hug."

Some said the young master of the Chi family was an illegitimate child. Some said he had used every means at his disposal to secure his position as heir. Others said it was only a matter of time before he was driven out.

Chi Suihuai never denied it.

His eyes always seemed empty.

Wen Shiyu thought that this was the same person who had watched fireworks with her, made braided-string rings with her, and wished on his birthday, "Wen Shiyu, may everything go your way."

[2]

Wen Shiyu was the one who left first.

In the days that followed, Chi Suihuai sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows in a private room on the top floor of a skyscraper, gazing down at the city's glittering nightscape.

He still couldn't sleep with the lights off.

Because there was no one left to gather him into their arms and say in a soft voice, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to hold you."

*

The office buzzed with chatter. Colleagues passing by were all talking about the young heir from the rumors.

Wen Shiyu looked up.

She only looked once. Just once.

Chi Suihuai in the crowd was just as he had been back then, with cold, sharp features and an almost unreal beauty. Everyone knew he was already engaged, a perfect match in a marriage made in heaven.

Wen Shiyu smiled at herself bitterly.

They were strangers now.

"It was only an excuse to turn down a blind date."

Later, Chi Suihuai explained it to her earnestly.

When Wen Shiyu said nothing, Chi Suihuai drew her into his arms.

"Are you upset? Let me comfort you."

Theme: Live life with a positive outlook