Irresponsible man x prim-and-proper young woman
Cheng Ge, who acts cocky except in front of Yuan Jie x Yuan Jie, who acts as gentle as water except in front of Cheng Ge
Unconventional childhood friends | bickering couple | mutual crush
Qin Yuan had been famous as the neighborhood beauty ever since she was little. Everyone on every street knew the Qin family had a pretty daughter. The neighbors described her as beautiful, polite, and kind to everyone.
But Qin Yuan, who smiled at everyone, never had a kind word for Shi Cheng.
At a gathering of their childhood friends, someone asked about it out of curiosity. Qin Yuan didn't care that Shi Cheng was right there. "He's so unreliable."
In a corner, Shi Cheng tipped his head back and drank, scoffing to himself. All he'd done was call her a priss once when they were kids, and she still held a grudge.
-
Qin Yuan was one of the few people in the neighborhood to go to university. Naturally, when she graduated and returned home, she became quite the catch. The neighborhood aunties pulled out every trick in the book, all eager to find her a match.
When Shi Cheng heard about it, he waited for her late at night on the path she took to throw out the garbage.
Seeing him leaning against the wall in the corner, a cigarette dangling lazily from his lips, Qin Yuan waved at him in disgust. "If you don't care about shortening your life, fine, but don't make it harder for everyone else to breathe."
Shi Cheng fell silent for two seconds, stubbed out his cigarette, and followed behind her. Still acting as if nothing mattered, he asked, "Are you really going on a blind date?"
Qin Yuan gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "The aunties mean well. I can't exactly turn them down."
"Why not just say you have a boyfriend?"
Qin Yuan turned to look at him, a hint of mischief in her eyes. She stepped closer and closer, backing him into a corner before stopping. "Where am I supposed to get a boyfriend? Are you going to conjure one up for me?"
In the end, the first person to make the suggestion was the one who fled in embarrassment.
Qin Yuan watched him go, her eyes full of laughter. "Coward."
Reading guide:
1. The story begins in 2004.
2. I can't think of anything else for now. I'll add more if I do.
- Blurb screenshotted on May 8, 2024 -
Theme: I only show you my truest self
