The Heart-Stealing Game

Age gap | The proud one bows for love | The heroine's secret crush comes true | The hero submits for love

Quirky sweetheart x Refined, gentlemanly tycoon

1.

At sixteen, Shen Niansi was a defiant rebel, yet she was forced to live under someone else's roof.

Ye Yan, the famous heir to the Ye family, was a refined gentleman on the outside and a master of the business world, but he was forced to look after his friend's "kid."

The two had no choice but to live under the same roof.

They thought they'd soon go their separate ways, but what was supposed to be a short stay turned into three years.

During that time, Shen Niansi saw Ye Yan for who he really was. He was no refined gentleman. He was a smiling old fox with a knife hidden behind his back.

Shen Niansi opposed him at every turn, but somehow lost her heart to him along the way.

She wanted to lay her cards on the table with Ye Yan, but overheard someone asking him what their relationship was.

Ye Yan replied coolly, "Niansi is a junior of mine. There's absolutely no chance between us."

In the years that followed, Shen Niansi started avoiding Ye Yan and truly treated him like an uncle.

But things didn't go as planned. Ye Yan always showed up when she needed him.

When she had trouble at work, he taught her how to handle it. Whenever she had difficulties in her personal life, he helped her through them.

Wanting to make a clean break with the past, Shen Niansi tried dating other men.

At a family gathering, she brought home a man she'd been set up with. Just as he was about to confess his feelings, someone interrupted.

Ye Yan secretly pulled her into the car. In a low voice, he asked, "Are you avoiding me just for him?"

"Yes. It's not like we could ever be together anyway." Shen Niansi tried to open the door and get out.

"Who said we couldn't?"

Ye Yan stretched out his long arm and trapped her in the car, kissing her until she couldn't speak. The refined gentleman's mask he wore every day was finally torn to shreds. He whispered coaxingly in Shen Niansi's ear, "Be good. Break up with him."

2.

After years together, Ye Yan still couldn't be seen in public as Shen Niansi's boyfriend. They continued their relationship in secret, and Shen Niansi's uncle and aunt began urging her to find a boyfriend. She had no way to tell them she already had one.

One day, Ye Yan and Shen Niansi were on a date at home when her uncle came to the door.

Ye Yan told Shen Niansi to hide while he dealt with it.

Her uncle stormed in angrily. "You've been together for years and he still won't make it public? He must be a jerk."

Ye Yan sighed softly. "Maybe it's not that he doesn't want to make it public."

Her uncle grew even angrier. "There are so many women out there, and he's bound to be playing with her feelings. He might even be a wolf in sheep's clothing. She's always been close to you. Help me break them up."

After a long silence, Ye Yan finally said, "I can't help you."

"Because I'm that beast."

*

Note: Eight-year age gap, one-on-one romance. Neither lead is perfect.

Special note: There is no romance involving the leads before the protagonist is an adult.

Theme: Age gap, a refined gentleman who submits for love