A Summer Kept Secret

1.

Xia Yu was the school heartthrob at Experimental High School No. 2, cool and proud, a darling of the heavens adored by everyone.

After the college entrance exam, his desk was piled high with love letters and gifts.

Li Siwan’s deskmate nudged her shoulder, watching the scene with amusement. “No wonder he’s the school’s top heartthrob. He got 78 love letters...”

Li Siwan forced a stiff smile, slowly nodded, and turned slightly to shield her own desk.

The 79th love letter would never see the light of day.

Parallel lines should stay apart, never meeting.

2.

The final basketball game after graduation.

On the court, Xia Yu moved with carefree grace. The blazing summer sun gilded him, light shining in his eyes and across his face.

Her heart pounded. A secret feeling took root.

During halftime, Li Siwan offered him a bottle of ice-cold soda.

Amid the teasing cheers, Xia Yu suddenly lifted the corner of his mouth and ignored the bottle she held out.

With a turn of his wrist, he snatched the half-finished soda beside her instead.

The boy curled his lips into a smile. “The soda tastes a little sweet today.”

Li Siwan’s heart turned to mush. Swallowing her pounding excitement, she spoke softly.

“Sweet?”

It was unsweetened sparkling water.

His damp fingers brushed the back of her neck, and he pulled her close. The lingering echo of his words still curled around her ears as his cool lips touched hers.

It was unsweetened, but it tasted sweet.

3.

Later, she saw a photo he had kept hidden for a long time: their shadows, overlapping as they embraced.

It turned out that, in places no one could see, he had already held her so many times.

I’ve loved you much, much longer than you think.

“Parallel lines never meet, but two-way arrows can.”

[Reading Guide]

1. One-on-one romance, sweet girl x cocky guy, happy ending, each other’s first love, very sweet.

2. They’re mutually in love, but both leads only start their relationship as adults.

Message: Youth is wonderful.