Stop Pretending to Be Good [Rekindled Romance]

● A second-chance romance | They've always loved each other

● Bold and uninhibited heroine vs. restrained and principled hero

① Si Qingli, the head of the Si family in the capital, is just like his name: pure as the breeze, bright as the moon, and disciplined in both word and deed. His gentle, refined appearance doesn't make him seem as aloof and difficult to approach as other heirs of wealthy families, but his heart is colder than most.

This aloof flower, so hard to let into his heart, fell easily for Wen Zhiyun in college. As the campus heartthrob and beauty, they were a perfect match, and everyone who knew them thought their romance was a lovely story. Sadly, it didn't last. Wen Zhiyun had been the one to pursue him, and she was also the one who ended things.

Later, Si Qingli left the capital, where Wen Zhiyun lived, and settled overseas to manage a branch of the family business. But the image of her and their memories together didn't fade as he had hoped. Instead, they took root in his heart and became a deep obsession.

Si Qingli never imagined that the next time he heard Wen Zhiyun's name, it would be from his nephew. Now she was the girl his nephew liked. She barged so easily back into his orderly life, and one sentence from her, "Worst comes to worst, I'll just pursue you again," turned all his years of effort to dust in an instant.

② The day they reunited after five years apart, Wen Zhiyun confirmed that Si Qingli still had feelings for her, and decided without hesitation to pursue him again.

After all the intimate embraces, tangled kisses, and caresses they had shared, all it took was a touch, or even the meeting of their eyes, for their old passion to resurface. They were destined to never be just friends.

On the day Si Qingli returned to the country, Wen Zhiyun was so happy she accidentally sprained her ankle. Her ligament injury was serious, so she took the opportunity to play up her misery and cling to Si Qingli, finally achieving her little plan to live under the same roof as him.

From the moment he helped her into the car, Si Qingli had an almost certain feeling that something bad was coming. He just hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

That very night, Wen Zhiyun wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tight. "I can't shower with my leg injured. You have to help me," she said, unreasonable but utterly confident.

Not long after, Si Qingli received a text from Wen Zhiyun with a list of things she wanted him to buy.

[Body lotion]

[Hand cream]

[Condoms] x10000000000

Si Qingli: "…"

Blurb written on January 17, 2024.

Next book: Crossing the Line for Love. Blurb below

● Fostered in another family / Mutual secret crush / Hong Kong tycoon heads to the capital for love

1. Li Shuyue was sent by her mother to Hong Kong as a child and raised by the Huo family.

When she first arrived, Li Shuyue was terrified and uneasy in this completely unfamiliar place. She thought she was about to start a life dependent on other people's kindness. But later, she became the little princess everyone in the Huo family knew, and some even called her Huo Shuyue.

During the more than ten years she grew up in the Huo household, Li Shuyue was often grateful to have Huo Yanzhi by her side as her older brother. Though he was cold and taciturn on the outside, he had a warm heart. He was considerate and took good care of her. Most importantly, they weren't far apart in age, so they could talk about plenty of things. At least she wasn't lonely.

Later, Li Shuyue came to hate the word "brother" most of all.

She and Huo Yanzhi weren't related by blood, and they weren't even distant relatives.

But after years together and all the subtle ways they had influenced each other, everyone knew she was part of the Huo family. Even she couldn't help being drawn into it, caught in a painful tangle of feelings.

She buried this unspeakable crush deep in her heart.

But years of restraint burst forth all at once.

During the summer before her senior year of college, Li Shuyue drank too much and slept with Huo Yanzhi while drunk.

After one night of passion, she no longer dared face him. Then she fled to the capital under the pretext of going to graduate school.

Who would have guessed that on the first day of graduate school, Huo Yanzhi would block her at the school gates? He lowered his eyes and looked at her timidly shrinking away. His cold, imposing presence alone was enough to make her panic, and then he coolly asked, "Gotten bold, have you?"

Li Shuyue, who loved him but was afraid of him, lowered her head even further...

2. Huo Yanzhi stayed in the capital for work.

The two of them moved from Hong Kong to the capital, and began living together again.

But what happened that night haunted Li Shuyue, replaying itself in her mind. She was on edge and could no longer pretend they were siblings and live under the same roof with Huo Yanzhi as she had before.

Seeing him made her heart flutter.

When she couldn't see him... she missed him even more.

It was maddening. Li Shuyue was practically going crazy.

Until one day, Li Shuyue was upset and secretly wiping away tears at home when Huo Yanzhi caught her. He asked what was wrong, but she didn't answer.

Li Shuyue was the sort who easily got swept up in her emotions. She couldn't talk to Huo Yanzhi right then. He was never controlled by his feelings; he was guided by reason. She couldn't stay rational enough to discuss things with him in that moment.

But then the man suddenly picked her up. His soft, tender lips gently wiped away her tears, and he comforted and cherished her with a tenderness unlike anything he'd shown before.

Li Shuyue stopped crying and stared at Huo Yanzhi in disbelief. Through her tear-filled eyes, she clearly saw the years of restraint stored in his gaze.

The man who always put reason first was utterly defeated in front of her. He kissed her, fully aware and willingly losing himself. His rich voice grew hoarse, low and deeply affecting. "You've already done far worse. Can't I kiss you?"

Theme: Choosing each other and growing together