Caught in the Tide

Coming soon: Who Made My Dog So Fat? and Falling for Erhai. Please add them to your reading list.

Gorgeous femme fatale × sweet-faced, black-hearted young wolf | competing suitors

After a night of passion, Ye Zhiyun left money and went on her way, just like usual.

Those were the rules between adults: have fun, then move on. Neither side lost anything.

She just didn't expect to run into an "honest man" who kept insisting, time and again, that he should take responsibility.

Deng Yuke was young, fit, and exactly her type. He was especially gifted and eager to learn in certain areas.

So Ye Zhiyun decided that "a little fun wouldn't hurt."

Then one day, Deng Yuke found out that he was just her plaything. Suppressing his anger, he asked, "Are you really just playing with me?"

Even then, he still hoped she would say no.

Unfortunately, all he got was a breezy question in return: "What else would it be?"

Ye Zhiyun had been having a run of bad luck lately. First, someone rear-ended her on the road. He refused to admit fault and was downright rude about it, too.

Just as she was about to fire back, someone suddenly rushed over and stood in front of her. It was her ex-boyfriend, whom she'd broken up with just over a month ago.

Then her little nephew went missing.

As luck would have it, her ex-boyfriend found him again.

Next, the old man wouldn't stop nagging her to get married.

She came up with a brilliant idea: ask her ex-boyfriend, who's an actor, to pretend to be her "contract boyfriend." "We just need to fool the old man. Outside of that, we can each do our own thing."

Much later, she finally realized that her ex-boyfriend seemed to be showing up far too often.

A few warnings:

The female lead has had previous partners; the male lead has not.

The female lead's attitude early on is that it's just for fun.

The male lead is more serious at first, but later fights to win her over.

Written 2024.1.08, revised 2025.5.9 (screenshots saved)

--- Synopsis for Who Made My Dog So Fat? ---

Because of work, Xia Yunmeng had to look for a new place to live.

Her next-door neighbor seemed to be busy with work and was hardly ever home, which left his poor corgi to suffer.

Whenever the little dog whimpered, Xia Yunmeng's heart melted. She even bought it dog food and jerky. The two of them were always sneaking around together on the balcony.

Jiang Siyuan couldn't figure out why his dog kept getting fatter even as he tried to put it on a diet. With no other choice, he had to take it for extra walks after his night shifts every day.

Then one day, while he was off work, he took the dog out for a walk in the evening and heard someone call, "Sweetie!"

Jiang Siyuan was wondering if there was anyone nearby when, the next second, his dog shot forward like a cannonball. He wasn't ready for it and nearly got pulled over. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't hold on, and the dog lunged straight at the person.

He knew exactly how much his corgi weighed, so he hurried to apologize.

"I'm sorry..."

"You're..."

They both looked up at the same time and nearly fell over in shock.

"Why is it you?!"

The dog involved had this to say: I've sacrificed so much for this family!

After reuniting with Jiang Siyuan, Xia Yunmeng thought he was even more nagging than before. He wanted to manage everything.

What she ate, when she slept, everything. It was exhausting.

At a class reunion, Xia Yunmeng couldn't help complaining to her best friend, never realizing that the person in question had heard every word.

Jiang Siyuan crossed his arms and smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be managing you for the rest of your life."

--- Synopsis for Falling for Erhai ---

After graduating from college, Yu Li opened a guesthouse in Dali, right by Erhai Lake.

Her favorite thing to do each day was curl up in a lounge chair with a cup of coffee in hand, listening to music drift gently through the air.

In this age of relentless competition, every guest who saw her couldn't help but sigh, "I'm jealous!"

But her leisurely life was interrupted one rainy day by an unexpected visitor.

It was peak tourist season. Yu Li had just checked in the last wave of guests when she looked up at the sound of the wind chime behind the door.

A man stood there with a huge hiking backpack, looking travel-worn and dressed like a typical backpacker.

Taking him for a guest, she said coolly, "We're full. Try somewhere else."

The man paused, then pointed to the notice by the door. "I'm here to apply for a job."

Yu Li sized him up for a long moment. "Room and board, but no pay."

"Works for me."

The guesthouse's volunteers came and went so often that Yu Li thought she'd seen every kind of person.

But the new arrival, Zhao Wenzheng, was a little different.

He was hopelessly clumsy when changing the sheets, yet could play the piano beautifully.

He couldn't haggle with street vendors, but he could chat easily with the other guests about everything under the sun.

Then he'd turn to ask her, "Was I right, boss lady?"

Yu Li was fed up with him, but still nodded with a straight face.

Then he'd give her an impossibly radiant smile.

At some point, their relationship began to change.

Yu Li decided it would be better for both of them if she kept her distance.

Then, one day, Zhao Wenzheng finally couldn't take it anymore. He blocked Yu Li's way and cornered her against the wall.

She frowned and asked coldly, "What are you doing?"

Zhao Wenzheng smiled faintly, brushed the stray hairs beside her ear aside with a finger, and leaned closer. His warm breath brushed her right ear. "Yu Li, I like you. I know you can hear me."

Theme: Love life