Rot

Caught completely off guard by their reunion, Ning Xi could only think of the sunny day when Shen Huaiqi came to her house when she was seven, and the exhaust fumes of the car that took him away when she was seventeen.

Ning Xi knew she would see Shen Huaiqi again the day she decided to return home. At a family gathering, the elders teased them: "Ning Xi used to cling to Huaiqi all the time. Now that she's grown up, they're not so close anymore."

Neither of the two said a word, maintaining a facade of harmony. Only they knew that it wasn't growing up that had come between them, but feelings that had changed.

Ning Xi had been fostered by the Shen family since childhood. Everyone in the family treated her as their own, and she had always gotten everything she wanted.

But she stumbled when it came to Shen Huaiqi, her brother in name only.

The Shen family's only son was refined and aloof, reserved and composed. He took over the company at a young age, and despite being undermined and doubted by everyone, he secured major projects with an iron hand. After that, no one dared look down on the Shen family or on him.

Ten years ago, her feelings were discovered, and their relationship froze. Ning Xi resolved to go abroad and never return.

Now, with only a wall between them, the Shen family's guests exchanged pleasantries outside, while inside, Shen Huaiqi's breath brushed her ear. His gaze was unreadable. "Didn't you say you belonged only to me?"

Ning Xi frowned and pulled away from his breath. "When did I ever say that?"

"When you were three."

She paused, then laughed and replied with his own words from back then. "Mr. Shen, children say all sorts of things. Don't take it seriously."

/ Love is a festering wound, an everlasting pain. /

One true pairing, happy ending

Foster-family trope, seven-year age gap

Gentle, stubborn heroine vs. cool, restrained hero

--Preorder: Glass Snow Mountain

Slow-witted heroine vs. hero who fights tooth and nail to win her

1.

Wen Qingyue has a secret no one knows: she likes Si Yizhou, her mother's son from a previous marriage, but she also knows this is an unrequited love that will come to nothing.

Meeting Lu Chiyu is an accident. He's Si Yizhou's friend.

At their first meeting, he sits in the middle of a booth. His face is indistinct in the dim light, and his long fingers toy with the lighter in his hand.

Wen Qingyue feels completely out of place. She forces herself to endure the choking smell of smoke, hoping Si Yizhou will soon return from taking a call outside.

Just as she doesn't know what to do, a low voice rings out, casual and languid. "Put that cigarette out."

The person smoking beside her glances at Wen Qingyue and apologizes with an ingratiating smile.

2.

The day she decides to give up on Si Yizhou, Wen Qingyue goes alone to the snowy mountains to clear her head.

After landing, she sees a message from Si Yizhou. He says he's worried about her safety and has arranged for someone to look after her.

Standing at the arrivals gate, Wen Qingyue doesn't see the person who was supposed to meet her. But in the crowd, she spots a familiar, tall figure at a glance.

Before she can think about why Lu Chiyu is here, he walks up to her as she stares at him in disbelief and takes the suitcase from her hand.

"Why are you here?"

Later, the world outside is buried in snow and ice, while indoors the alcohol makes their cheeks burn.

One reckless night.

3.

Their friends are all shocked when they hear Lu Chiyu is bringing his girlfriend. Si Yizhou doesn't care at first, but when he sees who Lu Chiyu is holding hands with, his wineglass slips from his grasp and shatters across the floor.

That night, outside Wen Qingyue's apartment, Si Yizhou apologizes over and over, begging her to forgive him, but gets no response.

Inside, Wen Qingyue is pressed against the wall, unable to speak. In the moment she catches her breath, Lu Chiyu bites her earlobe and says hoarsely, "Tell him to get lost."

Theme: As long as you're happy