Starburst

[Main story complete] Male unrequited love | Reunited after a breakup | He chases her

Next book: Spring Tide Over Rain, please add it to your collection

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When Xu Nianxing first transferred schools, a friend kindly warned her to stay away from Shi Zhan. The young heir to the Shi family was used to doing whatever he pleased, and was good at making girls fall for him, but coldhearted underneath.

She didn't take it to heart. At a party, she caught a distant glimpse of him surrounded by people.

His features were sharp, his smile lazy, and he had an aloof air untouched by worldly vanity.

Noticing her stare, Shi Zhan said with amusement, "What, want to get with me?"

Xu Nianxing lifted her chin. "Not interested."

Xu Nianxing was a famously spoiled young lady in Huaicheng, clear-headed and independent, with a graceful, lively talent for classical dance.

Their families had business ties, and when Xu Nianxing met Shi Zhan again, they briefly interacted in keeping with basic courtesy.

She had no idea when he began to develop feelings for her. His eyes turned fierce as he tore to pieces the love letter someone else had given her.

Xu Nianxing remained unmoved. Shi Zhan cornered her at the back door of the classroom, his cold eyes reddened. "You're pretending you can't see me?"

"I don't really like bad students." Xu Nianxing smiled. "Get into the top ten in your grade, and I might consider it."

Before long, Shi Zhan was still his same lazy, irreverent self, but his name had risen high on the rankings.

When Xu Nianxing came out of the classroom, Shi Zhan stopped her. "Time to keep your promise, isn't it?"

From then on, he stayed by her side, clearing every obstacle from her path.

Years later, now a powerful figure beyond anyone's reach, he smiled wickedly at her from below the stage. After the performance, Xu Nianxing frowned. "You're interfering with my work."

Shi Zhan pressed his lips to her ear, leaving a damp mark with his teeth. "Sorry, baby. I won't say those three words again next time."

He gave her a deliberately roguish smile. "I'll just do it."

-

A few things to know:

1. A mad, shameless, bad-boy attack who is exactly what he seems x a fake white rabbit and a genuinely clear-eyed, dazzling flirt. Both are virgins; the male lead is chaste and has no romantic entanglements. Two-year age gap.

2. He openly loves her and pursues her shamelessly, clinging to her no matter what. The female lead's coolness in the blurb is an act; she's very good at playing him.

3. From school to city life, with a small portion set at school. The male lead is very, very, very unhinged. Later, the story involves coercive pursuit and an almost-stealing-someone-else's-girlfriend plotline, so it's not for readers who are extremely possessive of the male lead.

4. No flirting or physical contact before adulthood.

Spring Tide Over Rain

1.

At twenty-seven, after being laid off and pressured by her elders to marry, Chen Qingyao's already gentle heart grew ever more serene.

After sending out countless resumes, she learned that the HR representative had to go on a last-minute business trip, so they arranged the second interview at a cafe near the airport.

The handsome, distinguished man sitting across from her kept glancing at his watch. The questions he asked had little to do with her field.

"Are you in a hurry?"

Chen Qingyao smiled. "The sooner the better. We'll need some time to adjust to each other, after all."

He nodded coolly and handed her a business card. "If you're a good fit, my assistant will contact you."

2.

Duan Xuhuai, founder of Qiming Technologies, was often praised by his peers as an aloof, untouchable beauty who had never fallen from his pedestal. He was proud and distant, and had never been involved in a romantic scandal.

Chen Qingyao later learned that their meeting had been a mix-up.

The favored son of heaven had gone on a blind date to appease his family, and the two of them, who had arrived half an hour early, mistook each other for their dates.

Fortunately, she got the job she'd wanted, and Duan Xuhuai sent her a message to check in.

With a little help from the alcohol, she made a half-serious suggestion. "Mr. Duan, why don't we just go along with the mistake?"

Half an hour later, the refined, elegant man appeared outside her apartment building.

"If you have no objections, we can each get what we want from now on."

A property and a million in cash. He was generous and gentlemanly, so whatever happened, she came out ahead.

Chen Qingyao smiled. "It's a pleasure doing business with you."

He glanced at her hand, held out in midair, but made no move to take it.

3.

After their marriage, their parents took turns checking up on them. Exhausted, Chen Qingyao moved in with Duan Xuhuai, with his agreement.

Hugs and hand-holding became routine. He gradually fell for her, but she always kept clear boundaries, unable to see why Duan Xuhuai kept inching closer.

That is, until Qiming Technologies acquired her company and Duan Xuhuai arrived as its new CEO. He privately asked her to come to his office.

The moment the blinds came down, the usually aloof man sat her on his lap and wrapped his arms around her.

Chen Qingyao instinctively glanced around, asking warily, "Did your parents come by today?"

"No." The voice of the man who had gone to such lengths to win her back sounded a little muffled.

"Did my parents come?"

"No."

"Then..." Chen Qingyao started to get down, but suddenly met his deep, dark gaze. The arms around her waist tightened, inch by inch.

"Yaoyao, can you really still not tell that I like you?"

She was stunned. Duan Xuhuai bit her ear in jealousy, then gave in with a defeated sigh. "I'm not pretending."

[He willingly lets himself fall, until even warm water boils]

Theme: Never give up, even when life is against you.