First Sprout [Secret Crush]

// Unrequited love turns mutual

// Soft but resilient kitty x warm on the outside, passionate within, loyal dog | INFJ x ENFJ

// Pastry chef x Dentist

Sheng Keyi never thought she would see Zhou Li again.

Even less did she expect that, less than ten minutes into their "reunion," he would stick a dental probe into the hole in her cavity.

Amid her pathetic squeaks, she grabbed his hand for the first time.

Unwilling to let the refined-lady persona she'd carefully cultivated for years crumble to pieces, Sheng Keyi hurriedly reapplied her makeup.

She switched to her most perfect smile. "Senior, do you remember me? It's been so long."

"I do."

Her beloved just nodded. His expression was no different from when he'd been wearing his white coat moments earlier. "Lower left six, lower right seven."

Sheng Keyi: ...? The roots of the teeth he'd just treated began to ache and tingle again.

-

In high school, Sheng Keyi had a habit of writing in her journal. Day after day, she did it with unflagging enthusiasm.

She recorded every time she saw him from afar: the time, the place, the weather, and the look of his back, which always seemed different from the day before.

Writing his name made her eyes brighten like spring.

When someone snatched the notebook from her, Sheng Keyi felt utterly helpless.

She watched as they threw it on the ground and trampled and crushed it.

But all she remembered was the jeer: "You? A toad dreaming of eating swan meat? Get over yourself!"

That's when Sheng Keyi realized that apparently, even secretly loving someone had a question of whether you were worthy of them.

Her love was too embarrassing to show anyone.

And so it would never see the light of day.

-

After turning down the invitation several times, Sheng Keyi still wound up at her high school reunion "by a twist of fate."

The few people who'd been up to no good back then brought up the past again, determined to make a joke of her.

"God Zhou, you didn't know, but she had a crush on you back then."

With all eyes on him, Zhou Li's lips curled into a cold smile, and murderous intent filled his eyes. But it was directed at the person who'd said that.

"Then you don't know the half of it. These days, I'm the one who doesn't deserve her."

With everyone's eyes on them, he held Sheng Keyi's hand tightly and led her past all their disbelief and mockery.

A rare trace of anger appeared between Zhou Li's brows. "Did you suffer because you liked me?"

Sheng Keyi's voice muffled, and she instinctively turned away from his gaze.

Then his kiss landed, tender and lingering, growing more intense by the moment.

Zhou Li raised a hand and covered Sheng Keyi's eyes with his palm, shutting out everything from her sight.

"If you don't dare look at me,"

he deepened the kiss and bit her lower lip as if to punish her. "Then feel it."

"What he and they did."

"And every part of you should know that I love you."

-

A quick recommendation for my friend's upcoming book! She's got everything ready and has already written a big stockpile! I've seen it with both my own eyes! (serious face)

Flirting with the Night [Beijing Circle] by Hu Hu Sleeps Soundly

[Second Male Lead Takes the Lead / Long-Standing Scheme / Beijing Circle / Sweet Romance]

[Unaware Siren with a Clear Head x Brooding, Jealous King Who Talks Himself into Things]

On the day of her engagement, Fang Rao accidentally catches her fiance, Lu Bai, meeting his mistress in secret.

She confronts them, but Lu Bai shields his mistress behind him. Not only does he show no remorse, he even has people tear Fang Rao's clothes off.

Lu Bai's gaze is like a knife as he looks down at her. "Yanyan is timid. You shouldn't have scared her."

Then he callously abandons Fang Rao on a mountain and drives away with his mistress.

In the depths of winter in Jinghua, Fang Rao shivers from the cold.

At her most wretched moment, a car passes by, and its window slowly rolls down.

"Get in."

The man in the driver's seat has stern features, and his hands on the steering wheel are refined and graceful.

His low voice is as pleasant as the strings of a cello.

Fang Rao only learns who he is later.

Fu Yizhou, head of the Fu family, sits firmly at the top of Jinghua's most powerful families. His status is illustrious.

He is cold and unfeeling, and his iron-fisted methods strike fear into everyone.

Fang Rao originally had no intention of getting involved with him.

Until, at a Fu family banquet, Lu Bai takes the opportunity to knock on Fu Yizhou's door.

The winter air is bitter. Even indoors, it's not very warm. Yet Fu Yizhou is wearing only a thin shirt, the hem faintly damp.

A rare hint of anxiety appears on Lu Bai's face.

"Mr. Fu, Rao and I were supposed to get married tomorrow, but she's gone missing. You have an extensive network. Please help me find out where she is!"

Fu Yizhou is powerful and influential. Normally, he wouldn't give such a trivial matter a second thought.

This time, however, he responds with a calm nod. "Understood."

On the other side of the wall, Fang Rao is breathing unsteadily, the blush on her face not yet faded.

Her long black hair spills across the rumpled sheets.

Fu Yizhou's suit jacket covers her smooth skin, barely concealing the bite mark on her shoulder.

-

People in their circle tease that Fu Yizhou helps Fang Rao only out of the generosity of a powerful man.

Like casually feeding a stray cat, with nothing more to it.

Only Fu Yizhou knows the truth.

To give her the very best, he's spent twelve years laying the groundwork.

Theme: Become a better version of yourself, and find the best kind of love.