Yet the Sparrow

[New Novel: The Long Night of Miye] An American-school romance, updating now!

[Arrogant, flamboyant returnee student x low-key, deep-spirited Beijing power broker]

The third time they met, Jiang Jinyu finally asked her name.

"Su Que," she replied.

"Que, as in sparrow?"

Su Que was about to correct him when she heard his cool, cutting voice, tinged with mockery. "Just like your name, you never stop chirping. You're annoying as hell."

-

Su Que had spent ten years studying in the United States. She returned home for her older sister's wedding.

Her sister had given up a ten-year relationship and instead impulsively married into a wealthy family.

On the day of the wedding, Su Que heard that her sister's ex-boyfriend was coming to cause trouble.

Thinking he was some clingy gold-digger, Su Que rolled up her sleeves and went to intercept him.

"You really think you can stop me?" Jiang Jinyu flicked away his cigarette ash, amused by her fearless expression.

Su Que suddenly thought he looked much better when he smiled.

She changed her mind, rose onto her toes, and plucked the cigarette from his lips.

"I'm better than her. Want to give me a try?"

-

Su Que knew when to hold on and when to let go. When her sincerity went unreturned, she let go just as quickly.

One day, her new boyfriend took her to a lavish banquet, only for her to discover it was Jiang Jinyu's birthday.

Everyone waited to see Su Que make a fool of herself. She had dumped the crown prince of Yanbei, a man no one dared cross, and now she had the nerve to bring her new beau to his party.

But Jiang Jinyu chatted and laughed with perfect composure, never once looking her way.

Su Que smiled just as brightly and, for good measure, held her boyfriend's hand even tighter.

That night, her boyfriend's black Phantom was deliberately rear-ended and forced to stop by the roadside.

The dented car door was yanked open. As Su Que sat stunned, a hand pulled her out.

"You're this timid, and you still dare to play games with me?"

At that familiar, cool voice, Su Que glared back defiantly.

She had expected a furious storm, but instead, he suddenly kissed the corner of her mouth.

Jiang Jinyu rarely let his guard down. His voice softened. "Don't be mad. Come home with me, okay?"

[Bonus Scene]

Hearing that her older sister was meeting her ex-boyfriend at the Peninsula Beijing's teahouse, Su Que rushed over without a second thought to stop them.

But the man there was a stranger.

Behind a jade rockery, Jiang Jinyu swept aside the curtain and entered.

The stranger lowered his head. "Uncle."

Without even looking at him, Jiang Jinyu drew Su Que into his arms. "Your aunt is here. Aren't you going to greet her?"

Content Warnings and Notes

1. Lots of author-created details, melodrama, mistaken relationships, and intense push-and-pull. The story is a slow burn with plenty of small details.

2. Both characters will gradually change. The descriptions above are only their outward appearances.

3. [Important] Both leads are sexually inexperienced. The older sister's boyfriend is not the male lead, and the younger sister has her own reasons for what she does.

4. [If you're going to judge the plot based only on the blurb and your own assumptions, there's no need to tell me. :)]

Next novel, launching after I have 200,000 words in reserve: To the Young Lady. A rough-hewn man x delicate beauty story, featuring a young lady and her personal bodyguard, a police inspector.

[Flirtatious, pampered darling x stoic, rugged tough guy] [Beijing heiress x Hong Kong police inspector]

An accident leaves Sheng Yao's pink Rolls-Royce stranded in Hong Kong's darkest, most lawless alley.

A dying groan comes from the shadows. Blood snakes across the ground, staining the white tire.

A gunshot explodes. She grips the steering wheel, all color draining from her face.

Someone knocks on the car window.

Rain blurs the glass. A tall, muscular man stands outside, an old scar cutting through his brow.

His gaze pierces through the curtain of rain.

"Young Lady, this is no place for you."

*

Chi Jun, the youngest inspector in the Serious Crime Group, is stern, ruthless, and uninterested in women. He has no patience for pampered darlings.

Recently, he was assigned a difficult case: protect top-tier star Sheng Yao.

On the day the assignment came through, Chi Jun wordlessly tossed a bulletproof vest into her arms.

She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "It smells like sweat."

He replied coolly, "That won't affect my ability to protect you."

For two months, they had to stay close. She couldn't leave his sight or go more than five meters away.

At first, she couldn't even stomach the water from roadside stalls. Later, she insisted on taking her anti-inflammatory pills only from his hand.

He used to get a headache whenever he saw her picking at her food. Before long, he was the one coldly picking every strand of cilantro out of her fish-ball soup, then barking, "Eat!"

Out in the wilderness, she complained that the tent was uncomfortable and unapologetically used his tense, muscular arm as a pillow. In the heat of an alley shootout, he cursed her for getting in the way, yet shielded her from a whole wall of shattered glass with his broad back.

In his mission report, he wrote: "Do one good deed a day, even if it means dealing with a pain in the neck."

In her diary, she complained: "A stubborn rock. Absolutely no romance."

Until one night, when the floor of the safe house hadn't been cleaned in ages.

Sheng Yao frowned and lifted the foot insured for hundreds of millions, resting it lightly on his suede boot.

"Officer Chi, this floor is filthy."

She opened her arms, imperious and entirely matter-of-fact. "Carry me over."

*

After the trouble passed, they went their separate ways.

She returned to the spotlight, her star shining brighter than ever. He went back to the police force, Inspector Chi as cold and severe as before.

Their turbulent time together was only a fleeting, fevered dream.

Until one night.

In a corner of the balcony at a charity gala, a paparazzo's camera livestreamed the scene.

Everyone watched as the pampered Sheng heiress, precious down to the last strand of hair, had her bare foot cradled and massaged in a man's palm.

The insignia on his senior superintendent's shoulder and the rhinestones on her dress glittered just as brightly.

Sheng Yao sat on the suit jacket he'd taken off and laid down for her. Her eyes were flushed, and she rested her other foot shamelessly against his shoulder.

She complained in a spoiled voice, "Chi Jun, it's your fault for walking so fast... My foot hurts..."

The usually cold-hearted Inspector Chi knelt on one knee, turned his head, and pressed an almost reverent kiss to the sole of her foot.

"Mm. It's my fault."

"Young Lady, where else do you want to step? I'll do whatever you say."

Theme: Growing together