Crossing the Line

[A very, very short story. The author wrote it for fun while they had some free time.]

Tao Zhi had a perfect fiance, Lin Yubai.

He came from a prestigious family, was gentle and considerate, and was the eligible bachelor everyone in their social circle wanted to marry into.

Tao Zhi, on the other hand, had simply gotten lucky. After Lin Yubai's first love went abroad, she unexpectedly became engaged to him.

But it was fine. They were going to marry for the sake of their families anyway, so she might as well find someone handsome enough to look forward to seeing. Tao Zhi knew her place.

But just as she was eagerly preparing for the engagement party, Lin Yubai's first love suddenly returned to the country. Her normally courteous fiance lost all sense of propriety for the first time and left Tao Zhi alone in the bridal shop while she was trying on dresses.

Tao Zhi quietly tried on every dress by herself, but couldn't decide which one to choose. The sales assistant handed her a phone and politely asked if she wanted to take a photo and ask the groom for his opinion.

Then the man who had apparently been sitting on the sofa for who knew how long spoke up, languidly, like he was the groom. "Pick the second one. It's the prettiest."

Tao Zhi turned around and saw He Chi slowly lift his eyelids to look at her. He curled his lips and asked with feigned innocence, gloating, "Oh, Lin Yubai's having dinner with someone. He's probably too busy to reply to your message."

*

Tao Zhi knew He Chi. He was Lin Yubai's sworn rival. The two had competed in everything since childhood, and they had often battled it out in business, but their personalities were completely different.

Tao Zhi had always thought He Chi had approached her just to humiliate Lin Yubai.

In the cramped car, He Chi grabbed Tao Zhi by the wrist.

His fingers were beautiful and slender, his knuckles sharply defined. He unconsciously rubbed the bone jutting from Tao Zhi's wrist, his warm breath so close it nearly brushed her collarbone.

Tao Zhi was scared and instinctively tried to pull away, pushing him weakly. Her voice was soft. "Lin Yubai's coming over."

He Chi looked down at the top of her head, then glanced out the car window.

Lin Yubai really was walking this way. His expression was hard to read, and he took long strides.

He Chi nodded a few times and asked with seeming politeness, "I see him. What, should I invite him in to watch?"

Black-on-the-outside, white-on-the-inside puppy x slow-on-the-uptake sweetheart x white-on-the-outside, black-on-the-inside mad dog

Content warnings:

1. Lin has no first love. It's all a misunderstanding. He also isn't trying to get revenge on Lin. He genuinely loves the sweetheart, and if you doubt it, he'll throw a fit. Both male leads are pure in body and heart.

2. He is following the cheating-and-coercion plotline; Lin gets the win-her-back-after-it's-too-late plotline.

3. Angsty love-triangle rivalry and a messy, no-brakes short story written to indulge the author's kinks. Please read only if you're okay with that. If it bothers you, stop reading in time. Don't curse me or the female lead (feel free to curse the men).

4. The story in my imagination is wonderful, but the actual writing could turn out to be anything. Don't set your expectations too high.

Thank you! Hope you enjoy reading!

Theme: Say what you mean.