Claiming Nan Yi [Rekindled Love]

[Wallflower romance + Heartache + Intense push and pull + Powerful man bows to love]

Loyal tech tycoon x dazzling jewelry appraiser, slightly unhinged x beautiful, strong, and tragic

*

Ji Nanyi ran into her ex-boyfriend at a dinner party.

The bright-eyed young man had become stern and wealthy.

Someone at the table joked that they had gone to the same school. His beautiful, peach-blossom eyes swept over her, devoid of feeling or desire, and he only asked, "Have we met?"

Ji Nanyi stiffened. After all, she was the one who had dumped him.

Later, he kept appearing in Ji Nanyi's life.

Every time she found herself in an awkward situation, Zhou Yinan was there. He was noble and aloof, taking in her helplessness without missing a thing.

When she begged him, he used it against her. "Be my lover. Your body belongs to me alone."

He wanted to possess Ji Nanyi every moment, to take her apart and consume her, so she would know what it felt like to be shattered, body and soul.

*

She had thought Zhou Yinan hated her to the core.

Until one day, he barged in reeking of alcohol. Rubbing his cheek against hers, he enunciated into her ear, "You really are a heartless woman."

He took off his glasses, dropped to one knee, and buried his face against her...

Zhou Yinan was always so proper. His shirts were invariably crisp and immaculate, but Ji Nanyi had grabbed and tugged at his until they were covered in wrinkles.

He knew he had lost again. Their relationship over the past few months had been a joke. He was the one who loved her without hope of being loved in return.

He couldn't lie to himself. He still loved her.

Bonus scenes:

1.

Zhou Yinan's gaze followed the seat belt over Ji Nanyi's chest. Her damp, white, thin T-shirt was semi-transparent, revealing a tantalizing outline.

He bent down to touch the seat belt buckle and asked, "Why didn't you take the coat?"

Ji Nanyi leaned away, putting more distance between them. "I'm not used to using other people's things."

Zhou Yinan stopped and looked up at her. "You're not used to using my things?"

Ji Nanyi pretended not to hear him and turned to look out the window. There was nothing but wind and streetlights.

"Or are you only used to using them in bed?"

2.

Ji Nanyi pushed Zhou Yinan away and asked coldly, "We haven't even gone to the hospital yet."

Zhou Yinan gave a soft laugh, pulled a cigarette case from his pocket, and tapped out a cigarette. Then he held it out to Ji Nanyi, watching her with the cigarette between his lips.

Ji Nanyi took half a step back. "No, thanks."

Zhou Yinan nodded and took out a lighter.

There was no wind that night. The flame shot straight up, its warm light falling across Zhou Yinan's face. A few stray locks fell onto his smooth forehead, framing his handsome features and deep, dark eyes.

He lit the cigarette, took a drag, and exhaled. Neither of them said a word. White smoke curled around them, shutting out the world and leaving only the two of them in their own space.

"You know whether there's anything wrong with me down there, don't you?"

Zhou Yinan slowly exhaled a stream of smoke. It happened to drift across Ji Nanyi's chest. He narrowed his eyes and looked there, his Adam's apple bobbing as he continued to smoke.

Reader's note:

1. Scattered flashbacks, happy ending.

2. The leads are each other's one and only. Both stayed single after their breakup.

Theme: Embrace change