I Wasn't Trying to Tempt You!

"Between him and me, who's the better kisser? You tell me." The modern romance next door, Out of Control Butterfly, is now underway: bad boy and yandere x aloof beauty, two men and one woman, rivalry for her affections, a love-triangle showdown, and stealing someone's partner. Blurb below.

Blurb:

◎ Identity-reveal story / light and sweet / monogamous, both leads inexperienced

◎ Cute, soft girl who's one way to your face and another behind your back x scheming big shot who quietly enjoys her two-faced act

The National Xiangqi League is back in full swing. At the orders of his superiors, young player Shen Yi has no choice but to put on a brave face and try to get on good terms with Liang Que, a grandmaster who has just joined the team.

The man is tall and lean, his figure wrapped in a black overcoat. His tie and shirt buttons are perfectly in order, and the lapel of his coat carries the delicate scent of men's cologne. He is cold and distant, callous and arrogant.

Shen Yi offers him every kind of courtesy, but he can't even be bothered to give her a polite smile. His deep-set eyes beneath high brows are filled with disinterest.

Just like the scent of his cologne.

Shen Yi smiles brightly while cursing inwardly, and whenever she gets a spare moment, she vents to her online boyfriend, whom she's never met:

[Who does he think he is? Acting like he owns the place. If my boss hadn't told me to butter him up, do you think I'd waste my time on someone like that? [Eye roll]]

[You're so much better, honey. You always respond no matter what I say. I really can't resist someone as gentle as you :)]

[By the way, didn't you say you were coming back to the country? When can we meet? Liang Que puts me through the wringer every day, and I desperately need to recharge by lying on my honey's abs QAQ.]

[Honey, honey, honey, honey, honey, I miss you so much, sob. I'm going to tempt you into meeting me more often...]

*

The next day, Shen Yi steps into the elevator and runs into Liang Que for the 10,086th time.

She rolls her eyes inwardly, cursing their rotten luck, while giving him a sweet smile. "Good afternoon, Teacher Liang!"

As the elevator descends, a vast divide lies between them.

Leaning against the wall, Liang Que glances at the enormous gap between them and suddenly curls his lips into a smile.

"Not recharging anymore?"

Shen Yi: "?"

"Just a reminder: what you called me last night wasn't 'Teacher.'"

Shen Yi: "???"

-

Blurb for Out of Control Butterfly:

◎ Stealing someone's partner / rivalry for her affections / two men who are both inexperienced, constantly battling each other

◎ Unconventional genius / dangerously obsessive, yandere big shot x clear-headed, conflicted, melancholy beauty

On a stormy night, in the study.

Ignoring the camera that's still recording nearby, Qi Wennian slams Lan Yang onto the desk.

His tall, slender frame swoops down like a black eagle striking its prey, completely enveloping her.

His scorching breath, unlike the storm outside, clings to her as his deep kiss forcefully invades her mouth:

"Between him and me, who's the better kisser? You tell me."

Lan Yang's lashes are wet, her body slick with sweat.

She can't answer.

Because she made a pact with the devil long ago, and for the rest of her life, she can belong only to another man.

*

The devil arrives right on cue.

Just the next day, the yandere big shot who controls her so fiercely appears without warning.

His cold fingertips move slowly, tormentingly, tracing down from the small of her back.

Everywhere they touch, shivers ripple through her.

The big shot bends down and gently reminds her by the ear:

"Don't forget, I'm all your world needs."

Lan Yang's face stays calm, but she can barely stand. As he speaks, she watches helplessly as he flips through every recording on the camera.

The footage of her kissing Qi Wennian yesterday is still there.

Bonus scene:

A few days later, Qi Wennian gets a WeChat call from Lan Yang.

Strangely, when he answers, a deep male voice comes through the receiver:

"Mr. Qi."

Qi Wennian gives a wicked curl of his lips.

What can he do? He's never been able to stop taking what belongs to someone else.

Besides, that wicked woman was the one who came after him first.

Core message: Never give up.