A Little Sun, Kept Secret

[Completed]

*Unrequited love becomes mutual / younger man / healing / second male lead's groveling arc*

(Genius painter, taciturn younger brother x cheerful little ray of sunshine)

Fu Xijin had loved Meng Yanxu for six years, but never got an answer.

At last, she let go and returned to her home on the island, ready to enjoy a peaceful "retirement."

Fu Xijin worked in online media and shared her daily life on social platforms.

After gathering sea bass while beachcombing, Fu Xijin said, "Great, it's still alive. I'll take it home and eat it."

A commenter: Cause of death: Being alive.

After digging up a male crab, Fu Xijin said, "It's male. I don't like eating those."

A commenter: Cause of life: Being male.

After digging up a mantis shrimp living alone, Fu Xijin said, "It doesn't have a partner. I'll take it home and eat it."

A commenter: Cause of death: Being single.

-

In the eyes of her followers, Fu Xijin was like a little sun, cheerful and optimistic.

In Chen Yuheng's eyes, Fu Xijin was the sun that never set over the sea of his heart, painting his gloomy life in a thousand colors.

Unfortunately, she was a fool when it came to love.

-

There were two surprises in Chen Yuheng's life:

First, his parents divorced and abandoned him.

Second, Fu Xijin never did what was expected. Though they had grown up together, she treated him like a younger brother.

-

One day, Fu Xijin found stack after stack of paintings in a storeroom that had been locked for years. Every person in them was her.

Staring at a room full of paintings, she froze in bewilderment. "...Chen Yuheng?"

Chen Yuheng let his true nature show. He lifted her chin with his fingertips, his gaze possessive and resentful, his voice more strained than ever. "Sister, this time... choose me."

Blurb created on December 15, 2024.

Theme: As long as there's a crack, sunlight can find its way in.