My other story, Rainy and Snowy Weather, is currently serializing! Age gap | Bittersweet tension | Rekindled romance
Cool and sensitive, gentle and dignified
--
At sixteen, Jiang Ji moved to a new city with her parents and met Zhou Tiao on a rainy day.
She didn't know how to get home. Just as she hesitated, the cool, clear voice of a boy with a detached profile spoke the name of the same street through a phone speaker.
So she quietly followed in his footsteps all the way there.
Jiang Ji couldn't have known then how many times she would watch him like this, following behind him.
*
Jiang Ji often heard news about Zhou Tiao from the grade rankings and conversations with others.
He was the perennial top student on the notice board, a genuine campus celebrity, a bold and carefree darling of the heavens.
When her friends talked about him, they described him as like an autumn rain, distant yet gentle. No wonder so many girls liked him.
"But having a crush on him would be no fun."
Because he wouldn't return their feelings.
Jiang Ji lowered her head, her dark hair curling at the ends. Her expression was unreadable.
She understood that all too well. So, during their first stretch of time in the same class, she kept avoiding Zhou Tiao, so she wouldn't yearn for something impossible.
But a secret crush is a series of little wounds. On the surface, you're untouched; in private, you're covered in scars.
That night seemed like a gift from Heaven to make it up to Jiang Ji.
Zhou Tiao walked her home. On the way, she worked up the courage to ask if he was going abroad because he really liked the university he'd be attending.
Zhou Tiao thought for a long time, then finally replied lazily, "It's all right. But for now, there's no one or nothing that would make me want to stay here."
As he spoke, he lowered his eyes, naturally failing to notice Jiang Ji's unconcealable sadness and disappointment.
With one sentence, the gift turned into a bitter melon slice coated in sugar.
Nine years after they parted, she met Zhou Tiao again. He was still the brightest person in the crowd, but he was the first to say hello.
They had barely exchanged a few words about old times when he had to leave in a hurry.
She thought that was the end of it, but two weeks later they met again at a class reunion, and Zhou Tiao proactively scanned her contact card. "When are you heading back? I'll take you."
During one casual chat, someone mentioned that he'd played badminton in high school, attracting quite a crowd.
Zhou Tiao invited her to play together next time.
Jiang Ji left out the fact that she had practiced privately for him back then and only smiled. "People online say it's not a suitable sport for people with a big skill gap. Otherwise, they'll have to split up after one rally."
"That won't happen." Zhou Tiao answered without hesitation, drawing her into a whirlpool with a single sentence. "Besides, you're different."
Later, Jiang Ji returned home as usual. Before she could go upstairs, someone pulled her into a dim corner.
In the flickering light, Zhou Tiao's expression was downcast and his lips were tightly pressed together.
He'd heard she had a boyfriend and rushed back from New York overnight to see her. His voice was hoarse. "Jiang Ji, look at me too. Comfort me."
[A touch as light as a drop of water can still stir a spring.]
Note: The heroine having a boyfriend is a misunderstanding.
School days: girl has a crush on boy. City life: boy pursues girl. Both are each other's first love. Happy ending.
--
Here's a preview of my next story, The Water Lily Speaks. It'll feature a man who says one thing and means another paired with a straightforward, clueless girl. It also has something to do with a secret crush. Please bookmark it!
1.
Everyone knew that Sheng Guichi, lead singer and guitarist of the campus band NEW EPOCH, was a cold, aloof tough guy in private, with no mercy for anyone.
But lately, his bandmates had been telling everyone that Sheng Guichi had a crush on his high school's campus beauty, an older student.
Could Sheng Guichi really be the type to have a crush on someone?
Sheng Guichi didn't explain. He only gave a derisive laugh and said his bandmate was crazy.
Even so, Sheng Guichi kept getting closer to his senior.
His bandmates started wondering if she had a crush on him instead. They even joked that if she liked Sheng Guichi, they could give her some advice.
Unexpectedly, Yan Yan put down her chopsticks and sincerely asked, "I do like him. What advice would you give me?"
With her cold face and usual flat tone, she sounded so serious that it came across almost like mockery.
2.
The official NEW EPOCH account posted a four-photo collage of Sheng Guichi. Amid the flood of "so handsome" comments, no one paid any mind to one odd remark: "He looks like a player." But one day, netizens started flocking to that comment.
The reason was that someone had dug up that the account belonged to Sheng Guichi's girlfriend.
People in the know couldn't help marveling even more: One aloof, one cold, a player and a resentful woman. What could a romance like that possibly feel like?
Then a photo proved them all wrong: amid the bustle and lights of the night market, Yan Yan smiled like a crescent moon in an oversized men's denim jacket, while Sheng Guichi, a few meters away, tilted his head as he met her gaze and smiled helplessly and adoringly.
3.
The first time Sheng Guichi saw Yan Yan, she was onstage giving a speech as the student representative. He gave the beautiful Yan, the senior everyone talked about, a casual glance.
Amid the familiar high ponytails and standard uniforms, she stood out like a lotus rising unsullied from the mud.
They met again at university. Yan Yan had twisted her ankle on an outing, and Sheng Guichi examined her injury.
He moved closer; she backed away. After a few repetitions, he laughed. "Yan Yan, keep moving and I'll fall for you."
And, well, he really did fall for her.
*
After they got together, Sheng Guichi's cousin accidentally let slip to Yan Yan that he'd had a crush on a girl in high school. She hadn't even known who he was by the time he transferred away. It had been so pathetic.
Yan Yan was sorting through things at home, deciding what to throw away, when a box of her high school belongings suddenly spilled open, revealing a solid-black wristwatch.
His cousin exclaimed, "Hey, isn't that my cousin's?"
Yan Yan stared at it, stunned.
Back then, she hadn't known who the watch's owner was either.
Theme: Have the courage to pursue the one you love.
Throw flowers! The journey of secret love in the article really made me feel sore at the tip of my nose many times. It is really very, very delicate and real. 😭 I immediately resonated with it after reading the text 😭 The personality changes and growth experiences of the two people made the final happy ending very reasonable. When I read it at the end, I felt it from the bottom of my heart. I am so happy that their hardships have finally come to an end. Two lonely and tough people have finally found a soul mate who can take care of their pain 😭 I always feel that through their growth I can see a corner of my own character and experience 😭 An excellent and strong happy couple must last forever 😭
I recommended it on Xiaohong and my expectations were not very high. I have read a lot of novels recently and it is hard to find what I like. After seeing that the author is a newcomer, I thought it was very powerful. The characters and stories are very good. The writing is very good (I feel like I accidentally discovered a treasure). The character design of Zhou Yu is very good, especially (smoking). For some reason after reading the previous story, I naturally felt that he would never smoke. In the end, it turns out that Zhou Yu has his own ideas and the writing of his character is also very good based on family factors. Jiang Ji's description of strength is very appropriate, especially the part about the heroine's secret love. She didn't lose herself even if she liked the hero (competition). This setting is very special. The first volume explains the male and female protagonist's personality characteristics very clearly. Although the first volume mainly looks at the perspective of the heroine, you can see the special pull of the hero towards the heroine from the details. The writing is also very good. I surrendered to the author's great writing style. It is the best writing I have seen in a long time. I see that the author is a newbie, so I must stick to it. The treasure will definitely be discovered by better people (Dian Shui) and will be seen by more people [rose][rose][rose]
It's pretty~ We are destined to meet each other~ 😚
I hope we can be together soon and don't get entangled
Don't worry about it, I really enjoyed reading this chapter 😣
I only saw it now 💪
Wow, so pretty! I like the ups and downs of secret love, and feel the heroine's complete happiness. I wish everyone a happy life too.
It's really well written, baby. I read it all in one go. It's very smooth. The relationship between Zhou You and Jiang Jiang was bitter at first, but it has a sweet aftertaste. The shaping of Chen Yan is also very good and real. It may not be perfect but blessings are the norm in life. Keep up the good work. Someone is reading this novel (*´スv)
I feel so bad, Zhao, you still have our sister.
It's so fragrant 🥺 🥺 [orange candy] I've eaten [purple candy] kswl