The Bookshop Where Time Flows Backward

Please support the official release | Episodic stories | Male suffering | Intense physical abuse

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Story One: "The Gift" (Complete)

Rising business magnate x aloof scientist | Power imbalance | Bittersweet | Reconciliation after a breakup

He Rong is universally known as a beautiful, kindhearted woman, as tranquil and pure as a pool of autumn water.

Everyone who knows her says she has a divine quality.

On their wedding day, everyone congratulates Shang Miao on winning the beauty's heart and fulfilling his long-held wish.

He smiles through his pain and drinks a few extra glasses.

The goddess bestows her blessings on all things equally.

He can only have one ladleful.

He Rong travels to Africa for a field research project.

Unable to touch her, Shang Miao's longing finds every crack to seep through, making a restrained man lose his composure.

Shang Miao gets himself drunk, then video-calls He Rong under the pretense of being tipsy. "Are you busy?"

On the other end, she leans closer to the camera, worried, and looks at him more carefully. "Have you been drinking?"

"He Rong, could you love me a little more?"

The alcohol conceals his true feelings. His words slur, and it's hard to tell whether he's drunk or simply lacking confidence.

The goddess embraces all things, but never truly stays for anyone.

Could she... stay for him, just for a little while?

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Story Two: "You're So Stupid You Could Die"

Academic ace who's bad at sports x underachieving student who's good at sports | Power imbalance | Childhood friends | Bickering couple | Mutual pining

Meng Aoshuang is a science whiz. She's thought Xia Ge was an idiot since they were little.

They're already in second grade, and he still can't figure out equivalent ratios. He just counts on his fingers.

Two apples equal three pears, and three apples equal one watermelon. How many pears are equal to one watermelon?

He doesn't know, but when someone calls, "Xia Ge, come eat some watermelon!" he runs faster than anyone.

He's hopeless.

With brains like his, she doesn't expect him to figure out how she feels about him, either.

Xia Ge is a high-jump prodigy. He's thought Meng Aoshuang was cold-hearted since they were little.

Proud as a peacock, cold as frost, and always scolding him for being a "big dummy."

A beautiful, accomplished swan with her nose in the air.

But he's already 193 centimeters tall. How come she still can't see him?

Meng Aoshuang isn't that smart, either.

She's hopeless.

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Story Three: "You Behind the Door"

Gentle older brother x slow-witted younger sister | Power imbalance | Bittersweet | Reconciliation after a breakup

To be added

[I'll trade my time for you.]

TIPS:

1. The male leads will not recover. There are many scenes of physical abuse, so please check the warnings first.

2. Episodic stories. The individual stories aren't closely connected, but the bookstore owner appears throughout.

3. The stories vary in length, from tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand words. I'll see how they go as I write.

4. Please bookmark, comment, and send support!

Theme: Cherish the people around you.