The story starts at school, then moves to the city:
Chapters 1-41 cover the school years; the city portion starts in Chapter 42. (Some chapters may be revised now and then, but the changes are usually minor.)
I've made a small adjustment and moved the original prologue into the city portion, so the story now starts with the school years from Chapter 1.
Blurb:
In other people's eyes, Xie Mofeng is cool, distant, and careful to keep his boundaries. But in Su Wanyu's eyes, he is so gentle.
He can see her insecurity and encourages her to be braver. When she's sad, he keeps her company and takes her out day after day. He understands her worries and encourages her to make peace with herself. He notices the empty space in her heart and learns to cook sweet-and-sour ribs to ease her longing. He also stays up late studying with her, helping them both improve.
No matter what happens, Xie Mofeng always seems to be the gentle support she can count on.
But goodbyes always come without warning.
When Xie Mofeng tells her he's leaving, they both hold back their sadness and smile as they say goodbye.
-
They don't meet again until nine years later, at a friend's wedding banquet. Xie Mofeng follows Su Wanyu outside, only to watch her walk straight toward a man: Shen Jingxuan, the person his best friend says has been by Su Wanyu's side for nine years.
He grits his teeth and follows. He wants to see what kind of person could make Su Wanyu fall for him.
But when he gets closer, Su Wanyu steps back and moves beside Shen Jingxuan. And when Shen Jingxuan, who has been by her side for nine years, taunts him by saying, "Oh, I've only known her for three years," Su Wanyu calmly replies:
"One year."
Only one year. Nowhere near three.
Xie Mofeng is completely bewildered.
They were still friends when they parted, and she even smiled and wished him well. So why, after meeting Shen Jingxuan, does she avoid him like the plague and barely speak to him?
A few reading tips:
(1) While apart, neither lead fell for anyone else or dated anyone.
(2) This is a slow-burn story with a gentle, steady pace, though some parts are a little bittersweet.
(3) The female lead grows throughout the story, gradually rebuilding her sense of self.
(4) The places, schools, competitions, brand names, games, and so on are all fictional. Please don't look for real-world references.
Theme: Growing up, little by little
