Sweet Story

"Are you really only eating that little for dinner?" Liu Muye stared at Han Juyou's nearly empty plate, which, though slightly more substantial than lunch with a bit of meat, was still mostly vegetables. "Don’t hold back on my account—order whatever you want."

"No, I only eat this much at night," Han Juyou shook her head. "Eating too much will make me gain weight."

Liu Muye narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "You’re being so strict with your diet—are you plotting something?"

"Yep," Han Juyou grinned playfully. "I need to keep my figure in check so I can charm my way into a wealthy family and live the high life."

"That kind of gold-digging mentality is dangerous!" Liu Muye leaned in, whispering close to her ear, "You’re not aiming for Nangong Ye, are you? Let me tell you, as long as I’m around, your little scheme won’t work!"

As he spoke, his warm breath brushed against her ear, sending a tingling sensation down her spine.

Her face flushed as she pushed him away, glaring. "What does Nangong Ye have to do with this?"

Liu Muye shot back, "Didn’t you just say you wanted to marry into a rich family?"

Han Juyou countered, "The world doesn’t revolve around the Nangong family. Isn’t your Liu household loaded too? Why can’t I set my sights on you?"

With that, she arched an eyebrow, flashing a coquettish yet mischievous smile.

Liu Muye froze, momentarily stunned by her expression.

Whether Nangong Ye could resist Han Juyou’s advances was unclear, but if she ever turned her charms on him, he knew he’d be defenseless—having been single his whole life, he’d never been pursued by a girl before.

Dinner cost thirty in total—seventeen for Liu Muye, thirteen for Han Juyou.

Afterward, Liu Muye grabbed two milk teas from the drink stall.

Placing them on the table, he asked, "Coconut sago or mango sago—which one do you want?"

Han Juyou grumbled, "Twenty bucks for two drinks? That’s practically another meal."

"I told you, don’t worry about saving money for me."

"But—"

"Are you drinking it or not? If not, I’ll finish both!"

"Fine, fine! I’ll take the coconut one!"

Seeing Liu Muye about to jam both straws into his mouth, Han Juyou quickly snatched the coconut sago and took a sip.

Propping his chin on his hand, Liu Muye watched her sip daintily. "Good?"

"Mhm~"

Chewing the sago pearls, Han Juyou asked, "How did you know I like coconut-flavored stuff?"

"Huh? I didn’t," Liu Muye shrugged. "Just picked randomly."

Han Juyou tilted her head. "Well, no worries. Now you know."

"Pfft—"

Liu Muye chuckled at her cuteness before picking up his chopsticks to eat.

Han Juyou, however, didn’t touch her food. Instead, she announced, "I’m going to start writing a novel online!"

Liu Muye, gnawing on a chicken leg with zero decorum, said, "CEO romance novels are outdated. Give it up."

Han Juyou blinked. "How did you know I was writing a CEO romance?"

"Because I’m the worm in your stomach," he said between bites.

"Pfft, as if you know me that well. You probably just peeked at my notes," Han Juyou rolled her eyes. "And it’s not some cliché ‘rich CEO falls for a poor girl’ story."

"Then what is it?" Liu Muye set down the chicken leg, locking eyes with her. "Don’t tell me it’s a rich heiress disguising herself as a commoner, sneaking into an elite school, clashing with a domineering young master, and then they fall in love amid endless bickering—another overused, cheesy Mary Sue plot?"

...At another table nearby...

"Achoo!"

Shangguan Yurou suddenly sneezed.

"Are you okay?" Nangong Ye handed her a handkerchief. "Catching a cold?"

"No," she shook her head, dabbing her nose. "It’s only September—way too hot for that."

"Ah, right," Nangong Ye scratched his head awkwardly.

Shangguan Yurou eyed the now-soiled handkerchief. "Sorry, I’ll wash this and return it."

Nangong Ye smiled. "No need, just toss it."

"Alright then." Shangguan Yurou assumed he was just germaphobic.

Glancing at the handkerchief, she thought—What a considerate guy. Too bad he’s not into girls.

...Back to Liu Muye’s perspective...

Han Juyou gaped at him. "That’s the plot I spent all last night brainstorming! How did you guess?"

Of course he knew—he’d written that exact trope himself before becoming a failed author and getting sucked into this novel’s world.

But he couldn’t tell her that.

"Those clichés are everywhere online," Liu Muye scoffed. "Either the CEO falls for Cinderella, or he pretends to be poor to chase her, or she’s secretly rich, or they’re both in disguise, bickering until the big reveal—"

"Wait, hold on!" Han Juyou cut in. "How do you know CEO romance tropes so well?"

"Because I’m a web novel—"

Liu Muye nearly blurted out his secret but caught himself just in time.

Han Juyou frowned. "You stopped mid-sentence. You’re a web novel what?"

"I’m a web novel…" He paused, then recovered. "A web novel enthusiast. I’ve read tons—male leads, female leads, you name it. So I know all the tired old formulas."

"Really?" Her fox-like eyes gleamed with doubt.

"Obviously," Liu Muye nodded firmly. "Would I lie?"

Han Juyou gave a half-convinced hum. "Well, since you’re the expert, what’s a fresh, interesting twist for a CEO romance?"

Liu Muye didn’t mince words: "Writing CEO romances is a dead end!"

"Huh?" Han Juyou wrinkled her nose. "Why? Don’t most girls love reading about a hot, suit-clad billionaire obsessing over them?"

"No, no, no!" Liu Muye wagged a finger. "Times have changed. That stuff doesn’t sell anymore."

Han Juyou crossed her arms and looked at Liu Muye, asking, "Then tell me, if not domineering CEO stories, what should I write instead?"

Liu Muye held onto a chicken drumstick, pondering for a long while.

"If you really want to write, go for fluffy romance."

...