Before The Summer Night's Bustle
Original Title: 在夏夜熙攘之前
Author: Fu Jin
Raw Link: Zai Xia Ye Xi Rang Zhi Qian
Male Lead:
Female Lead:
Synopsis
Heaven’s favored son × a well-behaved girl with a rebellious streak
Youth campus | Mutual secret crush | Light ensemble cast
Once, when Ning Sui went with a friend to a neighboring school, she saw a heated basketball game between the Computer Science and Mathematics departments of Qing University, with loud cheers and screams all around.
Her friend pointed him out:
“See that guy? He’s the famous campus heartthrob from Computer Science—Xie Yichen.”
A legendary figure at Qing University—favored by destiny, bold and unrestrained, always on the school’s confession rankings.
On the court, the boy’s black hair was damp with a thin layer of sweat. His brows and eyes were sharp and striking, his whole body full of energy. Every shot he made was clean and effortless.
He had initially looked somewhat indifferent, but when his gaze accidentally swept over them, it seemed to carry a faint smile.
“Oh my god, he’s so handsome. Why didn’t I choose Computer Science back then?” her friend exclaimed excitedly. “Sui Sui, did he just look over here at us?!”
In the end, Computer Science won the game by a large margin, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
But no one knew that during the celebration, in a dim, empty equipment room, Ning Sui was lifted onto a table by the laughing boy. The warm breath brushing her ear nearly drowned her.
“Didn’t you say you didn’t have time to come watch me today?”
Reading Notes
- The friend does not know why the male and female leads are together—this is a non-typical secret-crush story with a slow unfolding plot.
- The first three chapters build background; pacing is slightly slow. The main story begins from Chapter 4.
- Both are first loves, 1v1, HE (happy ending), healing sweet campus romance with ensemble elements.
- Very pure love, very pure love, very pure love—important things said three times. Youthful, innocent first love.
Ning Sui has a secret.
It belongs to her difficult second year of high school, when she was breaking down, unable to solve problems, crying uncontrollably.
She met a pen pal.
That person told her:
“Where you are going and what kind of person you will become is a long question. You don’t need to rush your decision—even constant change is fine.”
“Before that, you can always just be yourself.”
Later, under the grand fireworks of New Year’s Eve, when he kissed her cheek, he said the same thing.