Heart's Inclination

dearfairyJun 2026

3.0

Word count: 118K words
Chapters: 40

Summary

Every time Deng Xihe thinks of Xu Qingyan, she feels a pang of regret: why hadn't she slept with him first and then broken up, letting some other little fox spirit get the better of her for nothing? Fortunately, heaven takes pity on her and gives her one chance to undo it all. This time, she is determined to succeed before making her exit.

A deadpan female lead who flirts with a straight face vs. a top student who is cold on the outside and warm within; a goofy, adorable female lead vs. an aloof, tsundere male lead; the woman teasing the man; a reunion after a breakup; a college campus story in a cheerful, silly style.

Editor's review

Xinyi is a second-chance romance set on a university campus, blending upbeat, irreverent comedy with a woman-chases-man dynamic. The core appeal lies in the emotional tension between Deng Xihe and Xu Qingyan as they go from missed chances to starting over: the heroine returns to her old stomping grounds nursing the regretful, resentful thought that she should have slept with him before breaking up, and takes the initiative with a deadpan, brazen swagger, while the hero Xu Qingyan responds as a cold-faced academic star—his warmth beneath the frost creating the book's main source of comedy and heart flutter. The character setup is complementary—the heroine is goofy, cute, and highly proactive, while the hero is aloof, proud, and secretly warm—and their back-and-forth push-pull delivers both laughs and sweetness. The pacing is brisk, with emotional progress driven by everyday interactions and the resolution of misunderstandings, making it suitable for readers seeking a relaxed, pleasurable reading experience. The campus life depicted carries a youthful vibe, and the second-chance structure keeps readers focused on how the two draw close again even when the outcome is known. Overall, this is a stress-relieving sweet romance suited to fragmented reading time, emphasizing emotional experience over complex plotting.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Romance readers who enjoy upbeat, irreverent comedy and want to unwind in a light atmosphere
Readers who prefer woman-chases-man or woman-seduces-man setups and relish the satisfaction of a proactive heroine
Readers drawn to second-chance romance who enjoy watching old flames rekindle
Campus-fiction fans who love the pairing of a cold-seeming academic star hero with a contrastingly adorable character

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting serious literary depth or complex explorations of human nature
Those uninterested in goofy comedic style who prefer steady, restrained narration
Readers averse to the woman-chases-man trope or indifferent to sweet romance

Reading tips

Best as light reading before bed or during commutes; no need to finish in one sitting—enjoy the interactions chapter by chapter.
Pay attention to the contrasts and misunderstandings in the protagonists' dialogue; these details are the main source of the book's humor and sweetness.
If intrigued by the second-chance structure, try reading the reunion first, then go back to the earlier clues to appreciate the emotional buildup.

版权信息
第1章补考
第2章偶遇
第3章前任
第4章补习
第5章对峙
第6章巨热
第7章兼职
第8章上钩
第9章蹦迪
第10章多动症发作
第11章嘲笑
第12章捉奸！
第13章送饭
第14章儿童节
第15章补习费
第16章太狗腿了
第17章开房
第18章禽兽！
第19章别扭
第20章赔罪
第21章学弟
第22章吃醋
第23章吹野风
第24章欺我男人！
第25章学过散打？
第26章复合
第27章净身
第28章搬家
第29章洞房
第30章和谐
第31章女仆装
第32章青涩
第33章撩拨
第34章一夜风流
第35章见父母
第36章下厨
第37章包养
第38章回忆
第39章大结局

FAQ

Is this book sweet or angsty?

It's overall light and sweet, with an upbeat, irreverent tone; the emotional register is mainly comedic and heart-fluttering. Although it involves the 'old wound' of a second-chance romance, the narrative focus is on the process of drawing close again, and it doesn't sell itself on angst.

What kind of heroine is she?

Deng Xihe is a proactive heroine who is deadpan and brazen—goofy, cute, and highly driven. She returns to her old flame with regret and resentment, dares to make the first move, and is the main driver of the plot and the humor.

Can I read this without having read similar works?

Yes. This is a standalone story that doesn't depend on prior books or series background; reading it directly won't hinder understanding. As long as you accept the light, irreverent romance style, you can follow the character relationships and plot development.

Comments

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About the author

dearfairy Author · Chinese

dearfairy is a Chinese writer of online romance fiction and a contracted author on the Fanqie Novel platform. Public information about her is limited, and neither her real name nor her dates of birth and death have been disclosed. Five of her works are currently listed in the catalog: Chen Fu, The Substitute, Xin Yi, Endless Summer, and Counterattack, and she has also written His White Moonlight. She is mainly active in the fields of modern romance and youth literature, and is skilled at urban emotional stories, long separations followed by reunions, and relationships that are broken and then restored. Her stories tend to revolve around the testing, misunderstanding, and reconciliation that take place between protagonists in realistic relationships, with delicate emotional pacing and strongly dramatic character dynamics. Her works have built a readership on online reading platforms, and Endless Summer, Counterattack, and The Substitute are often mentioned together by readers as the main entry points for understanding her writing.