A Belated Heartbeat

十桑Jan 2022

3.0

Word count: 158K words
Chapters: 45

Summary

After being dumped by her department heartthrob boyfriend of ten days on May 20th for “eating too much,” Zhu Chichi scanned a code and rented herself a “one-yuan boyfriend.” Thinking they would never meet again, she opened her appetite and poured out her woes—only to discover he was none other than Lin Jingzhi, the aloof top student from her school.

When they ran into each other in the cafeteria, the top student pulled out his meal card and handed it to her: “Swipe away, eat your fill.”

When they met on the back street, he not only bought milk tea for all her roommates but gave her two cups: “Table-sharing fee.”

When her ex sniped at her with passive-aggressive jabs, mocking that her appetite would eat the top student out of house and home, he took her hand, said every swipe went on her card, and shot back: “Did you dump her because you regret not getting to freeload off her?”

Zhu Chichi: What do you do when the aloof top student falls for you at first sight and launches a wild pursuit? Obviously, fall in love!

So she confessed first—only to find all the sparks were her own wishful thinking. He has anorexia, and to him she was merely a “meal buddy to make food taste better”...

Fine. If he doesn’t like her, he doesn’t like her. Heartbroken Zhu Chichi transforms into aggressive Zhu Chichi, throws herself into her career, and becomes a food blogger. But this person who keeps sending her gifts... seems a little familiar?

Editor's review

This is a brisk, joke-packed campus romance. The story opens with an absurd breakup: on May 20th, Zhu Chichi is dumped by her boyfriend of ten days for “eating too much,” then rents a “one-yuan boyfriend” by scanning a code to vent—and he turns out to be Lin Jingzhi, the aloof top student at her school. What follows—meal-card swipes in the cafeteria, milk tea on the back street, and a comeback in front of her ex—turns “eating” into the bond between the two and brings the heroine’s personality into sharp relief. The novel’s highlight is the contrast: what looks like the male lead’s passionate love-at-first-sight pursuit actually has another layer—he suffers from anorexia, and to him the heroine is more of a “meal buddy who makes food go down easier.” This twist pushes the sweet-romance story onto a self-growth track; after her confession flops, the heroine pivots to becoming a food blogger and building a career, shifting the rhythm from sweet to satisfying, so it never drags. Suited to readers looking for light, easy reading and fans of campus sweet romance plus a heroine’s comeback arc—great for reading in chunks on the commute or before bed.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Young readers who like campus sweet romance and want light, funny love stories
Readers drawn to a heroine who builds a career and grows after setbacks
Readers looking for casual reading in fragments on the commute or before bed
Fiction readers interested in combining food elements with romance

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer serious literature or realist fiction and are immune to sweet-romance tropes
People sensitive to health topics like anorexia who want them handled seriously
Readers who dislike web-romance style and exaggerated plot devices

Reading tips

Treat it as light entertainment and read it chapter by chapter—no need to finish in one sitting; a few chapters on the commute or before bed works well.
When reading the male lead’s pursuit scenes, watch the subtle foreshadowing—the later twist will land more naturally.
Pay attention to the heroine’s transformation from being dumped to becoming a food blogger; this growth arc is what sets the book apart from ordinary sweet romance.
If the anorexia setup makes you uncomfortable, treat it as a fictional plot device rather than a realistic medical portrayal.

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FAQ

Is the ending comedic or angsty?

The overall tone is light, sweet, and satisfying. Although there is a turn where the heroine’s confession fails and she learns she is just a “meal buddy,” the story then shifts to her seriously building a career as a food blogger. The overall trajectory is positive, suited to readers who want unheavy romance.

Is the male lead’s anorexia setup important?

It is the key twist of the whole book. It explains the male lead’s true motive for approaching the heroine and gives the earlier love-at-first-sight pursuit another meaning, pushing the heroine from romantic fantasy toward self-growth. Read it as a plot device, not a medical depiction.

Is it suitable for someone who has barely read romance?

Fairly suitable. The storyline is clear, the length is light, and the jokes are dense, so readers unfamiliar with romance tropes can get into it smoothly. If you usually read only serious literature, you may find the devices exaggerated—try the first few chapters before deciding.

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About the author

十桑 Author

Shi Sang is an author about whom limited public information is currently available. It is known that Shi Sang's writing centers on youth literature, with Chi Chi Xin Dong (roughly, A Late-Blooming Heartbeat) as a representative work. This is the only work by Shi Sang included in the collection, which suggests that the author's writing focus lies in narratives of youth. Youth literature often explores the emotional ups and downs of growing up, subtle shifts in relationships, and moments of heartache in one's younger years. The title Chi Chi Xin Dong also hints at a delicate and gentle emotional style. Because basic details such as Shi Sang's nationality, dates of birth and death, and English name remain unclear, and because no works other than Chi Chi Xin Dong are available for reference, it is difficult to sketch a complete picture of the author's creative trajectory and style. Readers who wish to learn about this author may begin with Chi Chi Xin Dong, and further public information may offer more clues about Shi Sang in the future.