A Kiss Under the Summer Sky

Sang Sui is a freshman at Yunjing University, the daughter of Yun Man, who raised her alone after her father passed away. To repay a favor from the wealthy Sheng family, Sang Sui moved to Yun Capital and enrolled in the same university as Sheng Yize, the heir to the Sheng Corporation. Sheng Yize is the son of Yun Man’s best friend, Aunt Lin, though the two are not blood-related. Their families are close, and Sang Sui has harbored feelings for him since childhood, addressing him as "brother." However, Sheng Yize maintains a cold and distant demeanor toward her, insisting they remain strangers and explicitly telling her not to call him brother in public.

The story begins on the night of a birthday party hosted by Zou Jin, a wealthy playboy and Sheng Yize’s friend. Sang Sui, working part-time as a waitress, accidentally spills a bottle of Romanée-Conti wine worth two hundred thousand yuan. Zou Jin pressures her to drink as compensation, forcing her into a drinking game where she quickly becomes intoxicated. Sheng Yize watches from a distance, indifferent to her plight. When Sang Sui, drunk and distressed, clings to Sheng Yize’s leg and calls him "brother," he publicly claims her as his sister to protect her from further harassment. He then takes her away from the party, despite her protests that she can return to school on her own.

Sheng Yize drives Sang Sui to his off-campus apartment in Tianfu Community because the university dorms have already closed for the night. He is cold and dismissive, instructing her to stay quiet and clean up the bathroom after she vomits from the alcohol. Despite his harsh words, he buys her hangover medicine and toiletries. The next morning, Zhou Xizi, Sheng Yize’s girlfriend, arrives at the apartment. Sang Sui overhears Sheng Yize ending their relationship, revealing that their romance was a transactional arrangement to help Zhou Xizi’s father’s company. Zhou Xizi leaves in tears, and Sang Sui witnesses the aftermath, realizing Sheng Yize has never truly loved anyone.

Later, Sheng Yize takes Sang Sui to breakfast at an expensive hotel, where he reveals he knows she is not his blood relative. He clarifies their relationship to his friends, causing Sang Sui distress as she interprets his coldness as hatred. She confides in her roommate, Leng Siran, and classmate Chen Yi, who suggests that Sheng Yize may be hiding his true feelings. Meanwhile, a new student named Xie Jingyu begins showing interest in Sang Sui, claiming he wants to join the student council under Sheng Yize’s vice presidency. However, Sheng Yize confronts Xie Jingyu, suspecting his motives are not purely academic and warning him about the social rules of their circle.

As the story progresses, the tension between Sang Sui and Sheng Yize remains unresolved. She continues to try to bridge the gap between them, offering gifts like Autumn Moon Pears from her grandmother, which he initially refuses. Sheng Yize’s behavior is contradictory; he acts dismissively in public but shows subtle signs of care, such as ensuring she is fed and protected from unwanted attention. The narrative explores the complex dynamics of their non-blood sibling relationship, the social pressures of their elite circle, and Sang Sui’s unrequited affection against Sheng Yize’s guarded exterior.

Key turning points include Sheng Yize’s public claim of Sang Sui as his sister, which saves her from humiliation but deepens her emotional confusion. His breakup with Zhou Xizi reveals his cynical view of relationships, contrasting with Sang Sui’s sincere feelings. The introduction of Xie Jingyu adds a romantic rival, though Sheng Yize’s intervention suggests possessiveness he refuses to acknowledge. The story ends with Sang Sui still navigating her feelings for Sheng Yize, who remains an enigmatic figure, balancing between indifference and unspoken protectiveness.