A forbidden relationship with the most popular girl in school is the last thing Chloe Lee expects when she begins bartending. Especially when she doesn't even realize she's gay herself. Desperate for money for her mother's surgery, Singaporean student Chloe Lee secretly serves drinks at a local bar. When RJ Shin--the richest and most popular girl in school--shows up as a customer, they already have something in common. Their fateful encounter sends both their lives out of control. Chloe's money-making plan is soon derailed by RJ's insistent involvement, a growing hostility at work, and an unfortunate entanglement with RJ's family's politics. Worst of all, Chloe is slowly discovering her sexuality as she falls for RJ. Hard. Suddenly, sacrificing everything for money is no longer an easy choice to make. As secrets unveil and feelings surface, Chloe is forced to reevaluate her life goals and decide what she is willing to sacrifice for love--and what she must sacrifice for herself. If she holds on to more than she can take, she might end up losing everything she values. Life is hard, but love is harder. *** CRAZY RICH ASIANS meet HEARTSTOPPER; a contemporary sapphic romance set in my home country, Singapore. *This is a stand-alone prequel to Nobody Like You. 💫WINNER of the 2022 @lgbtq Pride Awards, YA category 💫 FEATURED on the official Wattpad account of @Romance, @FreeTheLGBT, and @TeenFiction Warning: This book contains 18+ scenes. The characters in the book are a little over 18. Word Count: ~65,000-70,000 First published date: 1 November 2021 Completed date: 9 December 2021 Rewrite first published date: 1 June 2022 Rewrite completed date: 29 July 2022 Also posted on Scribblehub, Tapas, and RoyalRoad Cover art by @chomk.art on Instagram

To cover the traces of his depravity, Gu Xiao constricted himself to the role of a jester while being torn between the idealisation of others and reality. Gu Xiao was a slacker in school, constantly truanting and playing around. Unknowingly, when he gets glued to sitting next to Lan Yuning, the school's top student, a linked past that they never knew they shared, gradually came back to haunt them. These students weaved their way through the tangling threads of familial relationships, financial issues, examinations, and identity while enjoying most of their last high school year. [You killed him.] [If you didn't ignore him that time, then he wouldn't have died.] [It's in the past. If you keep thinking about it, it's only going to do you harm.] [Sometimes I wonder... if you would be happier if I was the one who died back then instead.] __ [I like you.] [Why... Why would you like someone like me...?] ___________________________ Warning: mentions of suicide, homophobia, and domestic abuse THIS IS A SLOW BURN so if you want to read something fast and spicy then this book isn't for you :') Cover: @CASZETTES