Marriage first, love later | Cool, fragile beauty | Mature, dependable older man | Happy ending
| Aloof older man gradually falls hard | Love grows after marriage | Instinctive attraction; neither lead is perfect; both are each other’s first
After witnessing her friend’s sudden death, Jiang Ling sank into depression. With nowhere else to turn, she married Xie Yanqing, a man she had met only once.
But on the second day of their marriage, he left for a job overseas, leaving her alone to endure a year of unrelenting darkness.
At first, Xie Yanqing said, “Marriage is just a transaction. I won’t fall in love. It’s all an act.”
After returning home, the proud older man regretted everything. He dropped all his defenses and clung desperately to her:
“I’ll give you anything. Just don’t leave me… please…”
Jiang Ling lowered her eyes, her heart cold.
“Mr. Xie, let’s get divorced. Let’s set each other free.”
Xie Yanqing pleaded desperately:
“Can you really bear to leave me? What will it take for you to stay?”
