My Courtesan Sister-in-Law Wants to Remarry, and Her Deranged Brother-in-Law Is Losing It

A slow-burn story: “Fake uncle-and-sister-in-law romance + unhinged male lead + raising a child + love that grows with time + happy ending” Female lead: Fang Shu. Her mother was a famous courtesan, and her father was unknown. Raised in a brothel, she grew into an unparalleled beauty. To change her fate, she disguised herself as ugly. Despite suffering mockery and bullying at the brothel, she remained cheerful and optimistic. Song Xu. Orphaned young, he was raised by his hunchbacked older brother, who made a living collecting night soil. Having grown up without affection, Song Xu is cold and suspicious, and trusts no one easily. Song Xing. The male lead's older brother, disabled but determined, and honest and kind. Orphaned as a teenager, he kept his younger brother alive by collecting night soil, but later died of a sudden illness. Main plot: The female lead deliberately disfigures herself and is sold to the second male lead. The male lead is initially suspicious of her in every way, but her diligence and kindness eventually move him, and he accepts her as family. Plot: 1. After the second male lead dies, the female and male leads have no choice but to sell their home and leave their hometown. 2. Once they reach their new home, the female lead starts a business while the male lead studies for the imperial examinations. 3. As they gradually grow up, the male lead realizes he likes her and starts acting like a sweet, obedient little rabbit around her. 4. The male lead goes to the capital to take the imperial examinations. Worried someone might lure the female lead away if she stays home, he tricks her into going with him. 5. After the male lead places first in the top tier of the imperial examination and becomes an official, the female lead wants to go home, but he keeps her in the capital with one excuse after another. 6. When the female lead realizes she has fallen for the male lead, she worries her background might damage his standing. Though she'd never considered marriage before, she starts thinking about marrying someone else. 7. When the male lead learns that the female lead actually wants to marry another man, he instantly stops acting like a sweet little rabbit and turns unhinged, meddling in her life and restricting her in every way...