Younger-man-and-older-woman romance: the seemingly innocent man is secretly calculating and rises to the top + she marries first and falls in love later, while his secret crush comes true + two wealthy families find salvation in each other + university professor and violinist + courteous, domineering CEO and forthright heiress + insecure, affection-starved man with a strong service instinct and possessive streak, and radiant, bold, perceptive woman with a sensitive heart + no melodramatic misunderstandings
How couples can have double standards:
When they’re just using each other:
The landlady looks at Jiang Tingran, seated across from Lu Yanshu, and asks, “And who might this be...?”
Jiang Tingran glances at Lu Yanshu and answers before he can: “A friend. A good friend.”
She presses her lips together and winks at Lu Yanshu.
The landlady hears this and says, “Oh, a friend! Well, if you’re just friends, then I don’t have to worry.”
She opens her phone gallery and shows Lu Yanshu pictures of her niece one by one, telling him about her.
Throughout it all, Lu Yanshu just looks without saying a word, occasionally pursing his lips.
Watching him, Jiang Tingran can’t help laughing.
When they’re done, the landlady asks, “What do you think? Is she your type?”
Lu Yanshu still shows no reaction.
Suddenly, he looks up and gestures toward Jiang Tingran across from him. “Show her your picture.”
Jiang Tingran is startled. She almost chokes on her soup, eyes wide. “Me? You mean me? What are you talking about?”
When they’re mutually in love:
When he’s drunk, Lu Yanshu holds her up and talks nonstop. Jiang Tingran can only see his lips, faintly flushed.
As if compelled by some unseen force, she raises a hand and lightly brushes his lips with her index finger.
Lu Yanshu’s heart tightens, and his whole body goes rigid.
Jiang Tingran speaks slowly: “Has anyone... kissed you here before?”
She stares at his lips, her gaze direct.
Lu Yanshu’s throat bobs. “No.”
“Then...” Jiang Tingran lifts her eyes and meets his gaze. “Do you want to kiss me?”
For a moment, Lu Yanshu’s mind goes blank. His gaze shifts involuntarily from Jiang Tingran’s eyes to her lips.
Jiang Tingran lowers her eyes again, her fingertips gently stroking his lips. “Lu Yanshu, are you... going to turn me down?”
The plot is easy to understand, and you can tell immediately that the male protagonist likes the female protagonist. Like the previous novels, they all have a secret love from a long time ago.