Han Zhao works himself to the bone, only to collapse at the scene just as he receives the Best Actor award.
When he wakes up again, he is tied up and tossed into a coffin. No matter how loudly he calls out, there is no answer. Thumbtacks have been nailed all around the coffin, and no amount of pushing will open it.
A pleasant voice calls into his ear, “You’re the wife I’m marrying? How come you’re a man?”
Hearing the implication in those words, Han Zhao curses, “What’s it to you? How would I know?”
Before he can finish speaking, a floral fragrance overwhelms his mind, and he falls unconscious.
When he opens his eyes, he finds himself surrounded by red curtains. A man stands before him, seemingly issuing a warning: “I’m your husband.”
The drug has not worn off, and Han Zhao cannot speak as the man’s hands roam over his body.
At daybreak, his body aches. Remembering everything from the night before, he scrambles to get up, but falls to the floor before he can steady himself. The man on the bed looks down at him with a wicked smile.
“Don’t think about running away. You belong to me.”
Reader advisory:
The story is set against the backdrop of a ghost marriage and has elements of Chinese-style horror. Both leads are inexperienced.
P.S. When I was first writing and couldn’t figure out the characters’ personalities, I happened to have a friend like this. They’re very kind, and I thought they should be a couple who both fall for each other, so I quietly used them as a reference. I’ll probably write their story in my next book.
