[Older Woman-Younger Man Romance / Mature Female Lead / Marriage Before Love / Slow Burn]
Jian Yu once believed that hard work was the only path to happiness in life.
Getting into a prestigious university, earning promotions and raises, and winning her parents' praise all seemed to prove it.
Then she hit rock bottom, and switched to power-saving mode. She made no new friends, kept away from her family, and spent all her energy just barely getting by.
After her thirtieth birthday, fate took a sharp turn.
For the sake of her friend's future, she entered into a marriage deal with a man she'd known for less than two months.
He was five years younger than her. With that age gap between them, there was no need even to promise they wouldn't develop feelings.
_
Jiang Xian was born into wealth, but dreamed of becoming a director and had no interest in taking over the family business.
After every attempt to change his mind failed, his family decided to take an indirect approach: he had to marry before pursuing his career, and wed the Ji family's only daughter.
Accepting his fate wasn't his style, so Jiang Xian turned around and married the Ji family's unacknowledged illegitimate daughter instead.
Anyone could see this was just a way to placate his family, not some fairy tale about a prince and Cinderella.
Jiang Xian thought so too.
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A year later, their marriage was nearing its end. Jian Yu was waiting to take the money and leave.
At eleven at night, just as she was about to drift off, her phone suddenly rang nonstop.
On the other end, Jiang Xian's voice was slurred and clingy, almost like he was asking for affection. "Xiao Yu, why didn't you come pick me up?"
