A continuation of the bonus story for The Shame of Zhen, focusing on the romance between the heroine, Hu Xiu, and the second male lead, Pei Zhen. In the original story, Pei Zhen, the second son of the Pei family, appears cold and arrogant. In reality, he suffers under the strict discipline and physical abuse of his father, Old Master Pei, and is fragile inside, longing for warmth. Hu Xiu is initially wary of Pei Zhen, but as they spend time together, his tenderness and thoughtfulness gradually move her, and she sees the pain and helplessness hidden beneath his exterior. Pei Zhen forcefully vies for Hu Xiu’s attention. Whenever his father beats him, he seeks her comfort like a wounded beast. The two go from being distant to becoming helplessly dependent on each other. The story introduces a rival in love, Xiao Zhiyu, who tries to get back together with Hu Xiu. When Pei Zhen finds out, he deliberately provokes his father and gets himself beaten, hoping to win Hu Xiu’s pity and care. He begs for her love, insisting that she’s the only one for him. Hu Xiu’s soft heart keeps her by his side, but Pei Zhen grows increasingly brazen, pushing his possessiveness further and further. In the end, amid the chaos of a turbulent age, the two weave a tangled love story. This story is just something the author came up with on a whim, so enjoy it for fun.
