Roses Turn to Ashes, But Love Remains Unreturned

Shen Zhiyi loved Lu Chengyuan for fifteen whole years.

In the eyes of everyone around them, they were childhood sweethearts made for each other. She was the dazzling, fiery red rose at his side, but she could never compete with the white moonlight in his heart, whose glow had never faded.

When that first love moved abroad, a marriage contract arranged by their families pushed him toward her, his heart empty and alone.

She knew she was a substitute, yet still fought her way through every obstacle to pursue him, throwing all her fearless devotion into loving him.

She stayed by his side through the dark nights when no one else cared, sheltered him from every storm, and slowly warmed his cold heart.

Just as she thought she had finally weathered the storm and saw warmth in his eyes at last, his first love returned.

Old flames reunited, trust crumbled, and misunderstandings piled up.

His hesitation, favoritism, and cruelty ground her deep affection to dust.

The red rose that had bloomed so passionately for him was wounded and bleeding at the height of its beauty, and finally turned away without looking back.

Only after she vanished completely did Lu Chengyuan awaken as if gone mad.

He searched every corner of the city, setting aside all his pride and beginning a long, grueling quest to win his wife back, but he could never find the girl whose eyes had once held nothing but him.

She had already found a new life beside the gentle second male lead, living in peace with children gathered around her knees.

All he could do was stand where he was and watch her happiness, spending the rest of his life atoning for a love that came too late and would never be forgiven.

The greatest act of love is letting go. When love runs its course, there is no turning back.