[Two equally powerful leads + no female-lead-stronger-than-male-lead trope + younger man becomes older man + 1v1 + career-focused heroine + love-brained hero + a little political scheming]
[Shangguan Lian × Li Xuanjin (Helian Jin)]
Shangguan Lian is selected by the System to take over the body of Shangguan Lian, the General's legitimate daughter, for three years and protect the entire General's household.
She has no intention of meddling in other people's affairs. She just wants to get paid and leave. But at a palace banquet, she saves a young hostage prince covered in wounds. She takes him home, thinking she's just adopted a poor little puppy. Little does she know that the more she cares for him, the clingier he gets.
Before the three-year term is up, she completes her mission ahead of schedule and leaves. When she opens her eyes, she's back at school and can get on with her own life.
Two months later, the System comes to her again, offering a higher fee to investigate the center of a rift between worlds.
Little does she know that five years have passed in the book by the time she returns. In those five years, he has made his way back to the capital and become a highly sought-after figure.
Many noblewomen in the capital have secretly fallen for him, while the young masters put on a polite front and seethe with jealousy behind his back.
But when he sees her, he still can't help asking the people around him over and over for reassurance.
“Do I... still look okay?”
“Do I look pale? Have I lost weight?”
Later, he realizes he's becoming more and more unlike himself.
“Big Sister... you said nineteen words to someone else yesterday and only four to me... I don't want to live anymore.”
He loves her obsessively, anxiously, and with constant fear of losing her.
But he has never wanted to keep her prisoner.
[Reader's Guide]
Heroine: Clearheaded and formidable, a dream for sapiosexuals, career-focused, emotionally steady, and a flirt without realizing it.
Hero: Anxiously attached, devoted, beautiful yet tragic, a humble puppy, love-brained, unhinged to others but clingy with her.
The author is firmly on the heroine's side. Fans of the hero, please don't read.
A semi-fictional historical romance.
It's so beautiful and pretty. I really like the heroine. She's so charming.