[Marriage first, love later + secret crush comes true + slow-burn romance]
Radiant, flirtatious beauty + powerful man of restraint and propriety
Everyone in Beijing's elite circle knows that the Pei family's ascetic, Pei Yanqing, is indifferent to desire. He has been married to Shen Qingtang, a renowned Yue Opera star, for a year, and they treat each other like ice.
Everyone's betting on when that ice will melt.
To save Tinglan Pavilion from demolition, Shen Qingtang decides to break the ice herself.
That night, wearing a plain qipao with a slit reaching her thigh, she winds herself around the man's waist and coaxes him in a soft voice: "Master Pei, will you approve the permit for me? I'll do anything you ask."
Pei Yan is stirred, dark flames surging in his eyes. He pins her beneath him, and just as he is about to plunge in, he grits his teeth, stops, and sends her away.
Shen Qingtang tosses her hair and mocks him silently: So he really can't do it. She turns around and buys a ticket to a male muscleman's strip show. The moment she lays a hand on one man's abs, she's caught red-handed.
Faced with the man's murderous glare and the permit that's still being held up, Shen Qingtang pulls out every trick she has, pouting and sweet-talking until the aloof ascetic is taking cold showers every day. But as soon as the renovation permit is approved, she coolly walks away and heads to a male-model bar to pop champagne, whistling at the models and not sparing Pei Yan a glance.
Later, the aloof aristocrat goes completely mad and corners her backstage, showering her with scorching kisses. His voice is unbearably hoarse: "I held back for a whole year because I was afraid to touch you, and you go running to someone else the moment you get what you want? Fine. Tonight, you'll find out for yourself if I can do it."
Later, rumors spread through Beijing's elite circles that Master Pei has lost his mind over an actress.
Not only does he personally show up to support her and watch her astonish the world with Yue Opera, he also holds her tight with red-rimmed eyes and begs, "Tangtang, stop looking at them. Look at me."
