Rose and Wormwood [Rekindled Romance]

Reunion at the start | Two men fight over her | The ex gets his comeuppance | Fantasy elements

[A romantic, thorny white rose of a beauty x a cursed, obsessive would-be kingpin]

Meng Yanxiu comes from an old-money family. Cold and aloof, he keeps everyone at arm's length.

Only after he has taken full control of the company does he meet Wu Jianwei for the first time.

The secretary rumored to be involved with him.

In the morning, after meeting Wu Jianwei, Meng Yanxiu's verdict is: "A pretty ornament."

That evening, Wu Jianwei scrapes her ankle raw, and Meng Yanxiu kneels beside her, softening his voice. "Take off your shoe. I'll carry you."

[Wu Jianwei's perspective]

Wu Jianwei has always loved beautiful things, such as beautiful dogs and beautiful people...

The first time she sees Meng Yanxiu, she thinks, "Maybe this awful job isn't so bad after all."

After spending a day with him, she hesitates. "Why does this job feel a little dangerous?"

Not long afterward, in a secluded bedroom in the Meng family mansion.

Meng Yanxiu lowers his head until he's almost touching the corner of her lips. "A-Wu, once we're off work, you can't call me Mr. Meng anymore."

He's determined to make the rumors come true.

Too bad love that burns as hot as a fever and moves this fast usually ends badly...

They meet again three years later.

Wu Jianwei accidentally wanders into a wedding, only to discover that the groom is Meng Yanxiu.

Before she can make her escape, she's dragged into the bridal dressing room.

Meng Yanxiu covers her in a series of burning kisses. "Back then, you left with another man without saying a word. Was he your lover, or did you treat me like one?"

In no time, his scent clings to Wu Jianwei.

The scent of ebony rose mingles with bitter wormwood and vetiver, dangerous and intoxicating.

Wu Jianwei raises her hand and slaps him. "Get lost. You're supposed to be getting married."

Dressed in an elegant black suit, Meng Yanxiu speaks in a low, husky voice. "I hate you, and you hate me. We're perfect for each other."

[Short scene: Taking her home]

Wu Jianwei looks up at him. "You can't use me again. We're over."

Meng Yanxiu's fingertip glides over the corner of her mouth. "Then why are you kissing me now?"

Wu Jianwei pushes open the car door. "I felt like kissing you. What's wrong with that?"

Amusement glimmers in Meng Yanxiu's eyes. "Fine. If you feel like sleeping with me, do that too. Either way, I'll keep entangling myself with you."

Under his endless pursuit,

Wu Jianwei gradually pieces together the whole of him, and realizes that he seems to be hiding a heart that's far too hot to handle.

Love is a game of wits, with no winner or loser.

Only those who fall know whether it tastes sweet or bitter.

[Contains fantastical, supernatural elements: her tears are the medicine that heals him]

Reader's Guide:

1. First sexual partners, one-on-one romance, happy ending. Set in an alternate world.

2. They reunite at a wedding in the opening. Eighty percent of the story is about their reunion, twenty percent is flashbacks.

3. Chapters 5-16 are told in reverse chronological flashbacks, set in 2009.

4. The leads come from different social classes. They both talk too much, have sharp tongues, and love to argue.

5. Before the misunderstanding is cleared up, the hero also spends the whole time pursuing the heroine and getting his comeuppance. He's obsessive, deeply devoted, and has never been with anyone else. He's three years older than her.

Theme: Become yourself first, and the future will reveal its own answers