The Bride's Maid

*A dazed girl x a stern, abstinent patriarch / a sharp-tongued, gloomy sickly young master

The second year after their marriage was meant to bring good fortune, but the ailing young master still hadn't improved.

The old madam summoned Qiao Jian and told her, "We didn't buy you to sit around and eat for free. If you can't bring him good fortune, then at least leave behind a child so the family won't die out. Otherwise, we'll take back your indenture contract, and your whole family will pay with their lives."

Qiao Jian thought blankly: The young master is gloomy and sharp-tongued, and can barely get out of bed. How is she supposed to have a child with him?

In her confusion, she ran into the head of the Cheng family, who had come from the capital.

He had merely caught her before she fell. His grip was strong and steady, his waist narrow and solid as he bent down, the veins on his arms clearly visible beneath his sleeves.

People said he was of noble status and senior rank, held great power, and was a man of few words who got things done.

Held up in his arms, Qiao Jian bumped into his slightly firm chest and understood.

*

A heaven-blessed prodigy like Cheng Qi had once driven back the barbarians in a single battle, riding triumphantly through Chang'an. Later, another battle brought him crashing from the heights, leaving him a cripple who couldn't move.

Every day he survived felt like humiliation, and he had nothing but contempt for the shabby girl sent to bring him good fortune.

He used to be worthy of a commandery princess or a young lady of noble birth. Now he could only be matched with a maidservant. Disgusting, disgusting!

Since she insisted on staying with him, he would simply consider her one more companion to accompany him to the Yellow Springs. They would die together sooner or later. She could only die with him!

Until the day that shabby girl hesitantly climbed into his bed.

Where had she learned such seductive sweet talk? Cheng Qi flushed red and angrily pushed her away, but in secret, a small hope had taken root in his heart.

It was also only then, when he found a sketchbook filled with check marks in Qiao Jian's cabinet and, with trembling hands, saw what was inside, that he realized the times they had slept together lately didn't count as sleeping together at all. They had only shared a blanket.

Then whose child was she carrying when she said she was pregnant?

Who had she tried all those things with, the ones she'd checked off in that sketchbook?

*No consummated marriage. Blurb dated September 18, 2025

Theme: Face your true feelings