Rules of Decorum

[I'll write this next! Updates expected to begin in late September! Saving up bookmarks for now~]

Insecure, clear-eyed small-town exam ace x aloof elite at the top of the social ladder

Secret lovers / bittersweet romance / the one in power finally bows his head

["If I admit that I love you, then I have to admit that all my so-called nonchalance and all my claims that I wouldn't cling to you for these past three years were lies."]

When Wen Yuzheng suggested that she and Chi Jinze become secret lovers, his hand, interlaced with hers, paused for a moment. Then he lowered his head and continued to kiss her.

She was leaning against his bare chest, her hair mussed around her temples. Her fingers pinched at him absently, but her words sounded carefree:

"Chi Jinze, you don't have to take responsibility for me, and you wouldn't ask me to take responsibility for you either, right?"

"If you're okay with it, let's just have some fun. Once either of us has someone to marry, we'll go our separate ways without clinging to each other."

Uncomfortably, she avoided his increasingly icy gaze. At last, she heard him laugh coldly.

"Fine."

"Neither of us will cling to the other."

Later, she thought back to that night countless times.

That day, she'd gone out with an umbrella to pick up Chi Jinze, who was drunk.

Perhaps the night breeze was too gentle. As he looked at her, his eyes seemed to ripple like spring water.

Her heart pounded like a drum.

But she knew he belonged to a world she couldn't reach, even on tiptoe.

So she told herself: Wen Yuzheng, you're only having fun with him, too.

That way, if you lose, at least you won't lose face, right?

Ever since she was little, she'd known not to be too greedy.

She'd already enjoyed three years of his company. She couldn't go on wishing for more.

After all, someone who didn't even dare to be honest with herself didn't deserve to be someone's unwavering choice.

In their third year together, she unexpectedly became pregnant with his child.

Wen Yuzheng pushed the ultrasound report toward him, her expression composed and dignified, but the palm she hid under the table was slick with cold sweat.

"Mr. Chi, don't worry. I'll take care of the pregnancy. I won't cause you any trouble."

He clenched his fists.

After a long moment, he spoke with extraordinary calm.

"All right. I respect your decision."

*This blurb is from the heroine's perspective only and doesn't tell the whole story.

Theme: Love makes the proud bow their heads