Zhen'er, Don't Cry

Ten years ago, she was seventeen, and he was seven.

He was an orphan, and so was she. She adopted him.

Though poor, she gave him the only steamed buns and clothes she had, and a place to shelter from the wind and rain.

She held his little hand, and the two of them depended on each other.

Ten years later, she was twenty-seven, and he was seventeen.

Hard labor had worn away her youthful beauty, while he was in the prime of his youth.

She was burdened by poverty, while he had passed the palace examinations and earned the title of tanhualang.

That night, she gave up a fortune and let go of his hand.

"I'm old now. You should get married and live your own life."

"I'll come watch the wedding."

He watched her figure gradually disappear from view.

Three years later, he married. His bride was the princess of the reigning dynasty.

She sat in the audience, smiling with relief.

Three days later, she coughed up blood and died.

Before she died, she held his and his bride's hands, a single tear slipping from the corner of her eye.

Her life had never been worth living.

Zhen'er was dead. That night, he stood in the rain until dawn.

Reborn, he returned to his youth.

Inside the thatched hut, she wore a coarse apron and gently offered him a steamed bun.

"Little brother, why are you crying?"

His eyes reddened. He quickly wiped away his tears, and his expression soon turned cold.

In this life, I want you by my side.

Even if I have to use the most extreme methods.

* A groveling pursuit, coercive possession, younger man, age gap

* Still an extremely intense coercive possession story, with an antagonist-type male lead

Blurb dated April 17, 2026

Theme: Work hard