First We Fall in Love, Then We Break Up, Then We Marry for Convenience

[Foolish Beauty, Down-on-Her-Luck Heiress & Rebellious, Unruly Prodigy]

1.

While attending her cousin's birthday party, Qiao Jinyue accidentally overhears Old Master Xu sternly warning her aunt:

“We've already decided who my grandson will marry. Put those little schemes of yours away! Stop trying to get close to my grandson, and don't let me see your niece coming around the Xu family again!”

Qiao Jinyue walks away quietly, expressionless, pretending she heard nothing, but someone suddenly wraps an arm around her waist at the corner.

Hidden in the darkness, he brings his lips almost to her ear. His words carry a hint of displeasure:

“Avoiding me?”

Qiao Jinyue tries to push him away, but he only holds her tighter, pinning her against the wall and leaning in to kiss her with commanding force.

She turns her head and dodges his kiss, frowning slightly. “Xu Wuchi, I think we have to break up.”

Her words make him laugh in anger. He gives her waist a suggestive, intimate pinch, but his voice is ice-cold:

“You confessed to me last night, and now you're breaking up with me? Are you playing me?”

2.

On the night of the Xu family's eldest son's birthday banquet, the most prominent families of Xun City gather together. Old Master Xu says he has an important decision to announce in public.

Qiao Jinyue's aunt brings her along, and, under everyone's watchful eyes, she ends up seated at the head table, right next to Xu Wuchi.

The two exchange no words or glances, and everyone assumes they have nothing to do with each other.

But who knows that just ten minutes ago, they were hiding in a room, kissing passionately?

3.

One Christmas Eve, while the two are giving each other the cold shoulder,

Xu Wuchi follows her to a foreign country, only to see Qiao Jinyue standing on the street with another man.

The other man looks at her with love in his eyes, ruffles her hair, and warms her cold hands. She even rises onto her tiptoes, smiling as she puts a scarf she knitted herself around his neck.

“Did I agree to break up with you? How could you cheat on me so soon? What's so good about that old man?” He goes from his aloof, arrogant self to desperately demanding an answer from her, then ends up like an abandoned dog, wagging his tail and begging her, on the verge of collapse. “Keep using me, keep lying to me... Just please, don't leave me...”

Note:

1. A short, sweet practice novel, 140,000 characters in total;

2. Sweet romance → a little angst → sweet romance. First the male lead pursues the female lead, then the female lead pursues the male lead;

3. Both are each other's first and only. Both are attracted to looks. Love at first sight, direct and slow-burning × love at first sight, carefully planned for a long time;

4. Mutual attraction and an intense push-and-pull, a modern alternate-universe wealthy-family setting, and a slightly melodramatic mutual groveling chase...

Theme: I love you, and every step matters