Xiao Yan [Marriage Before Love]

Showy, devoted-to-his-wife peacock of a man x resilient, reserved, wooden girl | bking megastar x cold-faced, cute editor | He falls first | Secretly married life with a megastar

(Working on the manuscript, sorry for postponing the launch. There are lots of commissioned character designs. Friends, please enjoy this preview ↓) My next story will be "Wish Messenger." The blurb is at the bottom. Please add it to your favorites 🥳

Blurb:

On the screen, a megastar adored by millions sings "Little Swallow," asking whether the girl who flew away heard him. Offscreen, Xu Yanhuai stares blankly.

No one knows she used to be called Little Swallow.

I sing for you in front of the whole world. Can you hear me?

01.

If someone asked Xu Yanhuai what the most awkward thing about getting married on a whim was, she'd answer: coming home after working overtime, forgetting she had a husband, and nearly dragging him to the police station as a burglar.

During the first month of their marriage, Xu Yanhuai's biggest worry, because she had face blindness, was that she couldn't remember what her husband looked like.

Her colleague, a young woman who had only just graduated from university, was blunt and quick-spoken. She complained indignantly, "You should blame your husband for traveling so often. I told you, marrying on a whim makes it easy to end up with a bad man."

Xu Yanhuai noticed what was on her desk and replied with a question of her own: "Do you like Zhou Xi?"

Her colleague waved her phone to show Zhou Xi's follower count. "Of course I like Zhou Xi. Nine out of ten people I know listen to his songs."

Zhou Xi had shot to fame in college with a single. Since then, he had released new music every year and swept up countless music awards. He'd won so many trophies he could barely keep track, and his handsome face was just as famous as his songs.

Her colleague said, "Looks like God forgot to close the window for him, huh?" She casually shared a news story with Xu Yanhuai and laughed. "Zhou Xi secretly married? No way, hahaha!" After all, Zhou Xi was as well known for his blunt personality as he was for his music and good looks.

"But Zhou Xi looks so handsome in this photo. Look."

Xu Yanhuai agreed. "He is pretty handsome."

No less handsome than the photo on their marriage certificate.

02.

A friend asked Zhou Xi what the most frustrating thing about getting married on a whim was.

Zhou Xi: My wife won't make our marriage public.

Friend: That doesn't count. Pick something else.

Zhou Xi: My wife doesn't want to make it public.

Friend: ...Pick something else.

Zhou Xi: My wife won't agree to making it public.

His friend laughed and scolded him. Zhou Xi turned away, smiling lazily. The next thing he thought of was also about his wife.

For example, how she had completely... forgotten him.

Bonus scene:

A few months later, Zhou Xi unexpectedly appeared on a variety show, smiling and looking especially radiant.

The host asked curiously, "You seem especially happy today. Is there any good news you'd like to share with everyone?"

"Nothing major," Zhou Xi said, showing the ring on his left ring finger to the camera. His peach-blossom eyes sparkled as he smiled with pride and delight. "The girl I've had a crush on for ten years became my wife. Today is our first wedding anniversary, that's all."

About Little Swallow

In middle school, everyone was obsessed with filling out friendship books. Three spaces were left in the section asking for first impressions, and the words Xu Yanhuai received most often were: easy to get along with, even-tempered, trustworthy. Some people also wrote that she was unremarkable and like a transparent person.

That was really disrespectful, but when Xu Yanhuai saw it, she just laughed it off. If she had to describe herself, she would choose only three words:

Determined, strong-willed, stubborn.

At seventeen, Xu Yanhuai made a wish: to change her name, leave her past behind, and fly somewhere far away and warm.

At twenty-seven, Xu Yanhuai lit the candles and said, "Dear Little Swallow, congratulations on getting your wish."

Congratulations on becoming a wild goose, soaring freely across the sky.

"Mom, swallows are lovely, but I'm going to be a wild goose now."

Reader's guide:

1. Both leads are each other's only ones. No breaking them up, reversing pairings, fantasizing about them with others, or pitting them against other characters. The male lead falls first.

2. There are some school and entertainment-industry scenes, but probably not many. The focus is on the romance between the two leads.

3. Their animal motifs are a house swallow 🐾 and a blue merle Border Collie 🪽

The blurb has been screenshotted.

Next Book

"Wish Messenger"

[Rebellious, bold, and charmingly cheeky x Silent, stubborn, and cold-faced cute | Low-morality bad boy x Order-loving nerd]

The first time they met, Xia Yuli had just been rejected after confessing to her childhood friend. A fierce wind swept across the rooftop, like the turmoil in her heart. Someone who had witnessed the whole thing from the corner said casually, "Stand farther in. I'll help you win him over."

He had a careless air about him and a handsome, intimidating face. He looked half-asleep, and the old scar at the end of his eyebrow stood out. The transfer student had a wild reputation, and everyone was afraid to go near him.

Xia Yuli should have walked away quickly, but somehow she found herself replying, "...Do I have to pay?"

Jiang Dan smiled. "Just stop crying. I want to get some sleep."

The sky grew dim, the wind finally fell quiet, and her eyes shone like fireflies drifting through the night.

The umpteenth time they met, Jiang Dan hooked his little finger around hers and gave it a gentle tug. "Stop liking him. Come like me instead, okay?"

*

In a dream, someone said, "Just call for me, and I'll come to your side."

"Diandian, I'll always be your Wish Messenger."

At the edge of the world, in your eyes.

Reader's guide:

1. Both leads are each other's only ones. No breaking them up, reversing pairings, fantasizing about them with others, or pitting them against other characters.

2. The blurb contains [Unreliable Narration] and [Both Leads Are Each Other's Only Ones]. The heroine's "feelings" for the second male lead have another explanation.

3. A melodramatic, angst-filled coming-of-age story.

4. I'll add more if I think of anything.

The blurb has been screenshotted.

Theme: May you live freely and fearlessly, and may you shine with ease and confidence.