Scheming Her Way to the Top [Marriage Before Love]

【Marriage first, love later / Eight-year age gap / The old flame reignites / A guiding lover / Living-under-one-roof romance】 【Head of a top corporation x news presenter】 Next novel: Fog [Possessive Love], a powerful Beijing-circle big shot x a female university student 1/ Meng Yannan, the head of the Meng family, was extremely low-key, but an entertainment interview unexpectedly made him a sensation. In the interview, the cool, understated background of the Meng Group CEO’s office made him look even more refined and distinguished. He wore a handmade suit, its perfectly tailored sleeve revealing an expensive watch. The metal gleamed with a restrained, cool luster. What caught everyone’s eye most, however, was his left hand resting on the documents. A simple platinum wedding band encircled his ring finger, quietly proclaiming a tender attachment that had nothing to do with the cold office as he turned the pages. When the reporter asked questions, he would sometimes unconsciously brush his thumb over the ring. A barely perceptible softness would then pass over his stern features. Half the internet marveled at his stunning looks; the other half lamented that such a wonderful man was already someone else’s husband. They wondered which lucky woman had married him. A friend who saw the interview remarked, “President Meng got married at such a young age. But it seems like everyone at the Meng Group only just found out.” Ni Xia replied blandly, “I don’t know. Maybe it was a secret marriage.” Her friend nodded. “Maybe. I’m so jealous of President Meng’s wife, though. He must be amazing in bed.” Ni Xia nearly choked on her water. “How would you know?” Her friend said, “President Meng has such a high nose bridge. Haven’t you heard? Men with high nose bridges are good at it.” Ni Xia thought of a certain scene, and her face turned red. That night, after returning to the villa, Ni Xia paid special attention to Meng Yannan’s nose bridge as they fulfilled their marital duties. Meng Yannan caught her getting distracted. He moved more vigorously. “If Mrs. Meng can still lose focus, then I must not be trying hard enough.” 2/ Ni Xia and Meng Xubai had been childhood friends. She had grown up in the Meng household, and their families had even jokingly arranged a betrothal for them. Though it had only been said in jest, Ni Xia had taken it seriously. On the day Meng Xubai got married, all she could do was wish him happiness from afar. Later, Ni Xia entered a marriage of convenience with Meng Yannan, Meng Xubai’s older brother. She had thought she’d hidden her old feelings perfectly, until one day Meng Yannan found the love letters she had written to herself for fun. Meng Yannan was the head of the Meng Group. The Meng family had three brothers, and Meng Yannan was the only one born to the principal wife. He held all the power. The three brothers were close in age and had reached the time to discuss marriage. The elders were getting anxious, but Meng Yannan was a workaholic who kept women at a distance. The old master issued an order: whoever married first would get a share of his stock. The second brother, Meng Xubai, three years younger, married the daughter of a family of equal standing a few months later. Meng Yannan, however, remained unmoved. The old master grew furious and told Meng Yannan that if he didn’t get married within three months, he would divide the company shares between his two younger brothers. Meng Yannan raised his eyes and looked at the only woman in the household, Ni Xia. “Isn’t there someone right here?” The old master scolded him for being heartless. How could he marry the young woman he’d watched grow up? Meng Yannan smiled. “Didn’t you say our families had arranged a betrothal? Why shouldn’t I be allowed?” At Meng Yannan’s insistence, he and Ni Xia got married. But Ni Xia knew there was no love between them. On their wedding night, she planned to sleep in another room. Meng Yannan stopped her. “I don’t want a platonic marriage. I expect Mrs. Meng to fulfill her marital duties.” Ni Xia agreed. Men were men. Whoever they slept with, it was all the same once the lights were off. Until Meng Yannan found the love letters she had once written to Meng Xubai. The man looked expressionless, even reading the letter aloud in an even voice. Ni Xia, mortified, tried to snatch it back, only to find herself pinned in his arms. His voice suddenly turned dangerous. “So, Mrs. Meng, who have you been thinking of all these nights?” After that night, Meng Yannan switched on every light in the house, again and again making the young woman beneath him look clearly at who he was and call his name. 3/ Once, while Ni Xia was livestreaming an interview with a popular actress, the woman splashed red wine all over her. The actress was currently the biggest star under the Meng Group, and everyone thought Ni Xia was in trouble. To their surprise, Ni Xia picked up the bottle and poured wine right back over her. The actress put on a pitiful, delicate act. “Ni Xia, what makes you think you can pour wine on me?” A cold male voice came from behind them. “Why shouldn’t she?” The man strode over, took off his suit jacket, and draped it over Ni Xia. He put an arm around her and turned her away from the cameras, then stared coldly at the actress. “You asked what gives her the right. It’s because she’s my wife.” The whole internet erupted. Not long afterward, the Meng Group issued a statement. 【You’re the only one for me, @Wan Du News Ni Xia】 The post included a photo of their two marriage certificates. 4/ When Meng Yannan was young, there were two people he liked very much. One loved to paint, but because of his family, he eventually gave her up. The other was Ni Xia. No matter how many years passed, Meng Yannan would always remember the day his father confined him at home and the girl risked coming to bring him food. At the time, the girl had only recently come to live under someone else’s roof. She was especially sensitive, yet she still defied his father’s orders for him. Back then, Meng Yannan had no other thoughts. He only wanted to protect her. Then he learned that she liked someone else. If Ni Xia could fall for someone else, why couldn’t that someone be him? Years later, just as spring was about to arrive in all its splendor, his love finally received an answer. 【Reader’s Guide】 1. One-on-one, both leads have no prior sexual experience. The male lead has no bad habits: he doesn’t drink or smoke, has no ambiguous relationships, is a model of male virtue, and is deeply in love with the heroine. 2. This is not a story about an exceptionally powerful heroine, nor is she a weak, naive flower. She has her own character-growth arc. 3. The hero has a secret crush. With this setup, there will inevitably be some misunderstandings from his point of view, but both leads communicate, so they’re resolved quickly. It’s not angsty at all. 4. There are lots of fictional details. The setting is entirely imaginary, so please don’t treat it as historically accurate or identify with it. Theme: Love is in the hands of fate