This Older Man Is Way Too Old

Xiao Juhe is the daughter of a military governor.

To avoid trouble, her father entrusts her to a friend, where she is to stay temporarily.

Her father’s friend, Wei Ji, is young and accomplished. He serves at court as the Grand Councilor, holds the highest position among officials, and is greatly valued by the emperor.

He is upright and proper, and insists on following the rules.

Xiao Juhe’s position in the household is awkward. Because of her father’s situation, the old madam dislikes her and makes her meaning clear, both openly and indirectly: if her grandson protects Xiao Juhe, he’ll be ruined sooner or later.

No one welcomes her except the man she calls Fourth Uncle.

Xiao Juhe does her best to hide her true nature and avoid making trouble. Whenever she sees him in the residence, she makes sure to keep her place and greets him at once: “Fourth Uncle.”

Whenever she’s late in greeting him, she sees him frown slightly and glance at her as if she were a junior who had failed to show proper respect. She is frightened of him, so every day she goes to his study to grind ink, doing her best to keep him company and entertain him. She hopes that if she doesn’t always follow the rules, he’ll pay less attention to her.

Wei Ji is solemn and taciturn. He even tutors her under the pretense of being her teacher, so she often has to memorize lessons. If she can’t finish, she has to keep reciting them on the way back.

Her maid often holds a lamp for her at night while she struggles to memorize her lessons in bed, tears in her eyes. In despair, she curses him for being so rigid and old-fashioned, thinking no one will ever marry him. Life with him would be miserable.

Xiao Juhe sighs, thinking this man is her personal retribution.

Before Xiao Juhe arrived, another young lady was already staying at the residence: Wei Ji’s distant cousin. The old madam likes her very much and insists Wei Ji keep her there, saying he only has to provide her with a place to live.

Filial piety is paramount in this dynasty, so Wei Ji agrees.

Who could have known that his distant cousin has impure intentions and wants to drug her cousin so she can marry into the family? She uses tea sent by the old madam to get him to drink the drugged tea.

The cousin is delighted, thinking Heaven is on her side. She is about to give her beloved cousin the antidote.

But Wei Ji discovers what she has done and tells her to leave. Otherwise, she won’t live to regret it.

The cousin has no choice but to leave to save her own life.

Just then, Xiao Juhe finishes memorizing her overdue lessons and enters the study alone.

Her difficult days are only beginning...

One night won’t be enough to undo the drug’s effects. She’ll have to serve as his antidote whenever he needs it.

After Wei Ji is drugged by his cousin and comes to his senses, he goes to find his mother.

To his surprise, his mother, like his grandmother, is very fond of the distant cousin and even wants him to forgive her and take her as his wife.

For Xiao Juhe’s reputation, Wei Ji doesn’t reveal what happened. Though he spares the cousin’s life because of his mother’s wishes, he has no intention of letting the matter go.

Feeling guilty about what he did, he personally promises her, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. If anything happens to your father, I’ll risk my life for him.”

“I’ll help him. Can you forgive me?”

Xiao Juhe cries in sorrow. Hearing this, she thinks he still refuses to deal with his cousin.

After all, they are family, while she is nothing to him.

But there is a silver lining.

He and her father are friends, and he would have to consider his own family’s interests before getting involved in this mess. Now he means to help her father.

Xiao Juhe is still angry with him. Later, as soon as she receives a letter saying her father is safe, she leaves with her maid that very day, without even taking her clothes.

Wei Ji returns after finishing his affairs at court, intending to apologize to her for losing control the previous night and wearing her out. Only then does he discover she has already vanished. She was so afraid he would catch up with her that she left behind everything she brought.

The room is cold and empty, no longer like the night he stayed there because of the drug, when the girl begged him to be gentle and said everything she could to soften him. She even said she liked him very much and wanted only to marry him.

It turns out it was all a lie. She only wanted him to help her father gain an advantage. Every bit of affection was false.

Wei Ji looks on coldly, mocking himself for being a joke. He turns and sets out to visit his friend.

He wants to discuss their marriage.

The sooner, the better.

My dears, my upcoming novel is titled Married to My Beloved’s Father. Have a look if you like.

Blurb completed on November 24, 2025. Screenshot saved.

#How they fall in love over time

Reader’s guide:

Feudal, domineering older man VS delicate noblewoman

The male lead only has eyes for the heroine and loves only her.

This is a feudal-minded male lead story. Nothing improper happens between them. The male lead keeps proposing marriage, and the heroine runs away when she refuses.

There is an age gap between the leads.

Theme: May every day be full of happiness.