The County Magistrate's Daughter Became the Second Wife of Lin Ruhai, Who Was Destined to Die Young

Xia Wanqiu was an only child, doted on by her parents and raised without a worry in the world.

She had been lively and carefree since childhood. One by one, her close friends got married, until gradually she was the only one left.

During the dullest days of her life, she met a delicate, frail young girl.

The girl liked her too, and often spent time playing with her.

One day, the girl was crying in her room. Xia Wanqiu was worried and hurried over to see what was wrong.

"Sister Wanwan, my father is never home, and I'm always sick. Could you take this bowl of nourishing food to his study for me?"

Xia Wanqiu hesitated. "Could we have a servant take it over instead?"

The girl covered her mouth with an embroidered handkerchief. "My father and I depend on each other... Cough, cough... Even though we have servants... Cough, cough..."

Xia Wanqiu: "!"

"Yuer, you'd better rest. I'll go."

Lin Ruhai had a child late in life. His wife had died young, and now he held a high office with a bright future ahead of him. But his heart was entirely with his daughter and his work. He barely looked after himself, let alone anyone else.

He knew his daughter was close to the county magistrate's only daughter.

His daughter talked about Wanwan every day, telling him how kind and noble she was, and how refined and cultured.

Seeing his daughter grow more cheerful by the day, Lin Ruhai took the opportunity to promote the county magistrate, as a way of showing his gratitude.

But ever since his daughter caught a cold and that young woman brought him a bowl of nourishing soup, everything changed.

Xia Wanqiu gradually realized that she was running into Lin Ruhai more and more often.

One day, she even accidentally fell down the stairs, and the man caught her around the waist.

She felt both awkward and embarrassed.

She had meant to tell Lin Ruhai that she had no intention of reaching above her station, but the man spoke first, saying he would introduce her to a top-ranked candidate in the imperial examinations.

Xia Wanqiu was instantly grateful and waited for Lin Ruhai to arrange the match.

Later, Lin Ruhai showed up with a lavish bridal procession to ask for her hand.

"Lord Lin! Didn't you say you were going to introduce me to a top-ranked candidate?!"

Lin Ruhai stood straight-backed, his expression calm. "This humble man is none other than the top-ranked candidate of the thirty-first year of the Wentai era."

Theme: The lovely life of a doting father.