After Being Adopted by a General

A possessive, sheltered heiress × a gentle older man who guides her

Not-quite-uncle and niece | Ten-year age gap

Qin Liu was only ten when Yan Ting adopted her. She had no parents, no money, and just one bundle of belongings. Lightly burdened, she followed him through the Yan family's gates.

Yan Ting was, as her father put it, a young man with the talent to assist the ruler. He was like family, like a mentor, and treated her even better than his own nephew.

Seeing how lost she felt, he told her, “You can rely on me and use me however you like. There's no need to hold back.”

Qin Liu was very obedient and took his words to heart.

Just two years later, Yan Ting left without a word and went to the frontier for four years. During that time, Qin Liu searched all over Chang'an for people she could use and command.

When they met again after years apart, both seemed like different people. Using the county lady's title Yan Ting had secured for her, Qin Liu arranged a match with the Duke's son.

“Say that again. You're getting married?”

“That's right. I'm just using the marriage. Uncle Six taught me that, and I haven't forgotten a word.”

She was utterly unconcerned, treating the most important event of her life as worthless. The obedient, well-behaved Qin Liu he remembered now seemed like a complete stranger to Yan Ting.

“Anyone will do, as long as he can help you get revenge?” Yan Ting asked her again, his eyes dark with exhaustion after five sleepless days and nights.

Qin Liu's lashes trembled as she pressed him for an answer. “Uncle Six can either give me away as my father, or marry me. You can only choose one.”

Yan Ting had lived his life by the rules. The only time he'd ever defied convention was when he abandoned his studies and joined the army against his ancestors' wishes.

Now he was about to do something even more outrageous...

[Reader advisory]

1. The romance begins after they reunite, when the heroine is an adult.

2. The novel is undergoing major revisions.

[Coming soon]

"Sister-in-Law's Alluring Charm"

While staying with the Duan family, Jiang Yu accidentally overhears that she was once engaged to the family's eldest son.

Elder Brother Duan is as elegant as an orchid and a jade tree, handsome as Pan An, and as talented as the Prince of Chen. He's the dream husband of countless Chang'an women. The news fills Jiang Yu's heart with sweetness.

The two sons of the Duan family's principal wife are opposites, one a scholar and the other a warrior.

Duan Erlang joined the army at six and has spent most of his life in the military. After a great victory at the frontier, he is due to return home soon.

The whole Duan household celebrates, sweeping and cleaning as if preparing to welcome a god, eagerly awaiting Duan Hanzheng.

The day Duan Erlang returns, Jiang Yu happens to go out for a spring outing.

She returns at sunset and, at a corner of the back courtyard, walks straight into a tall, solid wall of black.

Why is he so tall?

Jiang Yu has to look up to meet his eyes.

“I'm... I'm sorry.” Jiang Yu doesn't recognize the stern, chiseled face. Judging by the timing, he might be the Duan family's second son.

After all, there aren't many men this imposing in the Duan family. Surely only Duan Hanzheng, who came from the military, could be built like that.

Watching the young lady Jiang hurry away, Duan Hanzheng's lips curl slightly.

On the battlefield, Duan Hanzheng wears armor and wields weapons. He's decisive and merciless, and his enemies tremble at his name. But in his heart, he hides a tender weakness no one knows about.

Duan Hanzheng's blade is usually fatal once it draws blood, but for the first time, he makes an exception because someone begs for mercy.

In return, Jiang Yu has to massage his injured leg. Her soft hands roam over his muscular thigh, and the strands of hair that fall forward brush against his skin now and then. The ticklish sensation seems to tease his heart.

Duan Hanzheng clenches his fists, but at last he can't resist wrapping his arms around her. He presses his mouth near her ear and demands coldly, “Which finger of yours did my elder brother touch just now?”

“Duan Hanzheng, I'm your future sister-in-law!”

“What kind of sister-in-law visits her brother-in-law's room every day?” Duan Hanzheng sneers, looking utterly unconcerned.

“I was massaging you!”

“Really? Did the massage end up on the bed?”

He grips her right hand and strokes it slowly. “You have no respect for proper relations, and I've killed countless people. We... were made for each other.”

[Bonus scene]

The Duan family's eldest son is soon to become the princess's consort. Jiang Yu cries until her eyes are red, angry but unable to speak up.

Duan Hanzheng wipes away her tears with his calloused thumb.

He murmurs, “One last time.”

One last time she'll cry for someone who doesn't matter... From now on, she'll only shed tears in his bed.

Theme: Being too kind only brings too much pain