Parting Is Hard

People say life goes in cycles: those who prosper today may fall tomorrow, and those who fall may rise again. For others, it's an inspiring tale. For Zhou Fu, it's a disaster.

Years ago, she was the woman who looked down on a poor young man and turned away to marry someone else.

Now her husband is in prison. After trying every way she can to pull strings for him, she inevitably runs into Zong Sui, now a powerful man of high rank.

At thirty, he's climbing the ladder fast and at the height of his success.

Looking down at her, he takes in her miserable, wretched state.

He sneers. "Miss Zhou, who would have thought you'd be begging someone on your knees one day?"

Zhou Fu stammers--

He really still resents her for the ugly breakup and the way she cursed him back then.

*

When old lovers meet again, they're inevitably drawn back into each other's lives.

After several nights of passion, Zhou Fu hides under the covers, on the verge of tears. "I was wrong."

"What were you wrong about?"

Choking on her words, she says, "I was wrong to curse you back then."

Zong Sui's expression softens a little, but then she continues, "And I was wrong to get involved with you..."

Zong Sui sneers and becomes rougher.

Late at night, half asleep, she senses the man who usually keeps to his own side of the bed pulling her into his arms.

He asks, "...Why?"

"Why were you willing to run around seeking help for him, when you abandoned me without a second thought back then?"

- [No matter how much I hate you, all I hate is that you don't love me enough]

- [I hate that the moon hangs high, but doesn't shine on me tonight]

The title comes from Li Shangyin's poem, "Hard It Is to Meet, Hard It Is to Part."

Reader's guide:

* Possessive romance, stealing someone's partner, rekindled love, and a melodramatic mix of tropes. Don't read if that's not your thing.

* The husband is just a plot device. The leads have already ended their marriage when the story begins.

* Sweet and delicate heroine x stubborn, bad-tempered hero

* Five-year age gap: he's 30, she's 25

* The heroine isn't a strong, independent type. Not recommended for readers who are overly devoted to either lead.

[Blurb captured on February 13, 2025. Plagiarism and idea theft will be pursued.]

Theme: True feelings exist in this world