At fourteen, Fan Qing had already traveled across half of Dayong, and for one reason only: her father loved writing poetry.
Wherever she went, she wrote a travelogue for him, recording the local customs and all kinds of handsome men.
With a poem and an imperial decree, Fan Qing's father brought the whole family to Danzhou.
Fan Qing quickly settled into island life and had written most of this volume of her travelogue, but still hadn't seen a single handsome man.
A year later, a new official arrived on the island. He wasn't much to look at, but his son had a gorgeous face, even more handsome than any man she'd ever seen.
*
Pei Chaoyue was the best-looking and least talkative person Fan Qing had ever met.
Worried that he wouldn't adjust to his new surroundings, she brought him along everywhere.
Who knew he wouldn't appreciate it at all, and would instead coldly warn her to mind her own business.
Fine, she wouldn't. As if she wanted to help him!
Then, two days later, he unexpectedly knocked on her door.
*
Pei Chaoyue hated life in Danzhou, and he hated the people there too.
Under his father's pressure, he had no choice but to follow that noisy, energetic girl around, digging for shells and catching crabs.
Everyone said the girl liked him. Who cared about her liking him?
When Fan Qing's father finished his term and left the island, she cried and hugged everyone, but not him.
At long last, his posting ended. As soon as he returned to the capital, he heard that she was about to marry, and that her betrothed was the Grand Tutor's eldest grandson.
Word had it that they were mutually in love, struck by love at first sight.
When the Grand Tutor arrived at her home with the betrothal gifts, Pei Chaoyue cornered Fan Qing in her room and coaxed her into reading aloud, one word at a time: "The Pei family's Seventh Young Master, with a face like jade, unforgettable at first sight."
He lowered his eyes and touched her face. "Break off the engagement. I'm obviously the one you like."
One-on-one, both leads' first time, happy ending
Theme: Self-reliance and strength
