Who Says We're a Cursed Couple?

Proud childhood sweetheart × cold-faced childhood friend

Bickering couple | Mutual pining | Airhead vs. grump

# Enemies in public, making out in private

# Secretly dating after breaking off their engagement

*

Everyone in the capital knows that Gu Yilin, eldest daughter of the Duke's residence, and Xie Jingchuan, young master of the General's residence, are a bickering couple.

Their families have been close for generations, and they were betrothed as children. The only problem is that they can't stand each other.

She hates his gloomy silence; he can't stand her spoiled, noisy ways.

Whenever they meet, they argue, and every argument turns into a scene.

Whenever they make a scene, Gu Yilin has to climb onto Xie Jingchuan's back and vent her anger before she'll stop.

Later, war breaks out on the northern frontier. Xie Jingchuan leaves with his father and is gone for three years. The young general returns victorious, earns the emperor's praise, and rides proudly through the streets, drawing heated gazes from the noblewomen throughout the city.

Gu Yilin acts disdainful, but secretly feels a little pleased. So what if he's impressive? They're betrothed, so he's hers.

But he keeps avoiding her: work, illness, anything he can think of. Once, she takes special care to wear a new dress when she visits, only to see him scramble over a wall and flee...

Then, behind a rockery, she hears him tell a friend, "A childhood betrothal was just a joke. It shouldn't be taken seriously. I have to bring it up first so I can get ahead of her."

Gu Yilin: He wants to break off the engagement? In his dreams!

If anyone's dumping the other, it'll be her dumping him.

At a flower-viewing banquet, she breaks off the engagement in front of everyone. "Our engagement was just a joke between our parents. There is nothing romantic between me and Young General Xie. Please don't tease us about it again."

The entire banquet falls silent. The only sound is the clear crack of the wine cup shattering in Xie Jingchuan's hand.

As Miss Gu gazes at the young general before her, bristling with hostility, she feels a little guilty. Is he mad that she stole his thunder?

*

As for Gu Yilin, Xie Jingchuan has been certain of two things since childhood.

First, she has a terrible temper, spends money like water, and is always accompanied by handsome young men. She's a proud peacock.

Second, she is his wife.

So when she's in a bad mood, he comforts her.

When she spends money like water, he earns more.

But other men around her? Absolutely not!!

After finally winning back Gu Yilin, who had publicly rejected their engagement, he finds that she's too proud to make their relationship public right away. She even makes the absurd request that they date in secret. He only hesitates for the length of one kiss.

Later, he discovers that secretly "cheating around" with Gu Yilin is... absolutely wonderful!

She kisses him first to keep their relationship secret, stays obediently in his arms so no one will catch them, and makes it up to him behind closed doors after pretending they don't know each other in public, indulging him once, twice, and then again...

As he revels in their tender romance, an imperial decree arrives, betrothing Gu Yilin to the Fifth Prince. Only then does Xie Jingchuan snap out of it: if he doesn't act now, he'll really have to sneak around with Gu Yilin!!

[Reading guide]

1. A sweet story about just the two of them, with no melodrama.

2. The female lead is adored by everyone.

Theme: Say your love out loud