Leave It to Me [Possessive Romance]

Please add my forthcoming story, Little Nemeses. The full blurb is at the bottom.

Cui Heng led troops against the enemy for five years, earning the title of Grand General Who Guards the Nation and becoming a close confidant of the emperor. For a time, he was the talk of the realm.

As if that weren't enough, there was more good news: his younger sister was about to be married. But then a seductive maid charmed her, and his sister became so besotted with the vixen that she threatened to die for her.

His sister could never be at fault. She was young and couldn't resist temptation. But he was different.

He was strong-willed and battle-hardened. There was no way a mere seductive maid could ensnare him.

Leave her to me.

-

Lu Wan was sold into the Cui household at six and spent more than a decade dutifully serving as a maid, saving money so she could buy her freedom and leave.

Everything was going smoothly.

Then, just as she was about to walk out the door for good, she got caught up in a minor entanglement with the eldest young master of the Cui family.

The young master said she had saved his life. Lu Wan didn't see it that way.

He asked what she wanted as a reward. Lu Wan repeatedly declined, but unable to refuse his insistence, she finally made a modest request.

"A hundred taels of silver will do."

The smile froze on the young master's lips. He gently coaxed her, "Why not cast your line farther and catch a bigger fish?"

Lu Wan murmured, "I'm afraid of fish bones."

The young master laughed in exasperation. He couldn't tell if she was really that clueless or just pretending. He kept her tied to his side, constantly urging her to eat fish. But Lu Wan turned out to be a tough nut to crack, constantly urging him to hand over the money instead.

The young master couldn't bear to part with her, convinced that they were in love.

Lu Wan felt like she was drowning, unable to breathe.

"How can you repay kindness with treachery?"

"I saved your life. Naturally, you should give yourself to me. What, are you trying to welch on the deal?"

[Bonus scene]

The night before Lu Wan's wedding, Cui Heng stayed by her bed all night. His eyes bloodshot, he watched the first light of dawn spread across the sky and kissed his unconscious darling.

"Let heaven strike me down, let me fall into eternal ruin. I will never regret this."

Please note:

1. The setting is fictional, with all details invented.

2. Both leads are each other's first and only. Includes possessive pursuit, not historically authentic, and a mix of humor and melodrama.

3. I'm no good at writing blurbs, so this will have to do...

Blurb saved as a screenshot on 7.31

Forthcoming: Little Nemeses

Jiang Yuan comes from a humble official's family. Her parents are loving, and after she comes of age, she marries. The young couple are very much in love.

The only regret is that they have been married for three years without a child.

They hear that Lanshan Temple is famed for granting prayers for children, so the young couple go together.

They come to pray for a child, but before they can get one, they run into a brute who tries to force her into his arms.

-

The moment he sees Jiang Yuan, he feels she must have been his nemesis in a past life.

He is just about to send someone to bring her an umbrella when he sees a man in blue robes approach with one. The two smile at each other and walk off hand in hand.

"Why haven't you gone to give her one yet?"

The servant is baffled. She already has an umbrella. Why bring another?

He lifts his eyelids slightly, his dark eyes fixed on the hazy spring rain. After a moment, he sighs softly.

"How could a mere paper umbrella withstand a storm this fierce?"

The servant understands and hurries after them.

Possessive pursuit, melodramatic tropes

Theme: Even those with grudges will meet again.