[Marriage first, love later x secret lover]
Pei Mingzhu had been treasured by her family since childhood. She never imagined she was the child who had been switched at birth.
The day the Pei family learned the truth and threw her out, the young man whose identity had been switched with hers stood silently on the steps of the old mansion, watching her with a cold gaze.
At seventeen, she was spoiled and pampered, unable to accept the plunge from having everything to having nothing. With nowhere to go, she stubbornly glared through her tears at the person who had taken everything from her.
To her surprise, the person on the steps took the initiative to walk over. Looking down at her, he held out his hand.
And so began a deal. He would always have her back, and after leaving the Pei family, Pei Mingzhu continued living like a rich young lady, spending lavishly without restraint.
Until five years later.
Pei Mingzhu figured Pei Yan must have had his fill of her. She also didn't want to be a caged bird without freedom anymore, so she asked to end things.
The man didn't answer right away. He stared at Pei Mingzhu with dark, unreadable eyes, then tossed a marriage agreement onto the table that night.
Pei Mingzhu thought Pei Yan had gone mad. Who marries their secret lover?
Pei Yan thought Pei Mingzhu had gone mad too. How could she be willing to give him up and live a hard life without money?
They argued from beside the bed to on top of it.
Pei Mingzhu was kissed until her eyes went unfocused and she could barely fight back, but she was still furious and bit Pei Yan's lip hard enough to break the skin.
Pei Yan held her face in place with one hand, his breath cold. "You choose. Either marry me, or get yourself killed on this bed tonight."
October 23, 2026
Theme: Life is beautiful.
