The Jade Returned to Zhao

[Next up: Little Serenade, an everyday slice-of-life story, already written through to the end.] Bai Yanzong has been plagued by evil spirits since childhood, leaving him unable to walk normally. His health grows weaker by the day, and with death seemingly close at hand, the Bai family secretly summons the geomancer Zhao Rongjiu to prolong his life. But after making that request, Third Master Bai can't take his eyes off him. He hasn't fallen for anyone in twenty-five years, yet somehow he's fallen for a celestial master he once thought beneath his notice. Before being summoned to meet Third Master Bai, Zhao Rongjiu was repeatedly warned by several people: Third Master doesn't believe in ghosts or gods, so under no circumstances should you mention that you can communicate with them. Just say you're a doctor. Everyone says Third Master has a bad temper, is cold and aloof, and is as refined as a young lady... Zhao Rongjiu finds that hearsay really is unreliable. Third Master Bai is clearly gentle and courteous, and treats people warmly. It's just that... he's a little too blunt, saying things so directly that even an old virgin blushes. Zhao Rongjiu: Third Master, I'm here to apply your medicine. Bai Yanzong: Master, I want to get in bed with you. Reader's Guide: 1. CP: Zhao Rongjiu x Bai Yanzong. A dominant partner who's imposing and composed in public but easily flustered in private x a submissive partner who's aloof with others but loves teasing his partner. No switching, no breaking them up; both are virgins, older seme, no cannon fodder, no cheating, and they dote on each other. (Zhao Rongjiu is the seme, Bai Yanzong is the uke. Although this is primarily told from the uke's perspective, they get equal page time. The seme appears in Chapter 3 [Sorry, my seme is the last one to show up].) 2. I hadn't planned on any secondary couples when outlining the story, but while filling in the details, I thought some characters could develop a closer relationship. So the secondary couples are still undecided, but I guarantee they'll all be virgins, with no cannon fodder or cheating. I'll add them once the story is finished. Currently introduced: Fu Lanyun x Cen Sen. He Xinling x Tingqin. 3. This is a collection of supernatural tales, featuring China's intangible cultural heritage and cultural relics. If you have any related material to recommend, ladies, please leave a comment. This is set in a fictional modern world. Aside from the fictional city of Mingde, all place names in the story can be considered part of a parallel-world China. Whenever I quote reference materials in the story, I'll note them in the author's notes for the relevant chapter. (Jinjiang doesn't allow external links, so I won't include them.) Please correct me if I quote anything inaccurately. If a passage isn't marked as a quotation, then any descriptions of history, traditions, books, and similar subjects are made up by me. I'll also clarify this in the author's notes. 4. If you dislike the idea of both leads being virgins, please don't open this story or comment. Thank you. I've been called a feudal remnant obsessed with chastity by people who oppose virgin couples, and have received bad reviews because of it. So I'm making this clear in advance. This isn't a personal attack against anyone. I'm only worried that this setup might affect your enjoyment of the story, so I'll say it again: if you dislike the idea of both leads being virgins, please don't open this story or comment. Thank you. I like writing semes and ukes who are devoted to each other, body and soul, from beginning to end. I believe it's only right for them to remain faithful to each other, and I oppose promiscuity and casual hookups. But these are my personal views, and I have neither the right nor the intention to interfere with what others think. Some people may consider this a feudal mindset that limits creative freedom. I believe that opposing virgin couples likewise restricts freedom of expression. Everyone has their own tastes, like radishes and cabbages, and there's nothing wrong with liking different kinds of stories. We need only respect one another and keep out of each other's way. I write what I feel. The characters' values reflect the author's own; for my views on this, see the conversation between Third Master Bai and Zhao Jiu in Chapter 16, which is free to read. A gentleman seeks harmony, not uniformity. The internet, as I see it, should be open and inclusive, welcoming different voices. Whether a couple is virginal or not is simply a matter of reading preference. Put simply, it's just a tag describing a story's setup. With a hundred flowers in bloom, our reading becomes richer and more interesting because of the variety of stories with different settings. Whether you approve of virgin couples, disapprove, or don't care, I sincerely hope you'll find stories you enjoy and find happiness in reading. This blurb turned out so long! Thank you for reading this far. If everything sounds good, enjoy! ~>▽< Theme: Walk side by side and promote intangible cultural heritage; travel together and appreciate the beauty of cultural relics