Bedfellows and Foes

The Chu and Shen families of Huancheng had always kept each other at arm’s length, with the rivalry between Chu Buhui, eldest daughter of the Chu family, and Shen Yujue, heir to the Shen family, being especially fierce. Ever since Chu Buhui took over the family business, the two had been openly and covertly battling one another without pause. They fought over private rooms at teahouses where musicians played, drove up prices against each other at auctions in South Alley, and even went all out to snatch the top prize at the Mid-Autumn lantern-riddle contest. In short, whenever they met, sharp words and hidden attacks were sure to follow. The city’s people were used to it, and even looked forward to the spectacle. So when news suddenly spread through the streets and alleys that the two families were about to become in-laws, everyone was caught off guard. On the wedding day, the Shen residence was on high alert. After all, this was the woman who had once charged into the Shen home with a whip and fought their master head-on! Only when dusk fell and the newlyweds had safely been sent into the bridal chamber did everyone dare breathe a little easier. But before they could even exhale, a clatter erupted inside, followed by an enraged, girlish shout: “Shen Yujue! How dare you tear my clothes!” Everyone outside the door: “...” Later, people said the two had put on a convincing show of being a devoted couple for the sake of their families’ reputations. Even Chu Buhui herself believed this “acting contest” had been a success. That is, until the day she found her portraits covering the walls of a hidden room in his study, along with a neat collection of her belongings. Only then did she understand that every encounter she had thought was a clash of wills had concealed someone’s long-planned, tender feelings. Later still, the identity Chu Buhui had kept hidden for twenty years was unexpectedly exposed to the world. On the day heavy snow sealed off the city, news of an attack on a merchant caravan sent the town into an uproar. Everyone saw Shen Yujue ride through twelve city gates in the dead of night. His dark cloak was stained black with blood, and he looked like a demon risen from hell, yet he still carried her unconscious form all the way home with painstaking care. Reading Guide: Pairing: A bold red-rose heroine who never lets a slight go unanswered x a refined, gentle, black-hearted schemer Fictional historical setting / one-on-one / he falls for her first / mutual devotion after marriage / bickering romance Hidden identity trope / a mountain of author-created details, all in service of the plot / don’t take it too seriously (0.0) Blurb first written on October 16, 2019 Theme: There are no eternal enemies.