Soothe the Bruises

[Complete] Upcoming: Pampered After Marriage 1. Qin Yinong became famous among the wealthy and powerful as soon as she started her freshman year of college, because she looked almost exactly like the stunningly beautiful younger sister who had run away from the Xia family. Jin Yu is the head of the Jin Group, powerful and deeply calculating. For years, he has focused on expanding into overseas markets. Whenever he occasionally returns to the country, the wealthy and powerful are careful to address him respectfully as Mr. Jin. One day, by chance, the two of them sleep together. The bad news: from then on, Mr. Jin won't leave Qin Yinong alone. The good news: Qin Yinong never jumps to conclusions. She knows she's only a stand-in. 2. They meet again after sleeping together. He is eating hot pot with a pretty mixed-race girl, so Qin Yinong puts on a mask and pretends not to know him. The second time they meet, Qin Yinong again wears a mask and pretends not to know him. But the man sits down on the bench beside her. "Of course it'll struggle. It'll even bite you, and those sharp teeth will leave a scar." He is on a call, speaking slowly, his long legs in suit trousers stretched out, ankles crossed. His voice has the texture of rock, like it is flowing out of the depths of the night. "Tie it up. Pull backward. Choke its neck hard. "Make sure it can't turn around or see you. "Then it'll fear you, and do what it's told." Qin Yinong unconsciously holds her breath and touches her neck, as if someone is choking her from behind. The third time they meet, Qin Yinong wears a mask and pretends to be mute. She shakes her head, waves her hands, and turns to leave. Suddenly, someone grabs her by the back of her collar, then by the nape of her neck. His hand grips her neck. His thumb rests on her left carotid artery and his other four fingers on the right. He doesn't press hard, but she can't move. He forces her to look up, pulls down her mask, and reveals her whole face. Their eyes meet. Jin Yu asks, "Do you recognize me now?" Qin Yinong's lashes tremble violently. Holding her breath, she nods. "Mr. Jin." "I wasn't wearing my contacts, so I'm sorry I didn't recognize you," she explains quickly and quietly, thinking on her feet. The fourth time they meet. "Hedgehog." Jin Yu stands behind her, blocking her legs with his so she can't turn around, and says it. Qin Yinong can't control her ragged breathing. "You could have fought back, couldn't you?" Qin Yinong grits her teeth, cold sweat pouring down her face, her heart threatening to burst through her breastbone. Jin Yu's tall, broad shadow falls across the wall, completely enveloping her. Facing the wall, she pants, her lashes shadowed by intense panic and regret. Resistance catches in her throat. 3. Later, after one encounter after another, someone gives in. The one who gives in is Jin Yu. One day, Qin Yinong works late into the night and sleeps in. When she wakes at dawn, Jin Yu holds her against his warm chest and says, "I've already put together all the materials you need. There's no rush. Get some more sleep." Jin Yu got up at four thirty in the morning to organize her materials. It was just one of the countless little things he had done for her, hardly worth mentioning. Jin Yu was born privileged and forceful, accustomed to controlling everything. He uses his forceful ways to care for Qin Yinong anew, teaches her to trust, and helps her grow, even though he knows full well that Qin Yinong loves her neighbor, her older-brother figure. He loves Yinong, and has from beginning to end. An overbearing CEO x a stubborn little secretary who belongs to someone else. (Actually, it's mutual pining. The heroine doesn't like the neighbor's older brother.) *Rich family's real and fake heiresses. The heroine is the real heiress, and her birth parents dote on her after finding her. She has never suffered any injustice. *The stand-in trope, but a fake stand-in: the hero has never treated the heroine as a stand-in. *Both are virgins, each other's first love, seven-year age gap, slow burn. The hero is a strong but supportive partner who stays by her side and guides her. No annoying male or female supporting characters who deliberately hog the spotlight. Upcoming: Pampered After Marriage [An old-fashioned man who can't stop once he gets a taste of sex x a young lady who only cares about money] Shang Guli is rich, old-fashioned, a neat freak, sharp-tongued, and frigid. Jin Zhi is broke, beautiful, loves looking pretty, is pampered, and likes to act cute. At their blind date, Shang Guli isn't interested in Jin Zhi, and Jin Zhi isn't interested in Shang Guli either. Their personalities don't match. No matter how beautiful or handsome someone is, it's only skin deep. They won't be able to build a life together. But after Jin Zhi gets home and thinks it over, she realizes Shang Guli is rich! For that huge, huge advantage, she decides she can make it work! Jin Zhi pulls out all the stops, pretending to be deeply in love as she pursues Shang Guli! Finally, Shang Guli lays down a condition: "I'm frigid. I can only give you money." Meaning he won't give her sex or love. Jin Zhi: "..." That's wonderful!!! It's the marriage of her dreams!!! Jin Zhi is overjoyed inside, but puts on a heartbroken act. "It's all right. I love you, after all. I'll do anything for you." Shang Guli: "..." She's good at acting, but she really is a good match. On their wedding day, Shang Guli gives Jin Zhi the lavish wedding of her dreams. On their wedding night, Shang Guli sleeps alone in the guest room while Jin Zhi enjoys the enormous master bedroom all to herself. But gradually, Shang Guli starts saying things like, "Where's my wife?" "Is my wife still out?" and "Let's sleep together tonight." His wife, out having fun: "..." Little scene: Jin Zhi has been playing all night and can't fall asleep in the morning. Shang Guli is busy on the sofa. Jin Zhi walks over to him. "Guly, I can't sleep." Without looking up, Shang Guli says, "Run ten laps outside and you'll be able to sleep." Jin Zhi takes the phone from his hand, straddles his lap, rests her head against his chest, and hugs him. "Baby, pat me. I want to sleep." Half an hour later, Shang Guli looks at the two friends who came to find him. "Didn't you have something to discuss? Go ahead." "...Mr. Shang, maybe you should put your wife down first?" "No. If I put her down, she'll wake up." Theme: There will always be someone who loves you and helps you through hard times.