Plucking Stars by Hand [Marriage Before Love]

The main story is complete, with just an if extra left as a bonus. My next novel will be Xubai. Tap the author's page to pre-order.

The heroine falls in love after marriage / The hero's secret crush comes true

A refined gentleman with a hidden dark side x a sweet, sunny girl

1.

Everyone says Gu Miao is impulsive.

Her new husband, Shen Yixiu, may look gentle, but he never lets anyone get close to him. He bides his time, waiting for the chance to take down his opponent with one decisive move.

They had only met a few times, and she chose to marry him just because he looked good in a white shirt. Gu Miao was sure to regret it.

Sure enough, when asked what he thought of his new wife, he gave a concise reply: "Our families arranged the marriage. I had no choice."

Gu Miao's verdict: "You say one thing, but mean another."

For reasons of her own, Gu Miao firmly believed Shen Yixiu was just a pitiful soul who had never known love. She wanted to save him, so she had to take the initiative and shower him with affection.

It was raining again, and thunder cracked across the sky. Clutching a pillow, she burst into the man's room. Shen Yixiu was in a meeting. He looked up and asked what was wrong.

Gu Miao said softly, "I remember you said you were afraid of thunder and couldn't sleep."

Shen Yixiu paused in surprise, then smiled. "Thank you, Miaomiao, for remembering that I'm afraid of thunder."

The group's senior executives: ...Since when has President Shen been afraid of thunder?

2.

After everything that needed doing was done, Gu Miao returned to her hometown to sort through old things. She came across an anonymous love letter she'd received at high school graduation. The handwriting looked somewhat familiar, like her husband's.

The final line read: [May everything go your way, and may someone always be there to hold an umbrella for you on rainy days.]

She suddenly remembered that she'd come to like white shirts because, on a rainy day, a boy in a white shirt had given her an umbrella.

What she didn't know was that the boy had waited many, many years for a chance to hold an umbrella for her with every right to do so.

3.

"A pitiful soul who'd never known love?"

Once she realized the truth, Gu Miao felt like a clown, completely played by him. "I told you I hate liars."

She packed her things, planning to run, but the man pulled her into his arms.

"Don't leave me, baby." He gently bit her ear. "You promised to take responsibility for me, remember?"

I have nothing, except this heart that loves you.

I'll pluck the stars from the sky with my bare hands. I want them, and I'll have them.

- Gu, as in a beauty whose glance could topple a kingdom; Miao, as in a tiny speck in the vast sea.

Theme: Hard work brings results.