Absolute Control

[Please read the content warnings before starting.] [Complete. This story was revised several times during serialization and after completion. The full version is only on Jinjiang. For print publication details and more bonus scenes or extras, visit Weibo @Jinjiang Xiaoduoli.]

Shu Yao is forced by her elders to go on a blind date.

Before she even meets the man, one after another, his mistresses come crying to Shu Yao, demanding an explanation.

There are so many of them that Shu Yao wonders if she kicked over a chicken coop.

Determined to give them a taste of their own medicine, Shu Yao hires a man to play along with her.

His name is Liang Yan, and he's outstanding in both looks and bearing.

On the day of the blind date,

the man she hired sits casually in the seat of honor.

The scent of red tea wafts through the air. His shirt is buttoned neatly to the very top, and his eyes are as dark and calm as ink as he smiles at Shu Yao.

Shu Yao's blind date respectfully calls him, "Big Brother."

Later, her former blind date repeatedly promises Shu Yao that he'll cut ties with all those other women.

Liang Yan walks out of the bedroom, taking his time buttoning his shirt. Looking at the former blind date, whose face has turned pale and then flushed, he says, "Your sister-in-law has no interest in your private life."

-

When they hear that Shu Yao hasn't left Liang Yan's room for a whole month, his friends notice that for three days straight, Liang Yan has had fresh scratch marks on his neck and a dark cloud hanging over him.

Given his terrifying need for control, they can't help secretly wondering if Liang Yan has done something to Shu Yao that would violate the Criminal Law.

After discussing it, they nervously go over to investigate.

The sun is shining. A little strawberry-shaped mark shows on Shu Yao's collarbone as she happily plays video games.

Liang Yan carefully wipes the milk left on her lips.

Gentle and patient.

-

Her friends earnestly warn Shu Yao, "Aren't you afraid that Liang Yan will arrange every aspect of your life, from what you eat and wear to where you live and how you get around? You'll be under his watch forever, only allowed to wear pretty clothes and play with cats and dogs, with no freedom at all except for money."

Shu Yao's eyes light up. "Does this heavenly life really exist in the real world?"

/I like the way your eyes see only me/

/But I'll learn to hold myself back for you/

/Every coincidence you believe in was planned by him long ago/

[Please be sure to read these content warnings]

1. The male lead is sweet on the outside and dark on the inside, with an extremely, extremely, extremely, extremely strong need for control. Read with caution if that's a trigger for you. The female lead's personality has exaggerated traits due to an illness. This is not a strong-female-lead story, so don't read it if you prefer powerful heroines. Both leads obey the law. The writing is light and goofy, so please don't read if you're particular about research or want serious, profound, realistic literature. (This is important. Readers who like serious, profound, realistic stories probably won't enjoy something this light.)

2. There is an eight-year age gap and a 25-centimeter height difference. This is not realistic fiction. Neither has an ex, and they are each other's one and only. The many coincidences and misunderstandings are just there to move the romance along. There is a memory-loss plotline.

3. The author is human and can overlook things. Please point out mistakes kindly. Personal attacks and baseless abuse are not welcome. I've never won an argument, so anyone who picks a fight with me gets a kiss.

4. Don't read if you can't accept a university lecturer being an antagonist and a minor character. The villain's views aren't the author's, so please don't judge the author's values by the villain's.

5. The story has been revised many times while being updated. If you've read an inaccurate pirated version, please don't come here and lecture me about it.

6. I don't know what other potential triggers there are yet. I'll leave this blank for now and add to it if someone points any out.

Theme: Care for homebodies and respect different personalities and interests