After Being Reborn, My Aloof Husband Turned Dark

[This novel is now free to read. I went on a long hiatus while preparing for graduate school entrance exams, and I just can't seem to pick it back up. I'll do my best not to abandon it, but updates will be extremely slow. I'll write when I feel like it, so please don't wait for me. Sorry.]

[Preview of my upcoming novel, After Being Offered to a Powerful Man, at the very bottom.]

Blurb:

The Cheng and Shen families arranged a betrothal for their children generations ago. Who could have guessed that the Shen family would fall from grace and sink into poverty? Cheng Yunyao's older half-sister looked down on the poor scholar who was staying with the Cheng family and betrothed to her. She threw tantrums, threatened suicide, and refused to marry him no matter what.

Shen Daoting had never wanted the marriage in the first place. He was staying with the Cheng family only to conceal his identity, waiting for the right time to break off the engagement and leave. But the Cheng family valued their promises, and Cheng Yunyao stepped forward, offering to marry Shen Daoting in her sister's place. This completely upended his plans.

As far as Cheng Yunyao was concerned, Shen Daoting had once helped her, and since she was in dire straits, marrying him was the best choice available to her.

For three years after their wedding, Cheng Yunyao worked hard and managed the household with skill. She and Shen Daoting were not passionately in love, but they treated each other with respect. Yet he was cold and distant, consumed by his obsession.

If they left love and hate out of it, their lives could have gone on this way forever...

But she died because of his obsession!

Reborn into another life, the suffocating sensation from her death remains vivid. Every time Cheng Yunyao sees Shen Daoting, her heart pounds with fear, and all she wants is to get away.

But no matter how much she tries to avoid him, fate keeps pushing her toward him, again and again.

Shen Daoting grips her chin. In his eyes is a madness she has never seen in either of her two lives. The corner of his mouth lifts slightly.

"If I help you this time, what will you give me in return, Yao Yao?"

His obsession runs to the bone. The gods take pity on him and give him the chance to see his Yao Yao again. He carefully plans every step, all for the sake of one woman...

Content notes:

1. Both leads are reborn, but differently. The heroine only has flashbacks in certain situations, while the hero is reborn directly and retains memories of his past life.

2. Lots of misunderstandings and melodrama, with an old-school romance feel and some elements of coercive romance. I'm a hopeless romantic who loves both writing and reading this kind of story.

3. Entirely fictional setting. Please don't nitpick historical details or offer writing advice.

4. The characters' values don't represent the author's, but please don't insult either the characters or the author. If you don't like it, click away. Let's part on good terms and perhaps meet again someday.

5. One-on-one romance, both leads are sexually inexperienced, happy ending.

Weibo: Jinjiang Weilan

Blurb written on May 26, 2023, screenshot saved. Revised on July 26, 2023.

After Being Offered to a Powerful Man: Blurb

++++++Pei Si is the Northwestern general who commands an army of a hundred thousand Northern Garrison troops. After the emperor dies and the capital falls into chaos, he uses an iron fist to crush the unrest, installs the young sovereign, stabilizes the court, and is named regent.

The land is soaked in bloodshed. Everyone knows the name Pei Si, and everyone fears him. His reputation is infamous, yet everyone curries favor with him.

Meng Hanyi is the renowned beauty of Jiangnan, a woman whose sidelong glance can leave men entranced and trembling. As a courtesan, she has little control over her own fate. Her madam, blinded by money, breaks her promise that Meng Hanyi would only perform and never sell herself, and sends her off to the bed of a powerful man.

Pei Si has no interest in romance and cares only about his great ambitions. Yet for some reason, that night, perhaps because her eyes were so alluring, he fell for her.

From then on, Meng Hanyi stays by his side, and everyone knows that Pei Si has a woman whom he cherishes beyond measure.

He thought Meng Hanyi would obediently remain by his side forever. But one day, she acts as usual, then stabs him viciously in the middle of their lovemaking.

Pei Si smiles instead of getting angry. His eyes hold disappointment and relief, even a sense of pride in her, but no surprise.

His pale face resembles that of the King of Hell. He watches Meng Hanyi's hand tremble as he pulls out the dagger. Blood spatters her face, then gushes out, quickly staining his underclothes red. He hands her the knife and points to his neck.

"Chunxi, that won't kill me. Good girl, aim here."

Meng Hanyi turns and runs.

Pei Si watches her go, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. He casually tosses the dagger aside.

He murmurs, "Run. Run far away, Chunxi... Don't let me catch you."

Pei Si smiles, his fingers curling slightly, as if her slender neck were in his palm.

"Otherwise, I'll have to punish you severely and teach you a lesson."

Content notes:

1. The heroine approaches the hero intentionally; she isn't forced to. Her enemy isn't the hero, and although there are misunderstandings, there is no conflict between love and revenge.

2. The heroine is gentle but strong-willed. Stabbing the hero takes all her courage, and she isn't blinded by love.

3. The hero helps the heroine grow and hopes his wife will become fierce enough that no one dares mess with her. He is proud to see her become stronger.

4. Includes a running-away plot and some elements of coercive romance.

5. The characters' values don't represent the author's, but please don't insult either the characters or the author. If you don't like it, click away. Perhaps we'll meet again someday.

6. One-on-one romance, both leads are sexually inexperienced, happy ending.

Weibo: Jinjiang Weilan

Blurb written on May 27, screenshot saved.

Theme: Love life, and you'll be able to overcome hardship.