The Stand-In Is the One He Truly Loves

[The age-gap novel next door, Spring Magpies, is complete. The next book, Anonymous Love Letter, launches in October.]

Shi Wan never imagined that her arranged marriage would be sabotaged right in front of her by her sworn enemy.

So, on the very day her career and love life were both dealt devastating blows, she took the initiative and went after Fu Chengyu, a dangerous man.

Shi Wan swore she would get even. Her enemy was determined to marry into a wealthy family? Fine. She'd marry her enemy's husband's uncle first.

Shi Wan put all her effort into pursuing him and flirting with him, but the man's responses remained cold.

Then, when she accidentally learned that Fu Chengyu had a first love hidden away in his heart, Shi Wan disappeared without a second thought.

But wherever she went, a familiar figure was always there, impossible to shake.

Like next door at the hotel, or in the dressing room backstage at a performance.

Shi Wan gave a soft, mocking laugh, smiling as if it meant nothing. "So, President Fu really took it seriously?"

Fu Chengyu sat in the car, his gaze dark. "What else?"

"Don't worry, President Fu. I don't chase men I can't win over. Have you ever seen a princess run after a man?"

"You mean it?"

"Of course."

-

The next day, business tycoon Fu Chengyu gave an interview at home. When asked about his love life, he couldn't hide his deep feelings.

Watching the news as she munched on watermelon, Shi Wan said, "He's putting on an act."

Fu Chengyu opened a drawer with one hand and took out hundreds of plane tickets, placing them on the table. "I've had a crush on her for eight years."

Shi Wan scoffed. "What a two-faced bastard."

Reporter: "President Fu, do you have a photo?"

Shi Wan wanted to see what made this first love so much better than her, but was stunned to see a photo of herself performing for the first time appear on the screen, looking breathtakingly bold.

So that night, Shi Wan packed her bags and rushed back to the Fu residence, pounding on the door. "Fu Chengyu, open up! If you have the guts to have a crush on me, then tell me to my face! What kind of man confesses behind my back?"

Scene One:

After her thirty-eighth confession to Fu Chengyu was rejected.

Shi Wan laid down an ultimatum. "Fu Chengyu, I'm never going to be your doormat again. From now on, you take your rickety plank bridge, "

Fu Chengyu looked at her coolly, raising his eyes.

Shi Wan hurriedly gave him a starry-eyed look. "And I'll hold it up from underneath for you..."

Scene Two:

Shi Wan's thirty-ninth confession was rejected.

Heartbroken at home, she posted on WeChat Moments: "A little fairy like me, I wonder which toad is going to get lucky with me someday."

The next day.

Shi Wan was astonished to find that Fu Chengyu's WeChat name, which had been the same for years, [Fu], had become a cute frog emoji.

Huh???

Shi Wan: I thought I was the most graceful and gentle fairy in the world, until I started pursuing Fu Chengyu.

[Fake celibate, cool and aloof old fox X real foul-mouthed little swan]

[Reader's Guide]

One-on-one romance, daily updates, sweet romance, both leads are inexperienced in love~

Coming soon: Spring Magpies

The young master of the Shen family had lost the woman he loved. Everyone spread rumors that Jiang Que, who was temporarily staying with the Shen family, had done it because she couldn't have him.

The young master went mad with a desire to take revenge on Jiang Que. When she was cornered and desperate, fleeing to the mountainside, she unexpectedly met Shen Qinghui.

At the time, her dress was soaked through by the rain, and she looked as wretched as a ghost.

Shen Qinghui was racing cars on the mountainside with his friends. When she ran into him, he glanced at her, his expression cool and distant.

A friend teased him. "Isn't that the poor little thing staying at your house?"

In that fleeting moment, he got a clear look at her face.

Then he got out of the car and held a black umbrella over her, shielding her from the rain.

"Want to come with me?"

-

Jiang Que disappeared. The young master Shen heard from someone else that she was being kept in a villa on the mountainside.

Furious, he went to the villa to settle the score. But when he saw the man who opened the door, he froze in surprise, then immediately lost his nerve and greeted him respectfully. "Third Uncle."

Shen Qinghui gave a quiet hum. "Just in time."

His expression was cool. "Go meet your Third Aunt."

*

On a stormy night, Shen Qinghui found a wounded little magpie.

When he had some free time, he taught her how to catch insects and treated her wounds, caring for her meticulously day and night.

Once the little magpie's wounds had healed, Shen Qinghui opened the cage. "You're free now. Go, and don't look back."

People said magpies weren't like other pet birds. Once they left, they didn't recognize their home anymore.

Shen Qinghui smiled and said nothing.

The little magpie circled once, then landed on his shoulder.

Magpies might not recognize a home, but they recognize a person.

*

He appeared in her barren, parched life, bringing her hope, then carefully and tenderly sheltered her.

He was like a cool breeze in a mountain stream, like the tide on a misty island.

"Jiang Que, I'm thirty-five this year. Think carefully before you choose to be with me."

This is a story about two people whose values, circumstances, and life experiences were worlds apart, yet who still ended up together. He knew far more than she did, but he would gently bend down to guide her, respect her, encourage her, and give her a tenderness no one else could.

*

Sensitive, passionate little magpie X refined, steady, wicked uncle

Insecurity x tenderness

Young woman x older man

Reader's Guide:

★ Sweet romance / 15-year age gap / happy ending / gentle devotion / healing and growth

★ A short novel, around 200,000 characters.

This synopsis was screenshotted and archived on 2021/05/13.

Theme: Where there's a will, there's a way.