The Innocent Mask

[Formerly an aloof heartthrob, now a resentful rich heir x a favored daughter of heaven, a scheming, ambitious actress. Rekindled romance + male lead angst]

Everyone in Yancheng's elite circles knows that Ming Lu, the heiress the Ming family went to great lengths to bring back from the countryside, is vulgar, uncouth, and utterly useless.

On her first day at an elite private school, Ming Lu, dressed in a striking red dress, blocks Shen Xingyan's car and brazenly sits on the hood. "Handsome upperclassman, wanna be friends?"

Shen Xingyan's icy expression doesn't budge. "Get lost."

Then he deliberately drives as slowly as he can, listening to her chase after his car and call out again and again, "I like you!"

*

When she learns that the Shen family has "gone bankrupt," Ming Lu runs to find Shen Xingyan, breaking off a heel on the way. She holds out a dating contract with both hands. "Handsome upperclassman, pretend to be my boyfriend. I'll do social dance videos to support you. All you have to do is smile at me more."

Shen Xingyan conceals the strange feelings in his heart. "Actually, you don't have to pretend."

After keeping her at arm's length for over a year, he should treat her a little better.

*

Six months later, Ming Lu makes a high-profile rise to become the richest person in Yancheng, decisively eliminating long-standing problems and revealing her sharp, formidable side. Only then do people realize that her crude behavior in the past was just a disguise, a way to secretly advance her plans.

On the very same day, the Shen family really does go bankrupt.

In the villa, Shen Xingyan struggles to hide the pain in his eyes. "Did you do this?"

"Did you think I wouldn't know how to use Tianyancha? You own twenty-five companies." Ming Lu smiles, looking innocent as can be. "Shen Xingyan, I told you to pretend to be poor."

Little Scene:

At their third wedding anniversary, someone asks in front of everyone, "President Ming, it's been three years and you still haven't divorced. What do you see in Shen Xingyan?"

"Please call him Mr. Ming-Shen." Ming Lu swirls her wineglass. "Obviously, I like him because he's the most honest and obedient. What else does he have going for him?"

Everyone bursts out laughing.

Shen Xingyan takes out their marriage certificate and runs his fingers over the embossed seal again and again, murmuring, "Let them laugh. I'm still her legal spouse."

Blurb posted on November 9, 2021.

Reader's Guide:

1. The female lead has no prior experience; the male lead does. Happy ending.

2. The heroine has a histrionic personality. Some scenes early on may make readers cringe. In the middle of the story, the hero has neither a job nor any assets, so please skip this if that bothers you.

Theme: Love requires sincerity