Dominant and Tender

A cool, untouchable beauty x a ruthless, wild, and capable powerhouse

Classic melodramatic angst. The male lead is scheming and cunning early on, then spends the latter half desperately trying to win back his wife.

Next novel: Playing Hard to Get [Entertainment Industry], a scheming starlet x a black-hearted film emperor

Upcoming: Melt into the Summer Breeze, a sweet childhood-friends school romance

Everyone in Nanpu City knows that Liang Shijing, a kunqu opera performer from a family of kunqu performers, is an untouchable beauty, seen but never reached.

Wen Chenchuan, the business world's "beast" who built his fortune from nothing, refuses to believe it.

He narrows his phoenix eyes and slowly unfastens his cuff with his long, slender fingers.

"An untouchable beauty? I'll break off her lofty branches, pull out all her thorns, then keep her in a bottle. That way, she can't help but become mine."

One day, news suddenly breaks that Liang Shijing is retiring and giving up singing.

Amid the widespread sighs of regret, the once cool and proud beauty lowers her eyes and smiles.

"Chenchuan says we're getting married soon, so I'm quitting."

No one knows that when she lost everything and fell into darkness, the only person to reach out to her was the man she had once hated with all her heart.

"Don't be afraid, Shijing. You still have me."

Liang Shijing thinks that for the warmth he gave her in her darkest hour, she can do anything he asks. That is, until rumors fill the city after he is seen going everywhere with her former rival, without even trying to hide it. When she confronts him, he bends down and whispers in her ear, his long, narrow phoenix eyes like a pitch-black abyss.

"Shijing, just wait obediently for our wedding. There are some things you should pretend not to know."

"You have nothing now. Where could you go if you left me?"

Later, whenever Wen Chenchuan wakes from a midnight dream, he sees himself lying in a pool of blood on their wedding day, while Liang Shijing, dressed in white, leans down and coldly whispers a few words in his ear.

"I know everything now."

"Wen Chenchuan, you deserve this."

Then she walks away without looking back.

Later, in full view of everyone, Liang Shijing walks off the stage with a trophy in her arms and throws an extremely rare blue rose onto the ground.

Wen Chenchuan, who has always triumphed in the business world, lowers his head and carefully picks up the flower.

The arrogant man, his eyes bloodshot, gently takes her hand and begs in a low voice.

"What will it take for you to look at me again?"

Liang Shijing pulls her hand away and turns with a cold laugh.

"Wen Chenchuan, all that's left between us is four words:"

"What's done cannot be undone."

1v1, both leads' first time, happy ending

Playing Hard to Get [Entertainment Industry], a sweet, scheming starlet x a gentle, black-hearted film emperor, 1v1

Newly famous actress Lin Nianwen is just outed in a dating rumor when the next day, a headline announces that her rumored boyfriend cheated on her with a model.

People expect a satisfying story in which she learns from her pain, tears into her ex, and leaves with her head held high. But Lin Nianwen, the victim, eats when she's hungry, sleeps when she's tired, and keeps filming as if nothing happened.

The onlookers leave disappointed. She's so pretty, but it turns out she's an idiot.

Film emperor Ji Mingxuan, who is working with Lin Nianwen, frowns as he looks at the girl in front of him. She clutches her script and earnestly asks him for acting advice, but he feels there's more to it than meets the eye.

"I thought I told you I don't work with single actresses?"

Lin Nianwen blinks her pretty almond-shaped eyes, and tears instantly fill them.

"Teacher Ji, to be honest, I... haven't forgotten that person yet."

Ji Mingxuan, who always keeps work and private life separate, lets out a sigh of relief and lowers his refined eyes as he patiently coaches her through the scene.

But when the film is released and wins awards, he can't swallow his anger as he watches Lin Nianwen smile sweetly at her ex-boyfriend onstage. He simply blocks her backstage at the awards ceremony.

"You still haven't forgotten him?"

Lin Nianwen hugs her Best Actress trophy, her almond-shaped eyes curving as she smiles like a little fox.

"Film Emperor Ji, are you jealous?"

Ji Mingxuan's lips curl into a smile. He leans down and whispers into Lin Nianwen's ear.

"Best Actress Lin, stop acting. Everything has already gone just the way you wanted."

Later, Ji Mingxuan becomes an all-in-one screenwriter, director, and actor in the film industry and wins a major award. When asked what inspired his work, he says only one thing:

"I just didn't want to watch my wife smile at someone else."

I planned it all along, just so I could personally lead you into the gentle trap I'd woven for you.

Then I waited for you to slowly fall in love with me.

A sweet, scheming starlet x a gentle, black-hearted film emperor, 1v1

Theme: Promote kunqu opera and pass on the classics.