The Cousin Doesn't Want to Climb the Social Ladder

A distant cousin came to live at the Duke's estate. She was clever and beautiful, graceful and refined, and soon had the young heir so smitten that he insisted on marrying her.

The Duchess couldn't help complaining to her brother: "How could a daughter born to a lowborn mistress ever be fit for my son?"

Xie Jingming said casually, "That's easy enough. Just find someone to marry her off to as soon as possible."

As he was leaving, he ran into Gu Chunhe, who had come to pay her respects. The young girl lowered her head demurely. "Good day, Uncle."

Graceful as a willow in spring, she blushed beneath the gentle sunlight.

At that moment, Xie Jingming wanted nothing more than to keep the springtime beauty hidden away in the courtyard, where no one else could see her.

Gu Chunhe knew her position was awkward. She was cautious in every way at the Duke's estate and never dreamed of marrying into a higher station. All she hoped for was that her father would come and take her home soon.

She managed to avoid the heir and the Crown Prince, but not the Regent.

In a secluded corner, Chunhe sobbed and begged for mercy. "Please... won't you stop?"

Xie Jingming gently wiped away her tears. "Not a chance!"

Ever since the day they first met, he had been unable to stop himself.

[Sweet-faced but sinister nobleman x graceful beauty, one-on-one romance, the leads are neither blood-related nor related by marriage]

The heroine is soft and timid at first, but she'll grow stronger later.

Thanks to my dear friend Rong Bao for the cover~

Theme: Don't belittle yourself. Be the brightest flower beneath the spring sun