You and I for Half a Lifetime [Republican Era]

Influenced by new ideas, Cheng Youyi cut off her long hair.

She came and went among the men, and truly became a tomboy.

With no marriage proposals coming their way, her family could only turn to men from out of town:

They would marry her off to Xu Zeyun, the third young master of the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in London, he spoke foreign languages, studied foreign books, and ate foreign bread.

Like his new ideas, he was completely out of place in this old world.

Everyone in Shanghai's younger generation knew the third young master was quite the playboy.

He frequented the pleasure quarters, toyed with actors, kept starlets, and was constantly surrounded by scandal.

He had ruined his reputation back home, so he was sent here.

They first met at the Paramount Ballroom.

Xu Zeyun had just fallen out with his family over the marriage,

then someone else stole the spotlight from him, so he spoke with a grievance in his voice:

"Who are you?"

Cheng Youyi blinked and smiled mischievously:

"I'm your girl."

Xu Zeyun felt a strange sense of familiarity and surprise.

He tilted his head toward her and smiled like an adorable puppy:

"Who taught you that?"

*She pursues him. Happy ending.

A sweet-talking, hard-hearted queen of dirty jokes x a smooth-tongued, deep-thinking man

More historical romance: Old Dreams of Peace

On her way to escape an arranged marriage, Moli happened to save a handsome young gentleman with skin like white jade. He was said to be short on money, so he joined her on her journey to Chang'an.

After they talked late into the night, she began to think about making a better future for herself.

With her excellent dancing skills, Moli joined the Inner Court's Music and Dance Bureau. When she performed before the Emperor, she learned that the young man was Chu Di, the Second Prince.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, Moli was seized by her family and sent to the Jingzhao Prefect to be his concubine once more. To save her, Chu Di secretly mobilized the Imperial Guards, set up checkpoints, and conducted a thorough search. In the end, he beat the Jingzhao Prefect. Every one of these deeds was a serious crime.

In the carriage on the way back to the palace, Moli said, "Big Brother, I'm cold."

Chu Di held her close, his heart pounding like a drum, and they fell in love.

Later, the Emperor wanted to bestow her upon him, as a concubine.

But Moli replied, "Your Majesty, this servant is unwilling."

From then on, she caught the Emperor's eye and struck a bargain: love in exchange for a brighter future.

*

Chu Di was the second son of the Emperor and Empress. From a young age, he knew how treacherous court politics could be and how lonely the inner palace was. While everyone else sought fame and fortune, he wanted none of it. He lived as he pleased, transparent and clear within and without.

After his coming-of-age ceremony, the Emperor tried several times to choose a noble bride for him, but Chu Di rejected each proposal outright.

Later, he was injured while capturing a thief and rescued by a woman passing by. His first impression was that she was fiery, wild, and far too softhearted. After watching her all the way, he realized she was stubborn, conflicted, and lost. He did not know what injustice she had suffered, but she had run away from home, determined to make her way to the top.

When they met again, she danced before the Emperor, and he realized she was an uncut gem, precious but unadorned. With a little carving and polishing, she seemed transformed, ready to enter a world of romance and beauty.

He stared, dumbstruck. Before the music even began, his heart was already beating like a drum.

From then on, he protected her as she rose step by step from an unknown court entertainer to a celebrated female official, entering the Tower of Peace and becoming a marquis with a fief of ten thousand households.

"In this life, to find a kindred spirit who understands me, to walk hand in hand, encourage each other with words, support each other with power, treat each other with sincerity, and pledge ourselves to one another is my greatest fortune."

A little Moli who cares only for fame and fortune x a clear-eyed, easygoing man who fights and competes for her sake

Happy ending / slow burn / ensemble cast

The female lead has a romantic history. The male lead does not.

Upcoming modern crime investigation novel: L at Daybreak

Li Linlang, a 26-year-old technician newly hired by the Sucheng Public Security Bureau, is striking, bright, and full of cheeky remarks. She was recruited after hacking the official firewall.

On her first day at work, she recognizes her direct supervisor as the man who saved her life during a serial murder case.

Bai Shuhong, 34, is the leader of the criminal profiling team, widely regarded as a well-rounded expert. Mature and steady, with a poker face that never changes, he nevertheless retains the purest, most generous kind of innocence inside.

During a field team's meeting, he borrowed a team member's phone to call Linlang, with the call on speaker. She launched into a rapid-fire introduction:

"Li Linlang from the Sucheng Public Security Bureau's Technical Division, also known as L, at your service, my prince. Just tell me what you need."

Bai Shuhong awkwardly said,

"L, could you look into..."

On the other end, Linlang blurted out in a panic:

"As you command, my little capt!"

After that, Linlang was so mortified that whenever she saw Bai Shuhong, she wanted to crawl into a hole.

He noticed, but assumed it was a work-related issue. One morning, as he passed her desk, he encouraged her:

"You've been doing good work lately. Keep it up."

Linlang said nothing, but an inexplicable blush spread across her face.

Later, Bai Shuhong often found himself thinking of that day, and of her flushed cheeks. After examining and cross-checking his feelings several times, he came to a conclusion: he had fallen in love.

1. Computer expert x criminal profiler

2. Sweet romance, level one, mutual pining, cozy and grounded

3. Two storylines run in parallel: L's coming-of-age and a suspenseful investigation

Completed Republican-era novel: A Lai

Teacher x economist, reunited after a breakup.

Completed historical romance: The Unremembered Years

Clever girl x straightforward man, marriage before love.

Theme: You can only rely on yourself