A flirtatious, free-spirited female escort with formidable martial prowess; a cool, devoted male shopkeeper; and a beautiful, obsessive, brooding second male lead
Ji Jiujiu of Linzhou's Changfeng Escort Agency spends her days indulging in wine and women, with a particular fondness for handsome men.
One Mid-Autumn Festival, she went to see the lanterns with her senior brothers. There, she was captivated at first sight by Nie Yaochen, who had guessed ten sets of lantern riddles in a row. It was love at first sight, and she couldn't help herself.
So, taking advantage of being drunk, she wrapped an arm around his soft waist. "Young master, would you do me the honor of becoming my husband?"
Known as the most beautiful man in Linzhou, Nie Yaochen had just been teased by a woman. His handsome face changed color on the spot, and his eyes were filled with disdain.
On the days she wasn't escorting caravans, Ji Jiujiu kept going to the Nie family's bookstore, pretending to browse the pages. Nie Yaochen always gave her a look that said, Keep pretending, and paid her no mind.
Until one day, when Nie Yaochen had her pinned in a corner of the bookstore, he asked casually, "I heard you've been telling everyone that I don't know how to romance someone?"
Before Ji Jiujiu could explain, he added, "I'm getting married."
For several days afterward, Ji Jiujiu didn't show up again.
Nie Yaochen learned from the escort agency that she had been injured while escorting a caravan and had gone up into the mountains to recuperate.
A year later, Ji Jiujiu returned to the agency, only to hear that the Nie family's bookstore had gone out of business on the day of the wedding.
She searched everywhere, then saw Nie Yaochen being led out of the pleasure district. His face was alluring, his eyes filled with unfathomable coldness.
Ji Jiujiu threw herself into his arms. A sigh sounded beside her ear. "These clothes of mine are filthy. I haven't even changed yet."
A few months later, on the day of Awakening of Insects, the three major bookstores in Linzhou were raided overnight for secretly printing books.
Not far away, Nie Yaochen stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.
In early spring, while Ji Jiujiu was packing her things, Nie Yaochen walked in. "I want to hire you to escort something."
"What is it?"
"Your betrothal gifts."
Second Male Lead Blurb
While escorting a caravan away from Changfeng Escort Agency, Ji Jiujiu came across a traveling opera troupe and traveled with them for a stretch of the road.
When it was time to part, Yinian, the troupe's young actor in blue robes, chased after her and knelt in front of her horse. Gazing up at the bright-eyed, beautiful woman, he pleaded humbly, "Please, take me with you."
After returning to the city with her, Yinian followed her everywhere, always proper, considerate, and gentle.
But when he learned that Ji Jiujiu was pining for another man, Yinian seemed to become someone else. He obstructed her at every turn, resorting to one scheme after another, both openly and behind the scenes.
When he saw that he still couldn't keep her, he pinned Ji Jiujiu to the bed one day.
"Will you choose him, or me?"
"Him."
"Fine, just fine. Then I'd rather have you hate me for the rest of your life than let you go."
Thesis: Love yourself before you love someone else
