A Heart Stirs at Dawn

The novel is complete. If you enjoyed it, please leave a five-star rating! A print edition is signed for publication. Updates on the project: @Meng Wuyueyue. For full subscribers, if a chapter appears more than once, please top up your subscription and clear your cache. [All-sugar married life / 10-year age gap / devoted, virtuous male lead] Gentle, sincere office worker x dignified, tender, husband-material man My next novel is the older sister-younger man romance, Late Lamp. The campus-to-city mutual-crush novel, Summer Boy's Love Affair, is also coming soon. Please add them to your reading list and follow me! When Ruan Nian had just married Liang Xiwen, it was only the third time she had met him, and the circumstances were as dramatic as could be. Their families were close, and it was only a matter of time before she was engaged to the young master of the Liang family. Unfortunately, her future fiance was a notorious playboy, and he barely acknowledged her existence. One day, entertainment reporters photographed the young master of the Liang family entering and leaving a hotel with a supermodel. Ruan Nian helplessly tried to set the record straight outside, when a black Bentley stopped at the hotel entrance. A man stepped out, refined and elegant, in a neat shirt and dark suit. He had the poise of a mature man, and he was her fiance's eldest brother, Liang Xiwen. He merely smiled faintly. "Go get some rest. I'll handle this." By evening, the Liang family mansion was brightly lit. The young master was determined to defend his freedom, Old Master Liang's blood pressure had shot up in anger, and the Liang family was in chaos. Ruan Nian sat nervously in the redwood living room. Liang Xiwen sat calmly beside the tea table, preparing tea. She stole a glance at him. He was serene and composed, like a gentleman untouched by the world, and his wrist beneath the cuff of his shirt was alluringly sensual. A few seconds later, he handed her a cup of hot tea. "The Civil Affairs Bureau opens at eight tomorrow morning. Shall I come pick you up?" - Ruan Nian thought this was a marriage that satisfied both families, without much love mixed in. She had only heard that Liang Xiwen came from a prominent family, had spent years expanding the family business overseas, and was devoted to his career. He seemed like a man who kept others at a distance. Ruan Nian maintained the right amount of distance in their "partnership." He was ten years older than her, steady and reliable, and impossible for her to read, so she naturally had no expectations. Then one day, she was surprised to discover that he had accurately remembered her birthday, their wedding anniversary, and even her irregular periods... One night, Ruan Nian belatedly realized that things were taking a strange turn. Liang Xiwen was far too attentive and indulgent toward her. Ruan Nian thought for a few seconds. "Liang Xiwen, do we have a post-marriage agreement?" The man had just come out of the bathroom and was standing before the mirror, his features deep and his hair slightly damp. He asked gently, "For example?" Nervously, Ruan Nian looked away. "For example, does it say... how many years the agreement lasts?" Liang Xiwen smiled but said nothing. At night, just as Ruan Nian was about to fall asleep, she felt the man draw her into his arms. His warm breath carried the cool, sensual scent of incense. "Have I done anything in this marriage that made you unhappy? Tell me, and I'll be more careful in the future." - "I hope that marriage will never feel like a cage to you. I want it to be a place where you can rest, a promise that someone will always support you from behind and love you as an equal by your side. I want it to be a home where you can always let your guard down and rest." Every spare moment Ruan Nian thought Liang Xiwen was busy, he was thinking about how to love her. Before Ruan Nian understood what marriage meant, Liang Xiwen had already made all her fantasies about marriage and romance come true. Reading tips: 1. A devoted, virtuous male lead; both leads are each other's first and only; happy ending; 10-year age gap. Ages 23 and 33. 2. A gentle, slice-of-life story about love after marriage. Pure sweetness, with no female rivals. [There are absolutely no female rivals in this novel, and no white moonlight, ex-girlfriend, or former fiancee. The male lead is devoted, respects his relationship, and stays faithful. If that's not your thing, please move on without arguing about real life. This is simply a sweet, everyday married-life romance.] 3. One more thing: the secondary couple is a British gentleman x a Shanghai woman, Marquis Sullivan x Jiang Wenyi. The other couple is a roguish, handsome race-car driver x a gorgeous tattoo artist. I'm listing these to help readers avoid anything they don't like. All the couples are devoted and faithful, so don't worry. I only write devoted, virtuous male leads, thank you. Screenshotted on November 16, 2021, and revised on July 5, 2022. Both versions have been screenshotted and archived. Age-gap romance Spring Magpies is complete. Age-gap romance Scarlet Dawn is complete. Childhood sweethearts romance Anonymous Love Letter is complete. Reunion romance Butterflies After the Rain is complete. Blurb for Stranded at Midnight The intern he raised x her direct supervisor and benefactor A little like raising her / Adult romance / Healing each other / Devoted, virtuous male lead Ages 23 and 34 The white peony of Yanjing x the aloof spring snow of the capital's elite circle The moment Jiang Mi got into the black car parked on the street corner, she knew what would happen next. It was a rare night of heavy snow in Yanjing. There were no hotel rooms available. She had no choice but to drag her luggage to look for family she hadn't seen in years, only to discover they had moved away long ago. She didn't feel anger or sorrow. A black Maybach was parked on the street corner. Its window was partly lowered, and the man in the back seat watched her quietly. After a long while, he drove up in front of her and said calmly, "Get in." Jiang Mi always felt that favors ought to be repaid, but she didn't know how to respond to Huo Peidong's help and all the care he had shown her. People in their social circle often said Huo Peidong needed a marriage between equals, and that the Huo family was looking for a suitable match. When the company-sponsored overseas placement was finally approved, she opened the envelope containing her offer and found a house purchase contract and a key inside as well. That night, Jiang Mi tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She went downstairs in her slippers and saw Huo Peidong sitting on the sofa, looking a little tired. After a long silence, he said in a quiet voice, "You've been by my side for five years, haven't you?" Jiang Mi said nothing. Huo Peidong suddenly raised his eyes, as if he were stating something ordinary. "It's time you had a home with me." - Every reckless night, I wanted to be the harbor where you could find shore after being tossed by the waves. Reading tips: All my works feature devoted, virtuous male leads. There is no white moonlight, ex-girlfriend, or former fiancee. If that's not your thing, please move on. This is a gentle, sweet little story. The blurb has been screenshotted and archived. Theme: Respect and equality forever.