A Bandit's Road to the Imperial Exams

Introducing the new novel Borrowing Momentum: After her childhood sweetheart cheats, she meets a partner who knows how to guide her.

Blurb:

Xu Cheng is controlled by a mysterious force, and the source of that power turns out to be the jade hairpin his mother left him.

"So, whose goods are we robbing?" What else can you do by controlling a bandit? Rob cargo and steal money, of course. Let's get this over with quickly. He still has to rob the rich to help the poor!

"What are you thinking? Our motto is to study, take the imperial exams, become the top scholar, and build a beautiful country." Ran Yuezhi, who possesses the jade hairpin, can barely conceal his disdain. This bandit has no ambition whatsoever.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Xu Cheng considers himself a born rogue, made for a life on the jianghu. He has already prepared to resist.

That night, Ran Yuezhi used the jade hairpin to teach Xu Cheng, who had yet to be hardened by the jianghu, a proper lesson.

I’m a coward. I’ll study!

A bandit’s road to scholarship could hardly be smooth. The scholars all looked down on this rude, reckless bandit, waiting for him to fall in the mud so they could trample and humiliate him.

Luckily, his little hairpin stayed by his side, never once giving up on him.

Ran Yuezhi: Actually, I want to give up on you every day, but I’m afraid of dying.

Xu Cheng: ...Whatever! You’re just all bark and no bite!

Yet no one could have imagined that one day the bandit everyone mocked would actually make it to the imperial palace and become the top scholar.

On the day Xu Cheng was appointed to the Hanlin Academy, the emperor personally betrothed him to the Chancellor’s daughter. All the officials immediately envied him for becoming the Chancellor’s son-in-law.

"I refuse to marry!" Xu Cheng knelt in the hall and resolutely defied the imperial decree. "Your Majesty, I already have someone I love."

He really was the new top scholar. He actually managed to defy the decree! After successfully rejecting the marriage, Xu Cheng went home to boast to Ran Yuezhi.

Xu Cheng: The emperor wanted to marry me off to the Chancellor’s daughter today. I wagered my career and flat-out refused! A sheltered young lady like that isn’t my type at all! (obedient puppy face)

Ran Yuezhi: I forgot to introduce myself. I’m the Chancellor’s only daughter. (cool cat face)

Xu Cheng: ...What do I do? I refused to marry my wife! This is urgent. I’ll wait for death.

Later

"Lord Xu, aren’t you heading toward the Chancellor’s residence to fetch your bride?"

"What, am I not allowed to eat my words?"

You really do say the most cowardly things in the fiercest tone.

An innocent, sweet puppy of a bandit x an impatient, hot-tempered heiress

I love her. I love only her.

Borrowing Momentum blurb

1. Childhood sweethearts who grew up together, Xu Chengyi was sure to marry Lin Hongzhou. At least, that’s what all their friends thought.

So when Lin Hongzhou cheated, everyone silently agreed to keep it from Xu Chengyi.

That night, as rain poured down, Xu Chengyi came down with acute gastroenteritis. In so much pain she could barely think, she wanted to ask Lin Hongzhou to take her to the hospital.

The next moment, he opened the door. "There’s a serious problem with a case at the company. I need to go deal with it."

Before she could say a word, the door shut.

She called a friend afterward. The friend was worried about her and cursed Lin Hongzhou for being a piece of trash.

Xu Chengyi was in so much pain she was nearly unconscious, but she still defended him. "Something came up at his company. It’s not his fault."

2.

When you feel unloved, try checking his phone.

Xu Chengyi did just that, and saw a message from an old friend:

"Chengyi seems to have figured out what’s going on between Wu Xue and you! Can’t you keep it under wraps?"

Lin Hongzhou replied, "Don’t say things you shouldn’t."

Friend: "Are you threatening me now? Believe me, I’ll tell Chengyi everything you’ve been up to."

Lin Hongzhou: "I won’t repeat myself."

"..."

Everyone knew. Everyone had been keeping it from her.

Xu Chengyi went cold all over. She leaned against the corner of the bed, without even the strength to stand. In the empty house, Xu Chengyi sobbed until her heart broke.

3.

The first time Zhang Ze’an saw Xu Chengyi, she was impeccably dressed, her eyes red and tears still on her cheeks.

As her temporary driver, Zhang Ze’an thought with interest: She looks like someone about to jump from a rooftop after going bankrupt.

For the sake of his own interests, he approached her. From the little she said, he learned that she had been going through an especially difficult time. Anyone else might not have been able to go on living.

But apart from losing weight, she seemed unchanged.

The company began its annual recruitment, and she applied. Perhaps out of guilt, he made an exception and pulled up her resume.

Unfortunately, she didn’t meet his requirements.

He couldn’t pull strings for her.

Later, he told her, "I’m the one who likes you. You can use me. You don’t have to worry about my feelings."

4.

On Monday, Xu Chengyi joined Luo An Fund as a new employee.

The coworker at the desk beside hers said disdainfully, "You’re Zhang Ze’an’s lover, after all. Couldn’t you get him to give you some good opportunities?"

Xu Chengyi: "I swear, we’re just friends."

Coworker: "I saw you kissing."

Xu Chengyi: "..."

Theme: Study hard and keep moving forward