A Match Made in Heaven

[Older man/Marriage first, love later/Face-slapping, then realizing how good it is/An old flame rekindled]

Blurb:

Zhenzhen has a fiancé, a childhood betrothal arranged by her grandfather. Rumor has it he comes from a distinguished family and has a brilliant future ahead of him.

But after making inquiries, Zhenzhen learns that her fiancé is rotten beneath his fine exterior. Most importantly, he's ten years older than she is!

Zhenzhen doesn't like him, so she runs away from the wedding and flees to Pingjiang, a place rumored to be full of handsome men. Sure enough, she meets a fine-looking gentleman there.

He's only a lowly county magistrate, but he's tall, strikingly handsome, and peerless in appearance.

She likes him very much and immediately sends her grandfather a letter, earnest and resolute in every word: she absolutely must break off her engagement to that old man.

A few days later, her grandfather, a veteran of decades of battle, comes charging in with a blade to “demand an explanation.”

Zhenzhen is terrified, but fortunately the county magistrate she's taken a liking to is an upright, principled gentleman with a strong sense of responsibility. He steps in front of her.

Who could have guessed that her usually stern and fearsome grandfather would clap the magistrate on the shoulder and laugh warmly, his tone familiar and approving? “Well done, my worthy nephew!”

Zhenzhen: “???”

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The Male Lead's Perspective:

The Zong clan of the capital is the foremost of the great aristocratic houses, renowned and wealthy beyond compare.

As the head of his family, Zong Bojun should have a wife who is gentle and reserved, refined and elegant, manages the household, bears heirs, and sets an example as the clan matriarch.

Instead, his fiancée is spoiled and headstrong, defies convention, and is a rebellious young lady who runs away from her wedding at the slightest disagreement.

When his friends hear that he's traveled far away to bring her back and is playing childish house with the young lady, they deeply sympathize with him.

Zong Bojun is indifferent and unconcerned. “I cannot disobey my grandfather's wishes. I'll marry her to put the old man at ease, and then we can each live our own lives.”

Then one day, word comes from the Zong residence that the young madam has left behind a divorce agreement and disappeared without a word. His friends and colleagues assume Magistrate Zong has finally escaped his misery. Before they can congratulate him, they see the man, usually so focused on official duties and rigidly proper, crush the cup in his hand. His face dark with fury, he says nothing, mounts his horse, and rides after her.

Friend: “...?”

Didn't you say you'd each live your own lives?

Couple: An extremely controlling, old-fashioned, fatherly husband and a proud, rebellious young lady from a military family

Reader's Guide:

The male lead at first: A workaholic, mature and composed, an aloof beauty

After the old flame catches fire and he realizes his wife has never fallen for him: Increasingly unhinged, extremely controlling, with twisted punishments

(The male lead's name has been changed, changed!)

Theme: Love is written in the stars.