What Can I Do to Make You Stay?

[Must Read Before Starting]

* Past and present lives. The blurb is about the past life; the main setting is modern times. HE. High-sweetness warning.

* Important: The main setting is modern times! The main setting is modern times! The main setting is modern times! The blurb takes up no more than three chapters. If this story isn't sweet, I'll cut my own head off!

* Both leads are sexually inexperienced.

* Imperfect characters / unhealthy personalities / the bottom is physically disabled / neither was a traditionally good person in their previous life.

* The historical portion is set in an imaginary world. The author has no professional experience in the relevant fields, so readers who demand historical accuracy should beware.

* The "Great Ming" in the blurb is not the same dynasty as the historical Ming, and the chief grand secretary is not the same as the historical position. Don't conflate them. Readers who demand historical accuracy should beware.

* The title is taken from Borges's "What Can I Do to Keep You?"

* Please don't read pirated copies. I publish on Jinjiang, so I can only take responsibility for the official version.

* Reasonable suggestions and criticism are welcome. Please don't leave comments when you go. See you in another story, and thank you for your support and understanding.

----- Blurb begins below -----

On the winter solstice of the thirty-fourth year of the Great Ming, the previous emperor died and a new emperor ascended the throne. As the dynasty changed, tens of thousands signed a petition accusing Chief Grand Secretary Sui Xu of cruelty, corruption, and violating human decency. They called him a traitor for the ages and demanded that the emperor purge his corrupt officials.

Three months later, the chief grand secretary was executed by being torn apart by five horses in the middle of a crowded street. The people spread the news, the court lifted the nighttime curfew, and Chang'an was alight all night.

In a dimly lit corner, Ji Tingyu carefully gathered Sui Xu's severed limbs and remains.

The next day, a maid opened the bedroom door. Sui Xu lay on the bed, whole again and dressed in wedding robes. His wife, Ji Tingyu, in her phoenix crown and bridal gown, rested in his arms, lifeless.

The red candle on the table had burned down. Ji Tingyu stroked Sui Xu's stiff cheek, his eyes gentle.

"A Xu, you broke your promise again."

"But it doesn't matter. I've come to marry you."

"What can I do to keep you?"

"I give you the streets grown barren, the despairing sunset, the moon over the wilderness."

----- Borges, "What Can I Do to Keep You?"

Theme: Live well.