The Lovely Lady Is Hard to Hide

[Advance notice: The novel is complete. After consulting with the editor, I've decided to put it behind a paywall starting from Chapter 22 on August 4. If you've already read it, my dear readers, please be careful not to purchase it by mistake!!! Thank you for your support!]

[Please add the titles in my collection, Heart Toward the Bright Moon and Beauty in Chains (tentative title), to your favorites. Thank you!]

Blurb:

Liu Xiting, Commander of the Imperial City Office, is a fearsome and ruthless man in the eyes of the world, willing to stop at nothing to get things done.

The common people fear him and call him a living King of Hell. The court officials hate him and curse him as a treacherous minister.

One day, a breathtaking beauty was sent to his bed.

She wept like a rain-soaked pear blossom, stirring his heart and desire.

He protected her in every way, yet she never once smiled at him.

A beauty so captivating: if she were to smile, it would surely melt his bones.

When they met again in the capital, the beauty was nestled beside another man, smiling sweetly, her lovely eyes sparkling.

Liu Xiting gritted his teeth until they ached. So she could smile, and smile so beautifully at that!

Later, when the beauty trembled beneath his bullying,

Liu Xiting finally felt satisfied. "Dry your tears. I won't go soft on you again!"

Mei Yingxue lost her parents when she was young and had no choice but to live under someone else's roof.

Not only was her family fortune stolen through schemes, but because she was as delicate and soft as jade and flowers,

a sycophant offered her up to Liu Xiting's bed.

Mei Yingxue feared him like a tiger. Unwilling to ruin her reputation as his mistress,

she pretended to be obedient to win a moment of mercy, then seized an opportunity to escape for a while.

She sought shelter with the family of her betrothed, but he had changed his mind.

The demon also came looking for her to settle the score.

"Now that I've taken notice of you, sooner or later you'll return to the palm of my hand!"

[Blurb captured in a screenshot]

Reader's Guide:

1. One-on-one romance, six-year age gap. [Forceful Pursuit] There is melodrama, so proceed with caution if that's not your thing!

2. The male lead is no good person. Strong male lead, weak female lead. Proceed with caution if this isn't your cup of tea!

3. The dynasty is fictional, with customs and government modeled on the Song dynasty. Many details are invented, so please don't nitpick!

4. Updates follow the ranking schedule when the novel is ranked, and are every other day otherwise. I will see it through to the end. Feel free to add it to your favorites and let the chapters build up.

Theme: Only sincere effort brings a reward.