Half-Persuaded

On a winter night, Su Yitang first met Ji Qingyi at a bar.

Beneath the dim lights, he looked languid and relaxed, the collar of his loose black shirt half open. He sang a cool, innocent song with an air of arrogance, the sharp contrast striking.

After the show, her gaze fell on his collarbone. She teased him flirtatiously, "Aren't you cold dressed so lightly?"

Ji Qingyi leaned lazily against the dark green wall and looked down at her. He let out a soft, amused snort. "It'll cost you if you keep looking."

A sweet yet cocky younger man, a rare sight. On a whim, Su Yitang tried to seduce him. When that didn't work, she used money to win him over. "Let big sis teach you how to kiss." She did everything they should and shouldn't do.

Sadly, it went nowhere. Later, she dumped him and went abroad.

-

Suddenly, all the company's promotional videos were taken down. After making inquiries, Su Yitang learned that the platform's new shareholder was someone she'd dumped, and he didn't want to work with her.

Su Yitang thought to herself that she'd dumped plenty of people and decided to meet him in person.

The meeting room door opened. Ji Qingyi stood in relaxed black casual clothes, surrounded by a group of executives in suits. His languid bearing drew everyone's attention.

"You're here?" He slipped both hands into his pockets, his dark eyes shadowed as he drawled, "It sure is hard to get a glimpse of you, big sis."

-

Later, everyone saw the shareholder's son, who had once been handsome, cocky, and used to getting his way, refuse to work with her. But after she came looking for him, he acted like a well-behaved younger brother, cornering her in the meeting room and coaxing and pleading in a low voice: "We already kissed, so when are we making up?"

-On-a-whim heiress * cocky yet pure young master

-Older woman-younger man romance, three-year age gap

**

Coming next: "The Damp Tide Returns"

In her most rebellious year, Xia Wanyan charmed the charismatic, aloof bar owner in the ancient waterside city of Linshui.

The man was called Jiang Qingshi. He was cold by nature, and only Xia Wanyan had seen him lose himself to desire. In the bar's attic, he pinned her against an intricately carved window, his burning desire pressed against her neck.

Later, she asked to break up and left without a word.

-

Five years later, Xia Wanyan headed north for an arranged marriage.

Her future spouse told her that Uncle Jiang of the Jiang family held the power and was feared by everyone.

Xia Wanyan didn't care.

But at the family dinner that night, her heart suddenly began to race.

The man at the head of the table held a cigarette between his fingers, its ember flaring and fading. His stern gaze pierced the mingling crowd and locked directly onto her.

Jiang Qingshi.

Her parents reminded her, "Call him Uncle."

She was about to speak when he turned his head away indifferently, so coldly that it seemed their passionate past had never happened.

Distant in public.

She thought their relationship would go no further than former lovers and a new uncle by marriage.

Until one day, after a night of drinking, she stayed out all night. Jiang Qingshi came looking for her. The moment she opened the door, he pinned her hard against the entryway wall.

Outside, her future spouse knocked urgently.

Inside, Jiang Qingshi kissed her until she was weak all over and could barely stand.

"You know what you're like when you're drunk."

Jiang Qingshi gripped both her wrists, his voice low and hoarse.

"You kissed me by force, took off my shirt, and undid my belt."

"Think about how you're going to make it up to me."

-

Later, her future spouse chased after her down the corridor with a bouquet of roses, but all he saw was Xia Wanyan disappearing around the corner.

No one knew that just on the other side of the wall, Jiang Qingshi was holding her in the shadows, his lips and teeth grazing the tip of her ear. "Can you give me a definite answer about marrying me?"

--

Theme: We have completely different values. After avoidance, clashes, and conflict, we eventually compromise and fall in love.