Embracing the World Within

[Marriage First, Love Later] [Two Master Actors] [Secret Identities] [Forced Marriage]

[Coming Soon: Rule Number One] Contract Lovers Become Official

My other novel, The Thoughts I Have When I Like You, is currently updating. Feel free to check it out.

1.

In Xu Mi’s eyes, the first promise he made to the well-behaved Cheng heiress he married for an alliance was, “Don’t worry about it. We’ll get divorced in a year.”

In Cheng Xuandu’s eyes, this husband of convenience looked respectable enough, but was a shameless actor. His first promise to her was:

“Help me win over the hottest girl in S17, and I’ll introduce you to the wildest guy on the racing team.”

As time went by, the couple’s pretend marriage failed to convince anyone. Instead, they became each other’s wingmen.

Xu Mi looks at the foxishly cunning woman before him and asks with a knowing smile, “The hottest girl?”

Cheng Xuandu raises an eyebrow, putting on an innocent, devilishly sweet act. “All of S17 belongs to me. I get the final say on what that means.”

Xu Mi lets out a low laugh and casually turns the ring he hasn’t worn since their wedding day. “What a coincidence. The racing team belongs to me, too.”

As soon as he finishes speaking, he lowers his head and adds, in a voice only the two of them can hear:

“You’ve already had a taste of just how wild I am, Miss Cheng. Are you satisfied?”

2.

Everyone calls Iris, a designer at Vent, a master of sensuality, an Aphrodite in her own right. No wonder she created the “Golden Apple” collection, leaving people craving more.

But no one knows she’s still slowly working on a few shortcomings of her own,

turning weaknesses into strengths.

The bastard always hides behind excuses like “for the sake of the design” and “to improve the user experience.” In the gentlest voice, he coaxes her while doing anything but behaving himself:

“Come on, be good. Let’s try out this wardrobe.”

On the surface: the unwanted wastrel heir of the Xu family and the hated, meek daughter of the Cheng family.

In reality: a bastard of a man and a wild woman even more shameless than he is.

Both are C-rated, also known as the birth of two master actors. A forced marriage that’s all about having no shame. (Not really.)

The original “hot girl” and “wild man” were said in anger and mockery. Read the story to see how they fit.

P.S. The heroine has a secret identity, so at first glance there may seem to be a lot of names.

Bai Jie is the heroine’s secret identity, while Cheng Xuandu is her true self. The chapters are divided into Jiezi and Xumi, depending on their focus.

“Xumi in a mustard seed” has two meanings. Jiezi and Xumi are at the heart of the story, which will explain more.

Enjoy!

Shamelessly promoting another upcoming novel:

[Rule Number One] Showbiz, Contract Romance, Fu Yu x Cheng Kaiyang (Xuandu’s younger brother)

It was only a contractual relationship.

He was gentle, distinguished, and considerate, everything a good man could be.

She was born lowly and knew that earning even the tiniest bit of his favor was a rare blessing.

He doted on her and treated her tenderly, as though he cherished her.

She understood that it was merely the natural courtesy of a well-brought-up man.

Rule Number One of the contract: Do not fall for your employer.

She must not give in to greed.

She could only carefully hide her feelings and dutifully play the role she was meant to. She only needed to find a foothold in a world where the strong prey on the weak, and do whatever it took to survive.

Their hidden relationship could not last forever, but she never expected it to end so soon.

The night news broke of the Cheng family’s marriage alliance, Fu Yu drank until she was tipsy. For the first time, she took the initiative, bold enough to do something that left her too ashamed to look at herself.

Three years was neither a long nor a short time. It was long enough to form many habits, but not long enough to win someone’s heart, let alone secure her place in that world.

At dawn the next day, she got up early, grabbed her already packed luggage, abandoned the gilded cage that had never been locked, and chose to run away.

The wind was bitterly cold, and the sky was a lifeless white, just like the day they first met.

Dragging her suitcase and shuffling along in her slippers, she looked back with her chin held high, thinking bitterly, “He always takes the lead. I suppose getting the upper hand this time counts as a win.”

But when her gaze shifted upward

Between the billowing indigo curtains of the familiar window stood a man loosely wrapped in a bathrobe, arms folded as he looked down at her from afar.

After ten seconds of eye contact, she instinctively tightened her grip on the suitcase handle and tried to retreat.

He reached up and held back the curtain. Beneath his open robe were the marks she had left in anger.

His expression was calm as he beckoned with a finger and mouthed two familiar words: “Come here.”

A game at the wedding reception finally brought some hidden stories to light.

Cheng Kaiyang listened to his older sister’s accusations, lowered his head in embarrassment, then turned and put an arm around his wife, who had been listening with pricked-up ears.

“It was my fault.”

“But, darling, should I say you were too timid or too bold?”

“You were so timid that a few words from someone else scared you away, but you wouldn’t believe me.”

“And so bold that…”

Cheng Kaiyang chuckled softly and pinched her earlobe. He whispered the rest just for her: “You dared to eat and run.”

Theme: Though we are as small as mustard seeds, our hearts can hold the universe