The Swallow Bearing a Twig (Reborn)

[Completed]

Next up: Heartbeat Echo. The blurb is at the very bottom. If you're interested, visit my collection and save it!

--Blurb--

Shen Zhiyi was the pampered darling of Marquis Wu'an, so doted on that he feared she might break. She grew up spoiled and willful.

But her smooth-sailing life was shattered by the very “fine husband” she had set her sights on, the Fourth Prince. On their wedding day, she witnessed her entire family being slaughtered, then was pinned against the city wall by the Fourth Prince and used as a hostage to threaten the man who had traveled thousands of miles to save her.

She died by her own hand, consumed by hatred.

When she was reborn, she returned to the time when the betrothal gifts had been sent in her previous life. She also discovered she had gained a new ability: whenever she touched someone's hand, she could learn where that person had been that day.

At that moment, the Fourth Prince was in her family's front hall, bearing an imperial edict and “sincerely” asking for her hand.

She gave a cold laugh and let the bed curtains fall. “I'm unwell. I won't see any visitors.”

Later, she had to get close to the Fourth Prince to break off the engagement, using the opportunity to gather evidence of his crimes.

One day, she happened upon the Fourth Prince acting suspiciously. She quietly followed him and nearly got caught.

And the man who should have been stationed at the border quietly drew near her. “How about you leave the Fourth Prince?”

-

After returning from the battlefield, Yan Qingchuan realized Shen Zhiyi had become very strange.

Before, Shen Zhiyi had kept her distance from him, treating him with fear. Now, she wasn't afraid of him at all, and was always bouncing around in front of him.

She even took the initiative to get close, looping her arm around his and speaking sweetly. “I heard a new pastry shop opened on North Street. Go buy me something from there.”

Bonus scene

Shen Zhiyi accompanied the Fourth Prince to Qing Tan Temple to pray, where she unexpectedly ran into Yan Qingchuan. She saw a flash of disappointment and resentment in his eyes, then fled in a panic.

That very night, Yan Qingchuan pinned her against a meditation cushion.

With a towering Buddha statue behind her, the man in front leaned his head against the hollow of her shoulder, his voice restrained and controlled. “Didn't I tell you to stay away from that Zhao guy?”

Seeing how jealous he was, she smiled and leaned close to his ear, bringing her fragrant lips near. “You're hurting me.”

Reading guide:

1. One-on-one romance, both leads' first time, happy ending. Sweet and indulgent, no angst.

2. Both leads are reborn and protect each other.

3. The historical setting is very loosely based on a dynasty. Don't overthink it.

Heartbreak Echo: Upcoming novel blurb

1.

A sudden family crisis during high school stripped Shen Ranji of his golden-boy status overnight, leaving him worse off than an ordinary person.

When his life was at its most difficult and dark, Xia Jianghui appeared like a ray of light, bringing hope to his muddled existence.

He was like a traveler trudging through the desert, suddenly overjoyed to find a spring.

But he was afraid it was only a mirage, longing for it yet not daring to approach.

2.

In the eyes of her teachers, Xia Jianghui was never a good student in the traditional sense.

She slept in class, skipped study hall, came in last on every exam, and even got into fights.

One day, in an alley outside school, Xia Jianghui swiftly knocked down several punks who had blocked her way. Pointing at the boy she was protecting behind her, she grinned like a delinquent girl.

“That's Shen Ranji. From now on, I'll look after him.”

“Don't you dare mess with him.”

-

Later, during a class camping trip, she drew a dare: “Call the first person in your contacts and confess your feelings.”

She stared at “A Shen” at the top of her contacts, stumped.

Amid her classmates' teasing, she blushed and called, summoning her courage. “I like you.”

To her surprise, the person on the other end stayed silent for a long time, then hung up.

Only the “beep, beep, beep” of the disconnected call echoed across the empty grassland.

3. Years later, they reunited at an awards ceremony.

Shen Ranji had become a hot new name in business, while she was only a fledgling director.

When asked whether the film Midsummer was based on a real person, she simply smiled at the camera and said nothing.

Before long, someone dug up the fact that the male lead's backstory in Midsummer was identical to the life of Shen Ranji, president of Jiahe Group.

Reporters came rushing over, eager to get a reliable scoop, and social media suddenly exploded--

It turned out Shen Ranji, who hadn't posted on Weibo in years, had just written: “When will you forgive me?”

Everyone began speculating about who the “you” in his post was.

Later, someone uncovered what seemed to be Shen Ranji's secret Weibo account. Its username was simply “H,” and it contained over a hundred posts, all love letters pouring out his affection.

The oldest post had only a photo of them together in middle school, with one comment underneath:

“No matter how the world changes, I still like you, just as a heartbeat always echoes.”

Theme: Everyone has to grow up