Burning

[The print edition is now available for preorder]

Synopsis:

Everyone knew Chen Hezheng, the young master of the Chen family, as proud, cold-hearted, mysterious, and aloof.

The first time he saw Wen Li, she was standing beside another man.

Chen Hezheng bumped into the hand holding her wineglass, spilling wine all over himself. Wen Li looked up in alarm

That night, when she finally looked straight at him for the first time, he had used a little trick to make it happen.

What Chen Hezheng didn’t know was that Wen Li had seen him long before.

Years ago, he dropped a button. Wen Li picked it up and carefully kept it.

No one knew about that story, and no one knew about her feelings either.

*

Later,

their breakup was so devastating they nearly lost their lives.

Everyone thought Chen Hezheng and Wen Li would never cross paths again in this lifetime.

It was true that Chen Hezheng had once spoiled Wen Li rotten. It was also true that later, he hated her.

And yet they still met again.

On a rainy day, surrounded by a crowd, he picked up the lip tint she had dropped, but handed her a lighter instead.

A unique serial number was engraved on its base, ending in 15.

The character “Li” has 15 strokes, and so does “He.”

Some entanglements seem destined. Falling for him had already become second nature to her.

*

The first snow of winter fell on Tong’an City. Wen Li drew a fortune slip that read: Let your feelings be known.

Amid the crisscrossing rays of cold light, Chen Hezheng wore black as always, holding an umbrella of the same color.

Snowflakes drifted gently down. Wen Li heard a man’s voice by her ear

He said, “Come back to me. I’ll give you one more chance to hurt me, Wen Li. Do you dare take it?”

In this world, crowded with people, only Chen Hezheng’s slightly reddened eyes were beautiful.

More beautiful for being hurt.

*

Gentle dancer and beauty X devoted young master

*

1. Both leads are each other’s one and only. Happy ending, reunited lovers, fictional places and characters with no real-life inspirations.

2. Professional details come from searches and from the author’s not-so-bright imagination. Don’t take them too seriously.

3. Anti-theft measures are in place: 100% ratio, 120-hour delay.

*

[Next story] Cherry-Red Night. See my author’s collection.

■ Class difference | Kneeling in a suit | Brothers fight over her | They steal each other’s partners | An unconventional arranged-marriage-to-love story

■ Beautiful, spoiled, catlike younger sister X billionaire young master in a suit, daddy type

The day Lin Dongyi was invited to Lu Ranzheng’s birthday party, her older brother earnestly reminded her: “Learn how to charm him, and be generous with your compliments. The Lu family has deep connections. An opportunity like this is hard to come by.”

At the party, Lu Ranzheng told Lin Dongyi to dance on the roof of his car for everyone’s entertainment. The young woman didn’t get angry or make a fuss. She flicked open a lighter and tossed it into the car. The top-of-the-line supercar, worth nine figures, went up in flames in an instant!

Later, Lu Ranzheng used the evidence of her “burning the car” to force Lin Dongyi into a relationship with him.

He had no idea that she was already secretly married to his older brother.

-

Before the party began, Lin Dongyi and her secret husband were alone together in a dimly lit room.

She knew he was Lu Ranzheng’s cousin, the true head of the Tan family in Hong Kong, with assets worth billions. He wore no jewelry, just a thin red cord around his wrist that looked like a tattoo.

Outsiders said Tan Xuting was a truly ruthless man. All Lin Dongyi noticed were the scars beneath his shirt and his physique.

Tan Xuting said, “Do you remember our agreement before we got married? First, I’ll protect you. Second, I won’t accept a sexless marriage…”

But Lin Dongyi said, “Can I touch your scar first…”

Tan Xuting paused, then gave a casual smile. “Go ahead.”

-

No one knew Lin Dongyi had ever met Tan Xuting, let alone that she would secretly marry him.

Likewise, Lin Dongyi never expected that the man so far above her would have severe separation anxiety and want to cling to her every second of the day.

By then, Lu Ranzheng was already a popular entertainer. On set, a stylist was about to paint a lipstick mark on the side of his neck.

Lu Ranzheng said, “What’s the fun in painting one? Why not just kiss me instead, ” In front of everyone, he called her by name. “Lin Dongyi, come do it for me!”

The next second, the studio door swung wide open. Under everyone’s astonished gaze, Tan Xuting strode straight in. “Lu Ranzheng, Lin Dongyi is your older brother’s wife. Think carefully about what you should call her.”

That same day, Tan Xuting took off the signature red cord on his wrist and tied it around her ring finger.

The young man stood in a crisp suit, dropped to one knee, and gazed up at her, his voice hoarse. “Lin Dongyi, we’ve been secretly married long enough. Don’t you think it’s time you gave me a title?”

-

“I want to share every meal with you, and I want to die inside you.”

-

Lin Dongyi X Tan Xuting

Message: Cherish love and take life seriously.