Toxic Romance Becomes the Mainstream

[Please add my upcoming novel, Heartbeat Delayed, to your reading list!]

#How big a lie will a man tell to win a woman's heart?#

Xu Zhixi: He'll tell you he's broke.

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Xu Zhixi doesn't have grand ambitions. All she wants is a stable life with the security of a job that provides benefits and a pension, and she's not interested in melodramatic romances with rich families. Whenever one of the many rich second-generation heirs around her makes a pass, she turns them down without exception.

After hitting a wall at her first job, Xu Zhixi resolutely sets out to take the civil service exam, hoping to make her life more stable.

But as soon as she starts studying, she can't resist the temptation of falling in love.

Her boyfriend is a junior team leader at her company. His position isn't particularly impressive, but he's handsome and good at his job. He didn't come from a wealthy family, and both his parents are dead, but through his own hard work, he's managed to save over a hundred thousand yuan.

More importantly, he's gentle and considerate toward her, gives her thoughtful guidance at work, and never brings her down with negativity.

Taking all that into account, Xu Zhixi thinks: He's the one!

When they make their relationship official, she says firmly, "I'm studying for the civil service exam, so you can't expect me to spend too much time on our relationship. You can't let our coworkers know about us, either. And don't drag me into complicated social situations."

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Song Jing comes from a prestigious family and is worth tens of billions, yet no woman has ever been seen at his side.

People in their circle say he's cold and heartless, cares only about the family business, and is an immortal who never descends to the mortal world.

Then one day, this thoughtful, aloof, and extraordinary man loses control of himself and forcefully pulls a young woman into his arms, only to be pushed away in disgust.

He isn't angry. Instead, he apologizes in a humble voice: "I'm sorry."

Xu Zhixi shakes with rage. "You said you weren't friends with any rich people!"

"I blocked them. That means we're not friends."

Xu Zhixi laughs in fury. "You said you had a hundred thousand in savings?"

"...I can add a few more zeroes to that."

"What else?"

Song Jing studies her expression, then hesitantly says, "My father is still alive."

"..."

A salaried slacker focused on passing the civil service exam x a love-struck rich heir who descended to the mortal world for love and just wants to sleep (?), a shameless CEO

#Have melodramatic romances become the norm?#

#When someone who loves employee benefits and a pension meets a family fortune worth billions, will she pass the civil service exam or marry into wealth?#

Also known as: The Civil Service Candidate's Anti-Melodrama Manifesto. Hahahaha!

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Upcoming novel: Heartbeat Delayed

[Marriage Before Love | Falling Hard | Irresistible Female Lead]

When Jin Hai's richest man, Wen Shuzhi, turned sixty, he suddenly announced that he was divorcing his wife. He also had a young, sweet lover by his side, whom he spoiled rotten, ready to give her the moon and stars.

The wealthy crowd made the young lover their favorite topic of conversation. They speculated about what made her so special that sixty-year-old Wen Shuzhi was so devoted to her.

But less than half a year later, Wen Shuzhi died suddenly. Just as everyone thought the young lover's good days were over, news broke that she was marrying Wen Chi, Wen Shuzhi's eldest son.

The wealthy were in an uproar.

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Before he died, Wen Shuzhi left a will giving most of his property to his eldest son, Wen Chi, with one condition:

He had to marry Tang Rou for the will to take effect.

To ensure her son received the inheritance, his mother, Zhuang Yaxin, personally arranged the marriage.

As the eldest son of the family, Wen Chi was levelheaded, dignified, and refined. He was known for keeping himself above reproach.

The day they signed a one-year marriage contract, he said, "I hope Miss Tang will honor the contract."

.

This marriage was a farce destined to end almost as soon as it began. Tang Rou knew that perfectly well and never entertained any fantasies. She just had to wait until Wen Chi fully inherited the family business, then take the money and leave.

But when she began making plans to go, the man who had been cold and distant toward her tore the divorce agreement to shreds.

He said coldly, "You sleep with me and then leave. Tang Rou, you really have no heart."

Tang Rou: "..."

-His love for her grew wildly through the dark, endless nights.

-A delayed heartbeat is still a heartbeat. Thankfully, it isn't too late.

P.S. The female lead never married the male lead's father, nor did they have any physical relationship. The wise don't believe rumors.

Reader's guide:

1. Dramatic and melodramatic, monogamous pairing, both leads sexually inexperienced.

2. A little kink-focused, with lots of potential squicks and plenty of love rivals competing for the male lead.

3. The female lead isn't strong. She's very, very weak, and dreams of taking down the male lead's entire family.

Theme: Study hard and turn your life around.