After Marrying the Male Lead of a Bad Ending Novel by Contract

[A little preview of my upcoming novel, "I Took the Takeout Meant for My Secret Crush," is below. Come take a look!]

Synopsis

Pei Ning had a meeting in the company's reception room.

His unexpected guest was business tycoon Fu Chenyan, impeccably dressed in a suit with an air of abstinence. His composed features and every graceful gesture exuded gentlemanly charm.

The only problem was that he didn't seem quite right in the head.

Fu Chenyan told him they were living in a book. In the future, Fu Chenyan would fall for Pei Ning at first sight, then launch into a torturous, melodramatic romance that would turn their lives into a mess and end with both of them dying in a Bad Ending.

Pei Ning: "So, what are you hoping to... do?"

Fu Chenyan: "Let's get married. That way, the ending will follow the plot, and we can skip the trouble in between."

He set down his teacup and added casually, "We can draw up an agreement. If nothing happens by the time it expires, we'll part ways. It won't affect your life."

Pei Ning was silent for a moment. "Mr. Fu, why don't we go for a walk?"

Half an hour later, he led Fu Chenyan to the entrance of a hospital famous for its psychiatric department.

*

Pei Ning thought the rich guy was just crazy. Little did he know that before long, he would have the exact same dream.

In the dream, he was like a puppet on strings, and he and "Fu Chenyan" took turns tormenting each other. They were practically both insane, and neither of them could get away unscathed.

When he woke up, Pei Ning immediately made a call:

"Mr. Fu? I agree to marry you."

*

According to the plan, if they were both safe and sound by the end of the year, the contract would be considered fulfilled.

After seven peaceful months.

Pei Ning: "Should we get divorced?"

Fu Chenyan: "Let's wait a little longer."

After ten peaceful months.

Pei Ning: "Should we get divorced?"

Fu Chenyan: "Are you in a hurry?"

Peaceful... peaceful for a whole year.

Pei Ning: "Why are you bringing me flowers and a present?"

Fu Chenyan: "It's our wedding anniversary."

Pei Ning blinked. "Aren't we getting divorced?"

Fu Chenyan's dark eyes were deep and unreadable. "According to the plot, you should be trying to win me over now, so you can escape. Go ahead and start. You don't actually have to run away."

Pei Ning: "…?"

[Notes]

1. One-on-one romance, happy ending.

2. The career subplot is entirely made up by the author.

"I Took the Takeout Meant for My Secret Crush" is a little sweet story about two people secretly crushing on each other.

*

Nan Yin went to pick up his takeout in a torrential downpour. When he got back and checked the food, it wasn't what he'd ordered.

He called the delivery driver and asked around, eventually discovering that he'd swapped orders with someone in the dorm next door.

His roommate had already started eating. But both orders were barbecue, so after talking it over, they decided to get together and share.

Eating alone was boring, so they cracked open seven or eight cans of beer and started playing Truth or Dare.

After a couple of rounds, the bottle slowly came to a stop pointing at Nan Yin.

The others laughed and asked with wicked grins, "When was the last time you did something rated R?"

Nan Yin thought for a moment. "Six months ago."

"Come on, come on! How was it? What was it like? Tell us all about it!"

The guys clamored and hooted like a bunch of idiots.

But Nan Yin said, "It was awful."

It really was. It hurt so much he kept tearing up, and he almost couldn't keep pretending to be drunk.

With a clank, Liang Chenyuan set his empty beer can upright in full view of everyone and said calmly, "It's fine. Keep going."

A moment later, his phone vibrated with a new WeChat message.

Lcy: Sorry.

Nan Yin glanced at it and ignored it.

Five minutes later, another message arrived.

Lcy: Was it really that bad?

Synopsis written on 2022/12/26

Theme: Break free from the shackles of fate and pursue self-fulfillment.