Soft Flame

A general revision, mainly correcting typos. 2023-05-22

Coming soon: Old Marriage, a marriage-first, love-later story. Blurb below.

Cool and gentle vs. awkward and devoted

Lin Zhining went to great lengths to cross paths with Qin Yue countless times, all just to earn a polite "Miss Lin" from him.

She watched the distinguished man surrounded by a crowd. At a birthday party for one of Qin Yue's friends, Lin Zhining, who never drank in public, had a drink. The coolness in her eyes was set ablaze by the alcohol, turning into a cold, burning flame.

In an empty corridor, Lin Zhining looked at Qin Yue, who had reached out to steady her. Her eyes reddened as an indescribable ache and sense of grievance surged through her. This was probably the closest she would ever get to Qin Yue.

Earlier, Qin Yue's director friend had teased him, saying an actress was in love with him. Qin Yue hadn't taken it seriously, because every time the actress accidentally met his eyes, her gaze was always cool and distant.

Until she drank at his friend's birthday party. In a secluded corner, the gentle flame burning in her cool eyes gazed at him as she called him, "Sir."

Qin Yue's heart melted completely.

Three years after they parted.

Lin Zhining stood before him once more, bringing the chill of the first snow with her. Qin Yue sat in a wheelchair, his expression as detached as a statue's.

Though Lin Zhining had a thousand feelings in her heart, all she could manage was a halting, "Sir, it's been a long time."

*

Bonus scene:

After Lin Zhining fell ill once, her assistant A Yao became her number-one fan, telling everyone how precious her sweet and gentle girl was.

Sweet and gentle? Everyone looked at her like, Really? I don't believe it.

A Yao grew flustered and offered an example. Once, when Lin Zhining was sick, she thought the thermometer was too cold and sleepily asked A Yao to warm it up before taking her temperature.

When Qin Yue found out, on a bitterly cold winter night, he wrapped her completely in his coat and spoke in a low, beguiling voice to the woman trying to escape: "Mrs. Qin, where are you cold? Let me warm you up."

Only later did Lin Zhining learn that she'd been able to live peacefully in the entertainment industry for all these years because Qin Yue had always been watching over her from somewhere she couldn't see.

The fog grew thick. I loved you where no one could see., Fog

----------Blurb for Old Marriage----------

Marriage first, love later

Cold, abstinent biology professor vs. sweet, soft TV host with a poker face

The marriage alliance between the Lu and Zhou families caused a sensation in Qingbei City.

Everyone knew Zhou Jiahe had a beloved woman, cool as the bright moon, whose dance had once amazed the immortals.

But the Zhou family tore them apart, forcing Zhou Jiahe to register his marriage with Lu Zhixia.

Lu Zhixia was the daughter of a notorious nouveau riche family in Qingbei City.

The Lu family's reputation was bad, but they had money.

So whether or not the marriage certificate was signed wasn't up to Zhou Jiahe alone.

Old Lu had taken a liking to Zhou Jiahe only because he was smart and handsome. He wanted to improve the genes of the Lu family's descendants.

So the usually obedient Lu Zhixia took a five-million-yuan business proposal and, with everyone watching, registered her marriage with Zhou Jiahe.

Zhou Jiahe: "Getting married doesn't change the relationship between us." (Poker face)

Lu Zhixia: "Oh."

Zhou Jiahe: "In three years, we'll each have the chance to put an end to this farce."

Lu Zhixia: "Oh, the five million only lasts three years." (Dad really made a bad deal this time.)

Later, Lu Zhixia realized her dad hadn't made a bad deal. He'd found her another dad to keep her in line.

Old Lu: !!! I am truly the chosen one. I've never been wrong. (He had his daughter late in life and worried he'd die too soon, so he just wanted someone to look after Xiaxia.)

Later still, Lu Zhixia divorced Zhou Jiahe and nearly lost her life.

Old Lu swung his cane against Zhou Jiahe's back. "I must have been blind!"

--------Coming soon: Honey Sugar, a sinister, ruthless tycoon vs. a researcher who never gives up---------

Secret love + forced marriage. See the author's profile for the blurb.

P.S.:

1. Rekindled romance, slow burn, one-on-one, both leads are each other's only partners.

2. Strong mutual feelings, emphasized in bold.

3. The heroine's belief that she's being kept is a misunderstanding.

Theme: Though the one you love may be separated from you by mountains and seas, they can all be crossed.