Instantly Falling for You [Marriage Before Love]

● A marriage first, love later story from the heroine's perspective, and a long-planned romance from the hero's perspective

● Manga artist vs. domineering CEO

The story:

1. Lu Junyan, president of Kyoto's number-one JS Group, is famous for his noble bearing and icy nature.

Born into the richest family, with the face and physique of a star, broad shoulders and a narrow waist, he seems to have it all. Yet he has never had even a single rumor attached to his name.

Everyone assumed Lu Junyan had impossibly high standards and that no woman could measure up to him.

Until one day, his friend Jian Ze'an came to ask for help. "Junyan, my grandfather is critically ill. He insists on seeing my sister get married. Could you do me a favor? Your family has been pressuring you to marry, too. We can treat it as a transaction between us."

Lu Junyan's expression remained indifferent. His fingertips lightly brushed the object in his pocket through his suit. He gave a quiet hum, then said calmly, "I'll agree to this arrangement. But your sister is a girl, after all, and I'm worried she'll feel she's getting the short end of the stick. If we're only pretending, she'll need to live at my place."

Jian Ze'an hurriedly replied, "That won't be a problem! Ningning and I will both be grateful to you. You're my best friend, of course I trust you."

2. On Jian Yanning's first day at JS Group, she overheard the employees talking.

"President Lu may be handsome, but he's so intimidating."

"President Lu is like a block of ice. Get close to him and you'll shiver with fear."

"A man like President Lu probably won't ever get married. What woman could put up with him?"

After thinking for a few seconds, Jian Yanning asked, "Is President Lu really that strict? I think he's actually pretty nice."

The employees all insisted, "You're too naive!"

"You just joined the company. You don't know President Lu yet!"

But later...

The noble man everyone talked about bent down of his own accord and crouched before Jian Yanning, carefully taking off her high heels and asking, "Does it hurt?"

3. Jian Ze'an went to a gathering with his friends.

But in a dim corner, he spotted a couple kissing.

His friends started teasing him. "That's Lu Junyan! We heard he got married, but we've never met his wife. We should go take a look."

Jian Ze'an felt guilty. So Lu Junyan already had someone he loved. He'd better get his sister back from the Lu family as soon as possible, so she wouldn't interfere with Lu Junyan's private life.

In the shadows, Lu Junyan's kisses moved from the woman in his arms to her neck. Her face was half-hidden, but wasn't that his own sister?

Jian Ze'an froze solid.

"What the hell..."

The next second, Jian Ze'an rushed over, yanked Lu Junyan away, and punched him in the face. His hands shook with anger. "I treated you like a brother and left my sister in your care, and you damn well took advantage of her?"

Jian Yanning shamelessly stepped forward to shield Lu Junyan. "Brother! It's not his fault. I made the first move."

The charged atmosphere had yet to fade. Lu Junyan looked at Jian Yanning standing in front of him and gave a faint, amused smile.

He really did deserve that punch.

He had been longing for her for years.

He had even become friends with Jian Ze'an just so he could hear more about her.

Jian Ze'an, learning the truth: "???"

"I-I-I personally sent my sister into a wolf's den?"

[Blurb written on: 2023.7.14]

Blurb for the new book, Crossed the Line Into My Heart:

◎ Fostered together / mutual unrequited love / Hong Kong tycoon heads to the capital for love

1. When Li Shuyue was young, her mother's job took her to Hong Kong, where she stayed with the Huo family.

When she first arrived in Hong Kong, Li Shuyue looked around at the unfamiliar place, anxious and uneasy, expecting to begin a life dependent on others. But later, she became the little princess everyone in the Huo family knew, and some even called her Huo Shuyue.

During the many years she grew up with the Huo family, Li Shuyue was grateful again and again to have Huo Yanzhi there as her older brother. He might seem cold and taciturn, but his heart was warm. He was considerate and caring. Most importantly, they weren't that far apart in age, so they had plenty to talk about and she wasn't lonely.

Later, Li Shuyue grew to hate being called "little sister."

She and Huo Yanzhi weren't related by blood, nor were they even distant relatives. But after years of growing up together and being shaped by their surroundings, everyone knew she was part of the Huo family. Even she couldn't help getting caught up in it, suffering through years of torment.

She buried this unspeakable crush deep in her heart.

But years of restraint erupted all at once.

The summer before her senior year of college, Li Shuyue drank too much. Caught up in the alcohol, she somehow found the courage to sleep with Huo Yanzhi.

After one night of passion, Li Shuyue couldn't face Huo Yanzhi. Then she fled to the capital, using graduate school as an excuse.

Who would have thought that on the first day of graduate school, Huo Yanzhi would corner her at the campus gates? He lowered his eyes and looked down at her timidly cowering figure. His cold, oppressive aura alone was enough to make her panic, let alone the chilly remark he tossed out: "You've gotten bold, haven't you?"

Li Shuyue, who loved him but was also afraid of him, lowered her head even further...

2. Huo Yanzhi stayed in the capital for work.

The two of them moved from Hong Kong to the capital, and began living together again.

But that night haunted Li Shuyue, repeatedly resurfacing in her mind. She was so anxious and uneasy that she could no longer pretend they were siblings and live under the same roof with Huo Yanzhi as she once had.

Seeing him made her heart flutter.

Not seeing him... made her longing even worse.

It was so maddening that Li Shuyue was nearly driven insane.

Until one day, Li Shuyue was upset and secretly crying at home when Huo Yanzhi caught her. He asked what was wrong, but she said nothing.

Li Shuyue was easily swept up in her emotions. She couldn't talk to Huo Yanzhi at a moment like that, because he was never ruled by his feelings. He was always the rational one, and she couldn't stay rational enough to talk things through with him.

Unexpectedly, the man suddenly scooped her up. His soft, tender lips gently wiped away her tears, and he comforted and cherished her in a way that was completely unlike the man she'd known.

Li Shuyue stopped crying, staring at Huo Yanzhi in stunned disbelief. Through her tear-filled eyes, she clearly saw the years of pent-up restraint in his gaze.

The man who always put reason first was utterly defeated in front of her. He surrendered to the moment with full awareness and kissed her lips. His rich voice grew husky, the low murmur shaking her to the core. "After what you did, you think I can't kiss you?"

Theme: Walk hand in hand toward a beautiful future.