After the Black-Bellied Young Master Was Forced into a Marriage Alliance

[Bonus chapters updated every weekend / Next novel: The Frail Beauty Takes the Initiative to Marry in His Place [Book Transmigration] | I Carried a Baby and Came Back from a Book (Entertainment Industry)] [※Highlights※ This novel is the product of the author's indulging their own tastes. If you like it, I'm happy we share the same preferences. If there's something you don't like, feel free to drop the novel. There's no need to leave a comment to tell me, much less give me writing advice. I'm stubborn and won't make changes. I'll only delete comments that I feel are meddling and telling me how to write.] Blurb: As the only one among the many illegitimate children of the wealthy Hua family to be acknowledged, Hua Zhongjin should have been able to leap from obscurity to success. Unfortunately, despite having a face beautiful enough to bring a kingdom to ruin, he was a meek, submissive, fragile little white flower, and not easy to like. Even though everyone mocked him for being unworthy of the noble and honorable Fu Zhuoqi, and waited to see Fu use him and then kick him to the curb, Hua Zhongjin still obediently went through with the arranged marriage. After the wedding, Hua Zhongjin dutifully did his best to play the role of “Mrs. Fu.” Fu Zhuoqi left for work at seven in the morning, so Hua Zhongjin got up at five to prepare a loving breakfast for him; Fu Zhuoqi came home late after business dinners, so Hua Zhongjin waited until midnight to have hangover soup ready for him; When Fu Zhuoqi went on business trips, he packed his luggage; when Fu Zhuoqi attended meetings, he learned shorthand to take notes for him… Even when the Hua family made a grand announcement the day after their wedding, acknowledging another illegitimate son and placing him at Fu Zhuoqi's side, Hua Zhongjin didn't utter a word of complaint. Those who watched for entertainment were even more contemptuous of him: Could someone really debase himself to this extent? Yet only Fu Zhuoqi knew the truth. The breakfast was delivered. Sometimes Hua Zhongjin got up too late to order from the same place, so he'd make do with food from somewhere that wasn't very good; The hangover soup was a ready-made product bought online. Just add hot water and it was ready to drink. As for waiting up until midnight, Hua Zhongjin had simply gone to bed early and set an alarm to wake up before Fu came home; He packed Fu's luggage to find out where he was going on business trips and guess what deals he might be working on; And taking notes at meetings was simply a way to learn the inside story of Fu's company… Fu Zhuoqi put up with every one of the little fox's “ulterior motives.” Ever since fourteen years ago, when Fu Zhuoqi first saw the little fox hiding beneath a rabbit's skin, someone had found a place in his proud, aloof heart. Watching Hua Zhongjin pretend to curry favor with him, Fu Zhuoqi pretended not to like him and not to care. He wanted to see how long Hua Zhongjin could keep it up before he finally lost patience and let the fury he'd been hiding show. But Fu Zhuoqi never got to see him take off his mask of his own accord. Instead, the day the little fox turned the Hua family upside down, Hua Zhongjin came to him first, eyes red, and said: “Brother Qi, my family can't help you anymore. We… should get a divorce!” Fu Zhuoqi gazed at those phoenix-shaped eyes and asked leisurely, “Do you still have to put yourself through playing the little white flower?” Hua Zhongjin froze. “I… I don't know what you're talking about.” Fu Zhuoqi kissed him on the lips. “Perhaps I know you better than you think.” ※Cover art used with permission from artist K [Maniacal Laughter, Into the Next Life] Blurb written on 2022/11/16, screenshot saved. Reading guide (and things to watch out for): 1. This is an alternate universe, a very alternate one. Don't try to compare it to reality. All the settings serve the plot, and it's melodramatic (possibly extremely melodramatic, so proceed with caution if that's not your thing); 2. Neither the top nor the bottom is a particularly kind person. The bottom especially is very good at putting on an act and is also extremely cold-blooded, born to cultivate the Dao of Ruthlessness (not really); 3. The blurb only covers part of the story and isn't representative of the whole novel; 4. The romance isn't angsty. All the push and pull between the married couple is their way of having fun. They're each other's first love; the top has had a crush on the bottom for years, and the bottom acts his way into falling for him. Those who can't accept this, please stay away; 5. I won't accept any distortion of the plot or rumor-mongering disguised as warnings. [Please don't give me writing advice on free chapters. I'll delete it if I see it, and if it's outrageous, I'll reply before deleting it.] 6. More to come if I think of anything. Next novel: The Frail Beauty Takes the Initiative to Marry in His Place [Book Transmigration] Blurb: Xia Zhizhou transmigrated into the body of the Song Duke's third son, born to a concubine. The original third young master was frail, meek, and dim-witted. If not for his twin sister, Xia Jihe, who was bold and always protected him, the grass on his grave would probably have grown three yards tall by now. When he learned that his wonderful sister was to be married off to the Left Chancellor's residence as the old man's seventh wife, Xia Zhizhou, who had transmigrated into the story, carefully plotted and rehearsed, put on the wedding dress, climbed into the bridal sedan, and took his sister's place. Unexpectedly, on the very day the Left Chancellor was taking a concubine, his household was raided. Taking advantage of being inside the sedan, Xia Zhizhou lifted his veil and secretly watched through a gap in the curtain. He hadn't seen much when the curtain suddenly swept open. Outside was a familiar face, wearing an expression of surprise that was anything but familiar. Guided by the principle, “If I'm not embarrassed, then everyone else is,” Xia Zhizhou waved and smiled brightly at the person outside the curtain. “Hi, Your Highness!” * On the day the Left Chancellor was taking a concubine, Prince Heng Liu Yu received an imperial order to raid his household. Seeing the bridal sedan parked just inside the gate, Liu Yu knew that Xia Zhizhou's precious little sister was sitting inside. He wanted to see just how wonderful this sister was, for Xia Zhizhou to talk about her all the time. Ignoring his subordinates' objections, he pulled open the curtain, only to find a familiar face smiling brightly at him. He nearly ground his teeth to dust. Liu Yu sneered. “…Seventh Madam?” * Everyone in the capital knew that Prince Heng took advantage of the emperor's favor to act without restraint. He went to raid the Left Chancellor's residence, then even took the concubine who was about to marry into the household back to his own estate, keeping the person in his rear courtyard without giving him a name or status. Hearing the rumors, Xia Zhizhou teased him, “Your Highness certainly has refined tastes.” As soon as the words left his mouth, someone pulled him forcefully into an embrace, and a sharp pain stung his neck. Liu Yu gritted his teeth and whispered in his ear, “Since everyone is saying it, wouldn't I be losing out if I didn't make it true?” Xia Zhizhou, who never imagined things would turn out this way: ??? Theme: Everyone deserves to be loved. Go become a better version of yourself.