Knowing the Green Mountains

[The author’s next book, Spoiled Rotten, is currently updating. If you like it, feel free to add it to your favorites!]

"I won't grow old until I've seen the green hills."

*

At six years old, Xue Ningcai was sent to the capital, where she became a student of Ye Xiaochun, a master of Peking opera.

Later, on her birthday, she made three wishes.

First, to become a star. Second, to give her mother a better life. Third, to spend her whole life with Xu Shanqing.

*

Xu Shanqing was her senior at the opera school. He came from a distinguished family, yet was easygoing and approachable.

He led her through her practice, bought her candied hawthorns, and rode his bicycle with her to Shichahai to see the crabapple blossoms.

He protected her, kept her company, and doted on her.

Xue Ningcai thought he was the most remarkable person in the world, even though he saw her only as a younger sister.

He saw her only as a younger sister.

*

Later, the last time Xue Ningcai saw Xu Shanqing was outside a bar after nightfall.

The moon was reflected in a puddle on the ground like a coin. Cigarette between her fingers, she gazed at him through smoky, alluring eyes.

He was still handsome and beautiful, his lean face framed by eyes that shone as if they were on fire.

"Come back with me."

She smiled, gently brushed his hand away, and let the ash fall to the ground like snow.

"There's no going back, Xu Shanqing. I'm already married."

△ Short story, around 100,000 characters

△ Bad ending

△ He isn't a scumbag, and she isn't unreasonable. They simply lost to fate.

Please add the author's next book, Spoiled Rotten, to your favorites!

A refined scoundrel, powerful Beijing socialite x naturally seductive beauty in a qipao

"You are the jewel in my palm, the cinnabar in my eyes. I want you to belong to me alone."

When Song Liwan was sent to the Jin household, all she brought with her was a small bundle.

The courtyard was deep and quiet, wisteria cascading freely from the flower trellis. The young woman stood among the shadows of the flowers in a faded cotton qipao, her waist slender, her features exquisitely sculpted, and her natural radiance as precious as a jewel.

Jin Changshu glanced at her, his gaze lingering on her face before he looked away ahead of her noticing. "Plenty of people want to stay by my side, Miss Song. What do you think makes you special?"

*

As the current head of the Jin family, Jin Changshu had a stern yet dignified face, so noble and dazzling that anyone looking at him felt inferior. He had the face of an immortal, but the heart of a demon. Arbitrary and cold-hearted, he wielded the business world of the capital in the palm of his hand.

But later, everyone knew that Second Master Jin was keeping a little princess.

The little princess was breathtakingly beautiful, with skin like ice and bones like jade, glowing like a polished gem. She was cool and elegant, so beautiful that nothing could compare.

The only problem was that the little princess had a bad temper. At an auction, Jin Changshu spent a fortune to buy an outrageously expensive portrait and give it to Song Liwan.

In front of everyone, Song Liwan set the portrait on fire.

"I don't want anything another woman has touched."

The whole room fell silent. Everyone thought Mr. Jin was about to fly into a rage.

Instead, the corners of his mouth lifted, and he looked almost pleased as he bent down gracefully to brush a speck of dust from her shoe.

"If you don't want it, then you don't want it. Why do it yourself? What if you burn yourself?"

*

The only patience and meager affection the wicked dragon possessed,

he gave all of it to her.

But Song Liwan didn't want it.

Not only did she refuse, she ran away without hesitation, leaving behind only a note.

"There's nothing special about me, Mr. Jin. I just especially dislike you."

*

When they met again, Song Liwan was still wearing a qipao. Crabapple blossoms spread down its hem in full bloom, tracing her alluring, supple curves. Her expression was cool, and her snowy face seemed shaped from clouds and snow. Bright and radiant, she was stunning enough to steal a man's soul.

When she saw him, she smiled faintly and greeted him politely, but coldly. "Hello, Mr. Jin."

Her arm was linked through another man's.

In a hidden corner of the hunting ground, Song Liwan was pinned in place and glared at him. "Let go!"

Jin Changshu's expression was vicious as he stared at her, yet looked at her as if she were a treasure he'd lost and gotten back.

"My Liwan," he said, "you were always destined to belong to me."

△ One-on-one, happy ending

△ Dramatic, sweet, indulgent Mary Sue romance

△ Four-year age gap

Theme: Sometimes love means letting go.