The Fussy Male Lead Isn't Worth It

Lord Ren, the newly appointed Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, is barely in his twenties. He is extraordinarily talented and strikingly handsome. Best of all, he keeps himself chaste, with no women in his household.

He never expected that, in less than half a month, a fiancée would show up at his door.

When Ren Renzhi learned of it, he paused in surprise. This had never happened in his previous life. Only then did he vaguely recall the Gu family, who had once looked down on his humble background, rejected him for being poor, and tried to break off their engagement.

The Gu family had fallen on hard times, lost half their wealth, and their head of household had disappeared. With the family collapsing and everyone scattering, had she come looking for someone to rely on?

His gaze turned cold as he remembered that bitter winter when his grandmother, unable to bear the humiliation, had died in a fit of rage.

He said nothing. He was busy with official duties and had been away for days, so he soon forgot all about the little matter.

But when he returned to the residence, he never expected to see a small figure standing at the gate.

He frowned. Was she really so shameless? Sweeping his sleeve aside, he snapped, "A young lady ought to have some dignity!"

Gu Yi looked embarrassed. Gritting her teeth, she pulled their engagement contract from her sleeve and replied gently, "Lord Ren, you've misunderstood. I was only hoping to discuss breaking off the engagement while waiting for you to return."

Ren Renzhi was stunned. He finally looked at her properly, only to meet her clear eyes. At that moment, his heart lurched, and delight filled his gaze.

He parted his lips. She had thought he was about to say something cruel, but instead he said, "It's cold outside. Please come in, and we can continue our conversation."

Gu Yi froze at his words, then let out a quiet breath of relief. Her hands clenched together, afraid the man might truly be cruel enough to throw her out.

In her previous life, she had died miserably, with no one to depend on. She had been abducted and was to be sent to some old prince. Refusing to go even if it meant death, she fled, only to fall beneath a sedan chair and die.

When she awoke again, she was here. After thinking it over, she decided that this indifferent former fiancé was the only person she could turn to.

She had planned to coax him into letting her shelter under his roof, then find a way to reclaim her family's estate and take a good man as a live-in son-in-law, so she could live freely.

But how had this man become so different from the one she remembered?

Those eyes, which should have been utterly indifferent, looked at her with such warmth, as though he wanted to devour her alive.

**

He kept their engagement contract in his possession and refused to tear it up, drawing her into his arms one step at a time.

This was the woman he had yearned for across two lifetimes.

Fake schemer / self-proclaimed clever little minx * genuinely calculating / domineering possessive drama queen

Content warnings:

Saved on January 23, 2021

Both leads are inexperienced; one-on-one romance.

There are misunderstandings.

A sweet little story.

Satisfying face-slapping, loud and clear.

Theme: Everyone is born with dignity.