Fireworks Are Never Lonely

*Eight-year age gap / Capital city romance / HE

*Obsessive, polished capital-city power player × Alluring, scheming college student

In 2015, Yu Yan's life was a tangled mess: a struggle, bleak and hopeless.

On the night of the first snowfall, disheveled and wearing a black qipao, she fled a bar and met Zhao Jizhou.

He wore a black overcoat and stood waiting in the snowy night. The dim, warm streetlight fell on him, giving him a cool air that blended with the wind and snow.

That night, he saved her.

After that, she stayed by his side.

Yu Yan would always remember how Zhao Jizhou spent New Year's with her. She carefully wrote on the fogged-up window, "As the year ends, the new year comes; fireworks return year after year. Morning and night, year after year, may we always be safe."

Brilliant fireworks tore across the sky. She smiled and told him that fireworks were never lonely.

Zhao Jizhou drew her tenderly into his arms. His rough thumb brushed the tiny mole at the tip of her brow. "Can't we just keep going like this?"

She didn't answer.

Zhao Jizhou spoiled her, and she grew spoiled in turn, gradually losing her sense of limits.

Until one day, they had a fight. Furious, Zhao Jizhou said something he shouldn't have and reminded her sternly not to forget her place.

At last, Yu Yan found her answer. "Let me go."

She had grown greedy, wanting a fair, pure love, and he couldn't give it to her.

Zhao Jizhou had always been in control. He played along with her, only to end up losing his heart.

He traveled a thousand miles to find her and slid the priceless ring he'd won at auction onto her finger.

"Yanyan, marry me."

She had once bought a lottery ticket, betting that he loved her.

Now, the ticket had won.

"As the year ends, the new year comes; fireworks return year after year. Morning and night, year after year, may we always be safe.", Ode to Gaotang

Reader's Notes:

1. HE / Both leads are experienced adults, with complicated romantic histories / Eight-year age gap

2. See the author's note in Chapter One for detailed content warnings

My similar novel, The Poisoned Wine, is complete.

When Han Rao was eighteen, she shot to fame overnight. People in the industry called her a rare actor with natural talent.

She thought she had a dazzling career ahead of her, but three months later, she was abruptly blacklisted.

Rumor had it she'd offended the powerful people backing her, who had crushed her completely.

Four years later, Han Rao had come to terms with things. At her manager's arrangement, she went to a banquet and humored a crowd of vile men.

That night, she got dead drunk. When she left the banquet, she pointed at Zhao Jichuan and swore at him.

Zhao Jichuan stubbed out his cigarette and, unusually patient, patted her cheek. "Did I do something to you?"

Han Rao gave him a scornful look. "Oh, no. I'm just damn jealous of rich people. Happy now?"

Zhao Jichuan laughed at her insult. In all his years, he'd never been treated like that before.

That night, Zhao Jichuan took Han Rao back to his hotel.

He said, "Stay with me, and I'll make you a star again."

-

Han Rao was perfectly clear-headed. She stayed by Zhao Jichuan's side because she had something to gain.

She was sick of living a life where everyone cursed her. She needed connections and money, and she was desperate to make a comeback.

He needed a beautiful woman, a bed partner.

The woman seemed obedient to him, but in truth, she was wild and untamable.

For three years, they traded what each needed. Their relationship was simple and strictly business.

But Han Rao sadly realized she might have fallen in love with him.

And he was gradually growing colder and more distant.

After asking around, she learned his family had recently arranged a troublesome match for him.

So when their contract expired, Han Rao decisively walked away, leaving him behind. He tried everything to make her stay, but nothing moved her.

Only then did Zhao Jichuan realize she'd already found someone else. Rumors of her new romance were all over the internet; the man was an actor she'd worked with on her last drama.

Zhao Jichuan couldn't understand why she had no feelings for him, why three years together hadn't made her fall for him the way people did while filming a romance.

In a corner of the celebration banquet, Zhao Jichuan kissed her and asked softly, "Don't you want us to go back to how things were?"

He took off his glasses and gripped her waist. "Then let's try a different kind of relationship. How about an affair with me? Exciting, isn't it?"

Theme: Live well and cherish life