A Secret Hidden in the Heat

| Two wealthy families | Intense push and pull | Sweet and delicious | ❤️ Cold, aloof man pretends to be her brother, then becomes her friends-with-benefits lover for love 💛 The marriage alliance between Liang Siwu and Shang Che was the gold standard for wealthy Hong Kong families. After the wedding, the young couple appeared at public events, all over each other and sweet enough to make everyone jealous. But no one knew that in private, they were practically strangers and could barely be bothered to speak. Then one day, they took their act of being in love too far and spent a drunken night together. Liang Siwu decided that maybe she and her husband did have some chemistry. So she proposed, “How about making this a long-term arrangement?” Shang Che: “?” “If you're not interested, forget it. I'll find someone else.” “...What the hell do you take me for?” - Third Young Master Shang was deeply ashamed of becoming Liang Siwu's friends-with-benefits partner. But Liang Siwu was soft and smelled wonderful, and when she was happy, she'd call him “hubby.” So despite criticizing himself, he got hooked. He told himself it was just a physical need between consenting adults, and that he would never fall for this spoiled, willful heiress. Then someone with an agenda revealed that the loving couple had supposedly divorced long ago. The whole city was in an uproar. Stocks fluctuated, and everything descended into chaos. Amid the upheaval, at an art exhibition, a world-famous photographer announced in public that Liang Siwu was his muse and that he was captivated by her. Someone's face fell on the spot. Liang Siwu asked him, “Are you jealous?” Shang Che gave a cold smile. “We're divorced. What would I be jealous about?” For countless nights afterward, Shang Che sat gloomily in his study, seeing rumors about the stream of admirers around Liang Siwu. He regretted everything and wanted to slap himself. Later, the media noticed that Miss Liang was glowing with love, and suspected she had a new boyfriend. Some guessed it was the lawyer who had pursued her for a long time; others thought it might be the outstanding senior she'd met while studying abroad. Late one night in their villa, Shang Che held his lover's face, grumbling in a disgruntled voice, “When are you going to tell them it's me?” Liang Siwu: ? Weren't we supposed to just sleep together? The male lead's main mission: win back his rightful place as her husband. #The more he pretends not to care, the more he loves her# #A jealous hero with no official status, jealous every day# #He'd even be her friends-with-benefits partner if it meant staying with his wife# Trope notes started on January 29, 2023~ [Important] The leads' divorce comes from a misunderstanding sparked by a little pride. The hero is unaware of his own feelings, but later he'll pursue his wife relentlessly, giving her his body, his heart, and everything he has. They're both the type to fall at first sight, and they're a couple with amazing chemistry. Reader tips: 1. The heroine uses her mother's surname. Her family is a matriarchal dynasty. 2. The leads are each other's one and only, body and soul. 3. All names and places are fictional. They are not based on real people or locations. 🍭, 🍭 Coming next: "Desperate Thirst." Babies, please add it to your to-read list. Chu Ran got into a university in Beijing from a small town. During the summer of her sophomore year, she wanted to work part-time to earn some tuition money, so her dormmate Yan Yan recommended a job as a waitress at an upscale club. Chu Ran had heard of the place. It was a famous playground for Beijing's elite, where a single tip could cover more than half her monthly living expenses. Only later did Chu Ran learn that the club belonged to Yan Yan's uncle, Yan Yu, a powerful, aloof man of few words. She'd seen him a few times. He always wore a black suit, hardly spoke, and rarely smiled. Yan Yan said he was never interested in women. The umpteenth time a drunken man harassed her, Yan Yu summoned Chu Ran to his top-floor office. He turned a ring on his finger and looked at her coolly. “From now on, you'll only serve this room.” - Later, Yan Yu gave Chu Ran more money than she could ever spend, and the two of them tried countless positions in that office. At her college graduation, Chu Ran heard from Yan Yan that her uncle was getting married to a well-matched socialite from his circle. Chu Ran felt relieved, and worried for the poor woman at the same time. After all, only Chu Ran knew how terrifying this man could be. He was like two different people by day and night, and she was often afraid she'd end up dead in his bed. Once she was free, Chu Ran returned to her hometown and started a business on her own. She took trips abroad to see male models whenever she had time, bought up every shop on the street, and gave her whole extended family a better life. Then one day, a visitor showed up at the new mansion she'd moved into. Her parents assumed he was an older acquaintance she'd made in Beijing and warmly welcomed him into the living room. Chu Ran walked in and met a pair of fathomless eyes. The man wore a black suit that exuded restraint and abstinence. A faint smile played behind his gold-rimmed glasses. “Xiao Ran, long time no see.” That night, her parents eagerly invited him to stay over. Yan Yu was so polished and courteous that he easily won over the whole family. Then, late at night, a familiar, burning body wrapped tightly around Chu Ran from behind. He didn't say a word the entire time. But the mere breath of him so close made Chu Ran start trembling uncontrollably. *The male lead is obsessively addicted to women, but only when it comes to the heroine. Theme: Love comes calling.