The spring banquet was the darkest day of Bai Yao's life.
Her close friend egged her on to confess her feelings to the heir of the Prince of Nancheng, but he rejected her in front of everyone, humiliating her.
As voices of scorn and blame rang out around her, Bai Yao was at a loss, barely able to stand.
Just then, her childhood friend Xiao Shu, who was always at odds with her, came rushing over. He draped his cloak around her, swept her into his arms, and shouted at the gawking crowd, "If he won't marry her, I will."
Bai Yao stared at him in surprise. "Don't you hate me? You're always arguing with me."
Xiao Shu blushed. "I was only trying to get your attention, you dummy!"
Bai Yao buried her face against his broad chest and began to sob, but deep down she felt completely safe.
Later, cherished by her childhood friend, she became the most envied marquise in all of the capital.
When people asked Marquis Xiao why he had suddenly become so ambitious, working so hard to claim the marquis title, he smiled. "He can't give her the title of heir's wife in this lifetime, so I can only give her something better."
@Sharp-tongued childhood friend + sweet, innocent childhood sweetheart
@Both are each other's one and only
@Draft saved on March 10, 2023
Theme: Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth
