Synopsis dated 2024.04.20
[Arrogant, spoiled sweetheart x gentle, chaste, sweet-on-the-outside-but-cunning-on-the-inside man / marriage before love / his secret crush comes true / nine-year age gap]
Zhou Yi'an lost her mother at birth. Her father named her Yi'an in memory of his late wife. But just six months later, he brought a new love into the family. Her half-sister was actually a year older than Zhou Yi'an.
From then on, the Zhou family's eldest daughter became famous for being spoiled and cursing as soon as she could talk. Her helpless father sent her overseas to study by herself from a young age, hoping to avoid trouble.
Unexpectedly, the first thing Zhou Yi'an did after returning to China was cause a scene at her stepsister's matchmaking banquet.
As soon as she arrived, she leaned softly against the refined, noble-looking man who always wore a smiling mask, swaying as she whispered in his ear.
"You must be An Yizhou, the product of an affair. I'd advise you not to get involved. Isn't it dirty? If you really need a marriage alliance, why not marry me? First marriage, first child, one-of-a-kind bloodline, pure and true."
Zhou Yi'an certainly made her father and stepmother furious, then dusted off her hands and left. But instead, the man came to take her to register their marriage.
Zhou Yi'an sneered. "An Yizhou, have you found out what kind of person I am? I don't even like men."
An Yizhou smiled knowingly. "I don't need you to like me. I only need you."
Zhou Yi'an rolled her eyes. "You said it. As long as the monthly allowance is good, we'll each live our own lives. I don't mind you fooling around outside, and you don't need to worry about me finding myself a pretty young man."
An Yizhou's lips curved as he silently agreed. This time, there was little warmth in his smile...
*
Everyone knew An Yizhou, the third-generation head of the An family, the richest family in Rong City, as a refined gentleman, elegant and proper. He was a delight to behold when silent, and a breath of fresh air when he spoke. Just as countless unmarried women harbored impossible dreams about him, countless business tycoons had fallen beneath his gentle facade.
But he'd kept himself unattached all these years. Then he went on a business trip to Jiang City and came back with a dark-skinned woman?
An Yizhou smiled as he shielded Zhou Yi'an from the reporters' cameras. "My wife just finished a charity project supporting children left behind in rural villages, and she's exhausted. Please reschedule the interview."
Rong City reporter: "What? Wife? An Yizhou is married?"
Jiang City reporter: "What? The An family's eldest daughter does charity work? That playboy?"
*
That night.
An Yizhou coaxed the exhausted woman to sleep, admiring her peach-blossom face.
He teased her. "Still going to say you don't like men?"
Zhou Yi'an pouted. "...I don't." With a flick of her dainty hand, she slipped a plain band onto his ring finger and grinned. "But I only like you."
An Yizhou raised an eyebrow. "The last time you did this, you were still so little." As he spoke, he gestured around knee-height with his large hand.
Zhou Yi'an sprang up. "What?!"
She couldn't remember ever proposing to An Yizhou when she was younger.
An Yizhou only smiled. Holding her, he opened a yellowed diary, inside which was a little rabbit ring woven from foxtail grass...
Theme: Keep your promises
