A celibate, desire-free university student vs. a lecherous, sister-hating bookstore owner
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Blurb 1:
Jiang Mingjing is a popular author of girls' love fiction on a certain Jiang platform. She's exclusively into women, has been single for ages, is a homebody, and is mildly antisocial.
Usually, she watches shows and reads books, then writes at night and spends the day lying around, sleeping until noon.
She has one rule for dating: she'd rather stay single forever than date a younger woman.
That rule hasn't changed by the time she's 29.
Over the years, she's made plenty of money but hasn't had a relationship. She wants to date an older woman, but somehow she's aged into being the older woman herself.
As she gets older, she grows more and more lonely. She has a beautiful face, but it does her no good.
She starts getting anxious.
Hoping to make more friends, get out into society, and find a partner sooner, she follows her best friend's advice and buys a small villa near Jiang University, opening a bookstore on the ground floor.
The bookstore doesn't need much attention. Apart from ordering stock, all she has to do is work the register. When it's busy, she hires a few university students part-time. In her spare time, she can have coffee and write.
Most of her customers are university girls from nearby, all young and lovely. It's a pleasant, eye-catching environment, perfect for Jiang Mingjing, who's antisocial but loves looking at beautiful women.
But even after seeing so many beautiful young women, Jiang Mingjing sticks to her rule about not dating younger women. She's never had any improper thoughts about them.
Until one day, she notices a beautiful university student who often sneaks glances at her. The girl looks fair, clean-cut, and well-behaved, but the books she reads are strange.
Most people her age read web novels, but she reads Seeing the World Through Buddhist Teachings, The Gradual Path to Enlightenment, The Book of Changes, and the Dao De Jing...
Is she planning to become a nun? Jiang Mingjing grows curious when she sees the prayer beads on her wrist.
Later, the girl starts pursuing her. Jiang Mingjing turns her down, but the girl never gives up.
By the time Jiang Mingjing comes to her senses, their relationship has gone from customer and shopkeeper, to employer and employee, to sharing a bed.
Looking at the beautiful, soft, fragrant young woman beside her, who knows how to dote on and care for her,
Jiang Mingjing sighs, "Who says younger women aren't great? They're wonderful."
Blurb 2:
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Xiao Jing tan is a third-year philosophy student at Jiang University, a rich heiress who owns two apartments in the city center and has ten million yuan in savings before even graduating.
Perhaps because there's nothing in life she needs to worry about, she starts thinking about becoming a nun at an early age.
Her peers' social media posts are full of travel and romance. Hers are about volunteering at a temple today and going into meditation retreat at a Taoist temple tomorrow.
A beautiful university student in her early twenties has somehow turned herself into a modern-day nun.
Her friends all think that, with her calm, desire-free nature, she'll enter a convent as soon as she graduates. That's what she plans to do, too.
Until one day, she goes to buy a book for a friend at a newly opened bookstore near campus. At first glance, she spots the beautiful owner sitting at the counter, wearing glasses and typing away.
Her heart pounds instantly. Even a nun can fall for worldly love.
By the time she realizes she hasn't been to a temple in ages, the beautiful shop owner is already lying beside her.
All she can do is turn around with a blissful look and hug her sweet-smelling wife, immersing herself in the happiness of the moment.
Who says she has no desires? She's just an ordinary woman!
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Little scene:
After they get together, Jiang Mingjing always leaves home whenever she and Xiao Jingtan argue.
She's quite funny about it. She doesn't go to her own home or visit a friend. She goes to a temple to eat vegetarian food.
Whenever Jiang Mingjing comes to pick her up, she complains to the young monk at the temple, "Waaah, she made me so mad! I'm done dating. I want to become a nun and leave the world behind!"
Jiang Mingjing always apologizes to the young monk, embarrassed, then coaxes her back.
As soon as she's soothed, she beams with delight, just like a little fox who's gotten her way.
What can Jiang Mingjing do? She's completely wrapped around this woman's finger.
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Reading guide:
1. Seven-year age gap.
2. Neither heroine is necessarily perfect. A sweet little romance with a touch of angst.
3. I'll add more if I think of anything.
The blurb may be revised. May 15, 2023; revised July 7, 2025.
Theme: Flowers can bloom even in the darkest corners.
