A Marriage by Contract

Qin Nanshan was one of the last kinds of men Wen Yi liked: stiff and serious, with no hobbies and no passion, like a pool of stagnant water deep in a forest. You could throw a rock into it and it wouldn’t make a ripple. After one wild night, Wen Yi revised her opinion. He wasn’t entirely without redeeming qualities. A month later, Wen Yi stared at the two vivid red lines on the test and fell into deep thought. Ever since she was old enough to understand, she had never imagined getting married or having children. -- At twenty-eight, Qin Nanshan was an associate professor in the mathematics department at A University. A perfectionist, he hated surprises, whether in mathematical formulas or in life. When Wen Yi showed up at his door, he’d been awake all night, forcing himself to accept this unexpected turn of events. They registered their marriage, held a wedding, and moved in together. They were pushed into a marriage neither of them had planned. One winter night, Wen Yi suddenly wanted something sour. She changed her clothes and prepared to go out. Qin Nanshan, dressed for work in the living room, glanced at the shoes she had kicked into disarray by the door. His brows furrowed, but he patiently asked, “Where are you going?” “I want something sour.” “Do you have to have it?” “Mm.” The man lowered his eyes to check his watch. It was 12:07 a.m. He sighed inwardly, stood up, and said helplessly, “I’ll go get you some.” A story about two adults who become parents first and fall in love later. Upcoming novel “Mine to Keep.” Please add it to your collection if you’re interested! Blurb: Xie Jiali has a seventeen-year-old son, Xie Yan, who is unruly, unambitious, and spends all day hanging out with bad company. Last month, a woman deceived him so badly that he was left heartbroken and nearly got into serious trouble. It’s been giving his father a headache. A friend suggested that if he’d fallen among women, he’d have to get back on his feet with a woman’s help. So he found him a college girl. He never expected to fall for the college girl himself. -- One sunny afternoon, Xia Jinnian came out of Xie Yan’s room. As she turned around, she was pulled into the master bedroom next door and pinned against the door. She tried to pry the man’s hands off her. “Mr. Xie, please behave yourself.” Xie Jiali pressed his forehead against her shoulder, his voice restrained. “Break up with him.” -- 1. The hero is Xie Jiali, his son is Xie Yan, and the heroine is Xia Jinnian. 2. The age gap is more than ten years. The son is not his biological child. Theme: Love crosses mountains and seas to find you