Heartless

*

Blurb:

Jiang Qiao has always known that people are different from one another.

For example, she saved Dantai Zhi and took care of him day and night, but that still meant less to him than the gentle smile of her highborn cousin.

Perhaps her desire to use her life-saving kindness to claim a reward was too obvious. Even though she had saved his life, he still didn’t think much of her.

One day, when she went to bring him medicine, she heard his attendant say, “Why bother with her, Young Master? If you don’t want to see her, I can just send her away.”

Dantai Zhi replied, “No need. Once she realizes she’s making a fool of herself, she’ll stop coming.”

Though Jiang Qiao hoped for a reward in return for her kindness, she wasn’t trying to scheme her way into marrying Dantai Zhi.

But no matter how hard she tried to explain, he only saw it as a pile of excuses.

So when Dantai Zhi asked what reward she wanted, she answered with complete sincerity, “All I want is for Your Highness to help me find my brother. I ask for nothing else.”

Later, he kept his promise and found her brother. At last, Jiang Qiao was able to return to an ordinary, peaceful life, free from disturbance.

What more could anyone ask for?

Dantai Zhi was willing to offer a generous reward to Jiang Qiao, who had gone to such lengths to save him, but he would never sacrifice his marriage for this so-called debt of gratitude, even though the two had accidentally shared an intimate moment.

Fortunately, Jiang Qiao knew her place and asked for something else. Dantai Zhi readily agreed, settling the debt of gratitude once and for all.

Everything should have ended there, until one day he suddenly learned that the brother she had gone to such trouble to find and save...

was actually her lover.

From that moment, everything began to spiral completely out of control...

Content Warning:

① Both leads are sexually inexperienced; one-on-one romance. Both leads are flawed.

② Please read with a clear head, and part on good terms.

Theme: Cherish life and respect love.