The Rose's Escape Journal

Synopsis:

[The male lead has no exes!]

Yu Wei, an up-and-coming landscape painter, comes to stay in Lishan, hoping to find inspiration in the simple country life. But...

Since arriving in this town, her inspiration hasn't exactly flourished. Her temper, however, has been growing by the day.

She got sick on her very first day, the house she rented keeps breaking down, and every time she goes out, it rains...

Then one day, after being ripped off by a flower shop owner named Jiang Qi, Yu Wei finally snaps and decides to get even!

In Lishan Town, all anyone knows about Jiang Qi is that he's an outsider who runs a flower shop. Nobody knows anything else about him.

Ask for details, and the townspeople pull uneasy faces. They start with a few half-hearted compliments, then sum it up: "Jiang Qi? I don't think he's done anything bad, but he never looks like a good person."

Watching Yu Wei walk away, an innocent bystander thinks: But you don't look like a good person either.

They're both the sort who will fight over every last penny, and neither gives the other an inch.

1.

Yu Wei hires Jiang Qi to fix up her house. Afraid he'll slack off, she sits in the courtyard under a parasol to supervise him. While having afternoon tea, she points at the sun-baked yard. "Mr. Jiang, I'm watching you. Don't slack off."

"Boss Rose, it'll cost extra if I work now." Jiang Qi glances at her, pours himself a cup of tea, and smiles meaningfully. "Working in this heat means I'll sweat. If I take my shirt off, that's a different rate."

Yu Wei: What? Do you have no shame?

2.

Everyone assumes the two of them are constantly at each other's throats, and the house is sure to collapse. But one day, when the landlord and the staff nervously come to check on things...

The house hasn't collapsed. It's more beautiful than anyone could have imagined. And the two who had threatened to teach each other a lesson...

Jiang Qi is tending the flowers, while Yu Wei is making tea. They look like the picture of domestic bliss.

The landlord and staff stare in amazement. "You two get along this well?"

Jiang Qi holds a huge bouquet of lisianthus and flashes a wicked smile. "Yeah. From now on, we'll be living here together."

Everyone: What?

At the same time, Yu Wei's gritted voice comes from nearby. "Jiang Qi, don't push your luck."

Everyone: What on earth is going on?

3.

Later, one day, a staff member comes to settle the books with Jiang Qi. Looking through the fence, he sees this:

The boss's archenemy, Yu Wei, is painting on the low roof in the courtyard. The boss himself is sitting beside the roof, a foxtail grass stem between his teeth, one long leg bent, looking completely at ease.

How to put it? It's like a princess and her dog.

Staff member: I'm sorry, Boss. I'm at fault. You're a wolf, after all.

He approaches with a contrite heart, only to hear his lone-wolf boss say:

"Tonight, I'm moving upstairs to sleep with you."

Yu Wei scoffs. "Keep dreaming."

"Why are you going back on your word?"

Yu Wei stops painting, her eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of revenge. "When you charged me fifty thousand for one bouquet, you should have known this day would come."

Jiang Qi narrows his eyes and nods thoughtfully. Then he stands, climbs up onto the roof, and kicks the ladder far away.

"If you don't agree, you're not getting down."

"Jiang Qi!" Yu Wei throws down her paintbrush in anger.

Jiang Qi clasps his hands together, his wicked grin unchanged. He pulls her into his arms with one hand and says lazily, "That bouquet was tied to the rest of my life. Buy the flowers, and you get me."

Staff member: Wow. Turns out the boss was playing on a whole other level.

A short-tempered landscape painter X a retired pro gamer who takes his time plotting

Come and get to know Yu Wei and Jiang Qi's story. Here's a guide for readers:

1. Both leads have flaws. They're not perfect people.

2. At first, the heroine has little experience living independently and can be extreme in how she acts and handles things. The reasons will be explained later, and she'll gradually change.

3. There are countless great stories on Jinjiang. If this one isn't for you, just move on. No need to announce you're dropping it, and please don't resort to personal attacks.

4. There are no real-life inspirations. Any resemblance is purely coincidental.

5. This story doesn't go smoothly all the way through. There will be setbacks, including a breakup.

Currently writing: When Spring Comes and the Scenery Shines. If you like it, please add it to your favorites~ Pretty please~

Synopsis:

1. "Jiang Siyue, the girl by the tavern is as lovely as the moon, with wrists pale as frost and snow?"

"No. She was born in April. The registrar made a mistake."

After meeting Zhao Yan, Jiang Siyue finally became Jiang Siyue in name, too.

2. A joke of an arranged marriage is suddenly put on the table because her older sister wants to buy a house.

"The groom's family is very wealthy, and they're a family of scholars. You won't suffer if you marry into it." Those were her mother's exact words. Jiang Siyue strongly objected and tried every form of resistance she could, but this wasn't something she could refuse.

Her father was ill and couldn't work. Her grandparents on both sides needed support. Her older sister wanted to buy a home in a good school district and send her son to the best elementary school in the city... Everyone hoped Jiang Siyue would marry Zhao Yan so they could get their hands on the bride price.

Nobody cared what Jiang Siyue thought. One after another, they pressured her to agree to the match.

"Didn't you always want to study abroad? I asked around for you. After you get married, you can go wherever you want. The Zhao family won't interfere!"

Jiang Siyue looks at her mother, pleading with her to see reason. Her mother's eyes hold desperation, resentment, blame... everything except love.

Fine.

"I'll marry him. But don't contact me again unless you absolutely have to."

Three hundred thousand yuan. That was the price of buying out the rest of Jiang Siyue's life.

3. Zhao Yan, who had opposed the marriage from the start, arrives late to the matchmaking dinner because of an unexpected matter. Standing outside the private room, he sees a slight figure being shoved around and insulted with cruel words. The young woman neither cries nor makes a scene. She simply endures it in silence.

Something inside him is suddenly pierced.

Zhao Yan, who has always prided himself on being calm and rational, makes the second decision of his life based on instinct.

"Sorry I'm late. Let's keep talking about the wedding..."

She needs money, and he happens to have plenty. He can consider it a good deed. Besides, this marriage is destined to be a formality in name only.

But at some point, his wife starts appearing in his world more and more often, smiling at him with crinkled eyes.

Her intrusion feels strange to Zhao Yan, but he doesn't dislike it, so he lets her be. Until that day...

4. The sun is shining brightly that day. In a romantic drama, it certainly wouldn't be the kind of weather you would expect for heartbreak. She takes Zhao Yan to buy rings, and they run into a woman at the mall. For once, Zhao Yan, who always keeps his emotions in check, shows something else on his face.

The woman stands in front of Zhao Yan and says mockingly, "Did you get married just to make me jealous?"

Jiang Siyue is a smart girl. Ever since childhood, people have praised her for being sensible and knowing when to yield. So she leaves without a word, not wanting to make things difficult for Zhao Yan.

But when it comes time to part, Zhao Yan refuses to let her go.

Theme: Embrace nature, embrace beauty