Plucking Gardenias

---Please support my next fragrant-themed story, Entangled Kites---

Ji Zhi has exquisitely beautiful features, but there's a sharp, bold edge to her. Her eyes especially have always held a cool, clear detachment, as if nothing concerns her.

The one thing that ever made her lose her composure was getting involved with Zhou Zhaoyu.

Zhou Zhaoyu, the second young master of the Zhou family of City B, always wore an aloof expression on his stunning face. He wore a string of agarwood Buddhist beads around his wrist. People said that those who were vegetarian year-round were the most free of worldly desires.

Only later did she understand that Zhou Zhaoyu had no sincere feelings for her. At that moment, her once-burning heart cooled, and Zhou Zhaoyu had long since become worthless in her eyes.

The day Ji Zhi decided to leave Zhou Zhaoyu, the weather wasn't as good as she'd imagined.

The rain poured down. Soaked to the skin, she kissed him of her own accord for the first time.

Raindrops pattered against the wet window. The curtains stirred in the breeze, and the lamplight flickered inside.

When the rain stopped but the clouds still lingered, she left without hesitation.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Zhaoyu merely said calmly, "All right. If you want to leave, I'll let you go."

Back then, Zhou Zhaoyu had thought of her as nothing more than a way to pass the time. He never imagined that he, who believed only in himself and never in gods or Buddhas, would kneel at the summit temple, climbing its 1,087 steps one at a time, bowing three times with every step.

He knelt until his knees went numb, sweat soaking his clothes. He'd always hated that damp feeling.

But he was only praying for her to have a safe and peaceful life.

Reader's Guide:

1. One-on-one romance, happy ending, both leads are virgins, love across differences in status~~

2. Rekindled love + a man pursuing his wife after losing her (there are misunderstandings, but they're not the male lead's fault)

3. Set in an imaginary world, no research required. I'm not a professional, so please go easy on me if anything bothers you, little unknown author (preferably don't criticize me either TUT)

------------ DIVIDER ------------------

Lu Qingyuan was an overworked wage slave. After staying up all night for several days, she finally collapsed at her desk.

She transmigrated as the legitimate daughter of the refined Lu family.

Lu Qingyuan thought being the only legitimate daughter in ancient times meant she would be highly esteemed. Given a second life, she decided to lie flat and enjoy herself!

But the Lu family's fortune had already been squandered by her father, and she also had a troublesome, status-conscious mother.

Hoping to live off others, she had to return to her life as an overworked wage slave.

-

One day, a palace eunuch arrived with an imperial decree. The crown prince, Shen Jinyan, wished to marry Lu Qingyuan of the refined Lu family.

The current crown prince, Shen Jinyan, had a noble, cool beauty like jade. He had been exceptionally clever since childhood and was already handling state affairs by the age of ten.

He was the most sought-after match among all the noble young ladies in the capital of Tianshui.

The Lu family elders were all delighted to become related to the imperial family.

But Lu Qingyuan alone wondered how someone so perfect could possibly marry her.

Was there some scheme in the palace? Or did the crown prince have some unspeakable affliction?

-

Few people knew that the noble crown prince had a peculiar craving for skin. When it took hold, no one dared approach him, but Lu Qingyuan was an exception.

It all began the day the crown prince visited Qinghe and happened upon Lu Qingyuan arguing with a shopkeeper over a small sum of money.

The woman's unique fragrance seeped into Shen Jinyan's heart, leaving him unable to forget her.

On quiet nights, beneath the high moon,

His pathological hunger and possessiveness would ignite, and he would imagine her from that day, like a beast marking its territory.

-

After their marriage,

Shen Jinyan was usually courteous and gentle with others, but only Lu Qingyuan knew

what was hidden beneath that refined, handsome face.

Whether it was his status or his harmless-looking face, she gradually couldn't take it anymore. "Can't you do something about this awful habit of yours?"

His dark eyes welled with tears. He bit down on a black leather collar, crawled between her knees, rested his face on them, and rasped, "Woof..."

What do you do when the crown prince of the imperial family likes to play the dog?

Reader's Guide:

1. Pure marriage first, love later, one-on-one romance

2. Both leads have plenty of flaws!! If that's not for you, don't read!!

3. The male lead only likes the female lead and only wants to be in love with her

4. Pure melodrama, no logic.

Theme: Stay positive