[The title may be changed before posting due to the character limit.]
The Kingdom of Chao'an has fallen. Princess Chuning, born to a life of luxury, is about to become a captive of a conquered nation.
With enemy forces at the gates, the emperor orders his men to escort Princess Chuning to safety.
Snow has fallen for days, piling several feet deep. Behind her, pursuing soldiers thunder on horseback. Ahead lies a bottomless cliff.
Chuning grits her teeth, braces herself against the howling wind, and leaps.
When she wakes again, her head is splitting with pain. Before her stands a young man in black robes, reeking of blood. The stain has seeped through even the dark fabric. A bamboo hat shades his head, dusted with frost and snow, as are his shoulders.
He blinks a few times.
Snowflakes tumble from his lashes. Chuning instinctively reaches out to catch one and watches it melt in her palm.
"Tsk." Shen Wangqi gives a faint sneer.
Only then does Chuning notice his features: sharp and aloof, like a sword fresh from its sheath.
He looks like he might draw that sword and hit someone any second.
Chuning can't help it. She suddenly bursts into tears.
The young man holds his sword and watches her cry in silence. After a long while, he finally says, "You only broke your leg falling down. What a delicate little thing."
"Carry me." Chuning wipes away her tears and orders him imperiously.
"You want me to carry you?!" Shen Qiwang looks furious enough to actually hit her.
Chuning doesn't think she's done anything wrong. She stares straight back at him.
"Hey," he drawls, sounding annoyed. "What a pain."
*
In the end, Chuning is the one he takes home.
She hit her head when she fell and can't remember anything. Shen Qiwang casually claims to be her older brother, but Chuning remains unconvinced.
"Why don't you believe me now?" The young man has no answer. Resting his chin in his hand, he meanly tugs her hair as he asks.
"Because you're ugly." The girl struggles to pull her hair from his grasp and gives a snort.
Shen Qiwang: ...
Ugly, my foot! If you have the nerve, don't eat the dinner I cook tonight!
*
One night, Chuning suddenly regains her memories and learns the truth of her situation: her kingdom has fallen, her family is gone, and spies are trying to kill her. She's trapped with no way forward or back.
After thinking it over, she's terrified Shen Qiwang might abandon her, so she racks her brains for a way to win him over.
On a beautiful, sunny afternoon, a thug suddenly appears, weapon pointed straight at Shen Qiwang. Chuning sees her chance and throws herself in front of him. The dagger pierces her shoulder, and blood gushes from the wound.
Shen Qiwang's hand clamps around her waist so tightly, it's as if he wants to press her into his very bones.
He looks devastated, but Chuning is delighted with how perfectly her plan has gone.
Seeing the red at the corners of his eyes, Chuning is reassured. Content in his arms, she faints.
*
On a whim, Shen Qiwang decides to take in the little princess of the fallen dynasty.
Perhaps she's simply so warm and affectionate that Shen Qiwang comes to feel that falling for her is the most natural thing in the world.
But the young girl is innocent and naive, so he plans to take things one step at a time. Then, one day, she takes a sword meant for him.
Shen Qiwang: She loves me so much. Can we get married tomorrow?
*
Chuning uses the favor she did him to get the young man to cater to her every whim.
Specifically, he cooks for her, braids her hair, hugs her when she's sad, covers her ears during thunderstorms, and kisses her before bed...
Wait?
Kisses?!
1. Ningning has a sharp tongue, and the male lead is really handsome (that's what I say!)
2. The male lead is probably a sharp-tongued cool guy with a youthful charm. He's very good at convincing himself she's in love with him.
4. The title may change before posting (I'm hopeless at naming things, please forgive me).
5. Screenshot saved on June 15.
A story about "the heroine takes a blade for the hero just to stay alive, but he takes it as proof that she loves him."
Theme: Repay even the smallest kindness a thousandfold
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