Desensitization

[Multifaceted, Pretending Heiress] [Disabled, Sensitive Elite Man]

Xu Luanqing was hired by the wealthy Xu family to impersonate their eldest daughter, Xu Qingqing, who disappeared the day before the Xu and Huo families' arranged marriage. She looked 90 percent like Xu Qingqing, so even Mr. and Mrs. Xu had to look closely to tell them apart.

Xu Luanqing: "I'm not very good at acting."

Mr. and Mrs. Xu: "Here's a bank card."

Xu Luanqing: "Where's the Beijing Film Academy? I'll go take some classes."

Her marriage partner was Huo Deluo, the eldest son of the top-tier Huo family. Handsome and distinguished, he had once been a professional equestrian. Unfortunately, a car accident left him disabled in the legs and changed him into a sensitive, suspicious man.

According to the plan, Xu Luanqing only needed to play a gentle, reserved heiress and keep the engagement to the Huo family's young master on track until the real eldest Xu daughter returned.

Yet on their very first day together, the Huo family's eldest son sat in his wheelchair, looking down at her as she stepped into the first-floor living room.

He lightly brushed his cuff and spat out a single word with his thin lips: "Get out."

Huo Deluo unilaterally laid down the terms of their agreement: once he resolved the crisis facing the Xu and Huo family corporations, they would divorce at once.

Xu Luanqing nodded in agreement. Naturally, she was more than happy to oblige.

Then one night, she discovered one of his weaknesses.

The young master Huo, who was afraid of the dark, couldn't sleep without a bedside lamp. The frayed quilt he kept stroking was a sign of the vulnerable, anxious heart he had once possessed.

*

At a banquet, the two sat side by side. The faint scent of a woman's perfume drifted toward him, and Huo Deluo moved away in disgust.

In that instant, Xu Luanqing grabbed the man's hand and leaned toward him.

The tip of her nose rested against his cool, pale earlobe.

"Young Master Huo, you wouldn't want anyone to discover that secret, would you..."

Her voice was gentle, but she ground her knuckles hard against his slender fingers.

Huo Deluo looked at her, his expression cold.

*

As their divorce date drew closer, Huo Deluo found himself gradually growing used to Xu Luanqing, despite his dislike of her.

The coffee table in the empty living room began to fill with snacks of every kind, and roses bloomed all over the garden where nothing green had ever survived.

And whenever he woke from a nightmare, no matter the hour, she was there behind him, gently patting his back and soothing him to sleep.

Huo Deluo tugged at the quilt and awkwardly hid his face behind it.

It was all fake. The Xu family only wanted his money.

During the day, he kept treating Xu Luanqing with cold, cutting words.

At night, he slept peacefully, enjoying the comfort of Xu Luanqing's care.

Until one day, when he returned from a business trip and Xu Luanqing wasn't waiting for him at the door.

The only thing on the table was a thin divorce agreement.

He frantically went to the Xu residence to find her, but all he saw was a face that looked like hers, but wasn't.

Blurb written on June 25, 2023.

The full novel is complete and ready.

Premise: Cherish the present