Moonlight Again

The upcoming novel, The Canary I Wooed Turned Out to Be a Beautiful Madwoman. If you're interested, take a look at my author page. Its blurb is below.

Mu Xiqing is the eldest daughter of the Mu family, and the least favored. After her mother dies, her father swiftly brings his mistress into the family and marries her, along with a boy one year younger than Mu Xiqing.

That same year, the century-old Duan family suddenly proposes a marriage alliance with one of the Mu family's children. The Mu family dares not refuse the powerful Duans.

According to the rumors, Duan Xunshuang is gloomy and cold, with a twisted personality. The last person who got engaged to her was tortured until they were barely recognizable, then took their own life.

Mu Xiqing's father can't bear to see his son suffer like that, so he plans to send Mu Xiqing instead.

After learning about it, Mu Xiqing merely nods at her hypocritical father and says calmly, "I'll leave everything to you, Father."

She has heard that although Duan Xunshuang is ruthless, the century-old Duan family has promised that anyone who officially marries her may have one wish granted.

And Mu Xiqing happens to need that wish.

She wants to bring down the Mu family, the family that caused her mother's death, once and for all.

*

After an accident damages Duan Xunshuang's eyes, she is nearly blind. Her grandmother loves her dearly and has tried all sorts of remedies, but none can cure her completely.

Later, her grandmother somehow obtains an unconventional remedy: find someone whose birth details are compatible with Duan Xunshuang's to care for her, and, in time, her sight will return.

When Duan Xunshuang hears about it, she only smiles indifferently, thinking her grandmother is superstitious.

But when she hears the name of the person chosen for the marriage alliance, she agrees.

Perhaps being superstitious every once in a while isn't so bad.

When Mu Xiqing appears before her, the eyes hidden behind silk gauze show faint signs of improvement.

She wants to get a good look at the person she has thought about day and night.

"If I marry you, you'll grant me a wish, right?" Mu Xiqing asks her, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly. It is the first thing she says to her.

"As long as it's something I can do," Duan Xunshuang answers gently.

*

Later, Mu Xiqing discovers that Duan Xunshuang is nothing like the rumors. Beneath her cool, noble exterior lies a passionate heart.

As she looks at the woman sitting beside her, she loses herself for a moment.

Later still, the woman whose sight has recovered brings the Mu family to ruin with a wave of her hand. Then she leans lazily against Mu Xiqing and asks in a warm voice, "I haven't asked yet. What wish do you want granted?"

Looking at the woman in her arms, whose face is full of indulgence, Mu Xiqing answers as if bewitched, "I want you."

Taking advantage of her family's wealth, Zhou Ruomu keeps a canary.

From the moment they first meet, Zhou Ruomu sets her sights on Xia Shuran. She covets her looks and lusts after her beauty.

Hearing that Xia Shuran is short on money, Zhou Ruomu boldly leads her to a secluded corner. Smiling, she leans in with a bank card between her fingertips. The card slides along Xia Shuran's delicate collarbone, then taps her face. "Don't you need money? Be my lover, and all of this is yours."

Zhou Ruomu thinks Xia Shuran is a canary she keeps. Since she provides Xia Shuran with food, clothes, and a place to live, Xia Shuran should let her do whatever she wants without question.

And that's exactly how things seem. Xia Shuran obeys her in everything and indulges her every sudden whim, leaving Zhou Ruomu utterly lost in the canary's tender embrace.

*

That is, until the company across the table wins a project Zhou Ruomu has been handling. Its lead is Xia Shuran. Only then does Zhou Ruomu learn Xia Shuran's true identity: she is the head of a top-tier wealthy family.

The woman she has treated as her canary sits calmly across from her, her gaze fixed on Zhou Ruomu. Xia Shuran curves her lips into a slight smile. "I think we can talk about something else."

Zhou Ruomu sneers. "What is there to talk about? How you've been playing me all this time?"

A hint of innocence shows in Xia Shuran's eyes. She leans closer. "But you were the one who came after me first." She kisses the corner of Zhou Ruomu's lips with reverence, her eyes full of possessiveness. "From beginning to end, I let you do whatever you wanted, didn't I?"

*

Zhou Ruomu finally realizes something is wrong. Just thinking about how she'd once offered to keep Xia Shuran makes her face burn with embarrassment. She packs her things, leaves the home they share, and unilaterally ends things with Xia Shuran.

Unfortunately, she is stopped and driven back as soon as she steps out of the room.

Xia Shuran pins her to the bed and grips her wrist bone, demanding harshly, "Haven't I treated you well enough? Why are you so determined to leave me?"

Only then does Zhou Ruomu understand that she is the canary trapped in the cage of someone else's design.

Theme: Don't let someone's flaws blind you to the person who loves you.