Cheng Wanyue, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Dali Temple, had a face as lovely as jade. She should have grown up pampered, but her mother died young and her father’s heart changed.
An accident left Cheng Wanyue thrown from her horse. While unconscious, she had a dream.
In the dream, someone manipulated her into falling for a wastrel. She went to great lengths to pave his way, but when he finally achieved fame and success, what awaited her was not their wedding.
Instead, her father was stripped of his office, and she died a miserable death in the street.
When she awoke from the dream, she thought it had all been absurd nonsense. But to her surprise, one event after another from the dream came true.
To prevent that tragedy, she sought out Gu Anchen.
She approached him carefully, deliberately trying to win his favor.
She thought she could secure his protection, but at a flower-viewing banquet, someone set her up. She clutched his sleeve, pleading for help.
His only response was:
"Miss, please show some respect."
Everyone in the capital knew that Gu Anchen, heir to the Duke of State, was cold and heartless, yet as handsome as a tree of jade and orchids, captivating half the young women in the city.
At first, Cheng Wanyue only wanted to do whatever she could to make him protect her. So she hid her true nature and acted sweet and agreeable at every turn, hoping he would pause for her, if only for a moment.
She never expected that after all she had endured, the ending would remain unchanged.
Cheng Wanyue gave up trying to please him. Looking at the capital, where undercurrents swirled, she began to long for escape.
On the day she left the capital, she saw Gu Anchen arrive uninvited and lowered the carriage curtain.
Seeing Gu Anchen approach cautiously, Cheng Wanyue found it amusing. She stepped back and said, "My lord, please show some respect."
Gu Anchen had always thought he resisted Cheng Wanyue's advances. After all, she was calculating and skilled at putting on an act.
Having already fallen for her trick once, he would never fall into her trap again.
Until he watched her walk away without looking back, and, when they met again, saw the cool indifference in her eyes.
It felt as if someone were slowly scraping his chest with a dull knife. A steady ache seeped from his bones, and at last he understood his own heart.
So it was never that Cheng Wanyue couldn't live without him. He had been unable to live without her for a long time.
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"A Few Notes"
1. The leads misunderstand each other, so the hero's attitude is rather changeable early on.
2. Set in a fictional world with lots of author-created details. Please don't nitpick the historical accuracy.
Theme: Becoming a better version of yourself
