Zhaozhao, Yet Not Eternal (Reborn)

[The story is complete. The entire novel costs about as much as a cup of Mixue Ice City milk tea. Please support the official release!]

Sweet on the outside, dark on the inside, sickly beauty x vicious, ill-tempered young man

A wicked beast bows to love, then goes mad.

*

Only after Jiang Mi died did she learn she was the frail white moonlight in a romance novel.

A so-called white moonlight is born noble, beautiful, gentle, and doomed to die young.

At the very beginning, she ventures beyond the border to save her friend, a hostage prince, and freezes to death in a blizzard in the middle of winter.

All that remains of her is a face in his memories, a pretext for this friend, whose affection has long since twisted into something else, to invade her homeland, torment its people, and torment women who resemble her.

Jiang Mi: ...

What an ego. What made him think she was interested in him?

Reborn into a new life, Jiang Mi decides to set things right.

Her first move is to take her fiance's hand and settle their wedding date without hesitation.

Even if the soft fingers in her hand tremble against his calluses.

*

He Que is Jiang Mi's childhood friend, rival, and future husband.

His greatest pleasure is watching her gentle facade crack, and he loves nothing more than contradicting her.

He's also the biggest villain in that book.

He spent twenty years fighting the hostage prince. Only when the story reached its end and fate could no longer hold him back did he take up his sword, cross the broken mountains, avenge her, and cut off that bastard's head.

Twenty years later, He Que is still as irritating as ever.

His defiance has turned savage, his chatter has frozen into coldness, and wrinkles crease the corners of his eyes as his hair turns gray.

He sits before her grave and knocks on the headstone, utterly without manners.

"Let's go, Jiang Zhaozhao."

"...Let's go home."

*

So this marriage is acceptable.

Though He Que is annoying and mean, and they keep going back and forth at each other, it's still acceptable.

She carefully lays her plans and finally gets the hostage prince convicted and thrown in prison.

Everything goes smoothly.

Until the rainy night when Jiang Mi goes to see her old friend one last time.

The man who is always making a fuss in front of her sneers. He pins the battered hostage prince by the neck with his riding crop, his eyes dark and savage.

"I told you not to covet her... How can you still not understand, even when you're about to die, hmm?"

A lamp falls to the ground with a clatter.

*

When He Que returns from the rainy night, he doesn't dare go inside.

Jiang Mi silently pulls him in.

His eyes are red, his whole body soaked, and he looks like a pitiful stray dog.

As if the dark, savage man from moments ago had never been him.

He's so much taller than her, but he tries to curl up, resting his head on her knees.

For the first time, his voice catches as if he's about to cry.

"Stop looking at him. Stop hating him... Marry me. Wouldn't you rather look at me?"

"Zhaozhao... Please look at me."

Reader's Guide:

[The dynasty is fictional, so there's no need to research historical details. Everything serves the couple's romance.]

1. The male lead is mean, temperamental, talkative, and boyish, with a strong possessive streak.

2. There is rivalry between the men. The second male lead gets his comeuppance and fails to win her back. He may well become part of the couple's bedroom roleplay later, but men fighting and pulling hair is only natural.

3. Not much plot. At heart, it's a romance about young people clinging to each other, bickering, and making a fuss. This is a self-indulgent work based on my personal tastes. If it's not for you, there's no need to tell me.

4. I'll delete comments attacking the protagonists.

5. I'll add more if I think of anything. Enjoy!

"The bright Zhaozhao, endless and unceasing" comes from "The Lord Among the Clouds" in the Nine Songs.

Zhaozhao is Jiang Mi's childhood nickname.

Theme: Cherish the one by your side.