The Trial Marriage Game

The story is complete. My new novel, Fragrance on Xiangshan, is now underway.

[One]

Wen Yang did two things after graduating.

First, she married the grandson of her grandfather's old friend. She'd heard that the man she married was a major figure in Hong Kong City, the leading candidate to take over a century-old family business: Jiang Jifeng. He was refined and handsome, with flirtatious yet inscrutable eyes and a reserved air.

He was the number one man Hong Kong City women wanted to marry.

Wen Yang thought to herself: The more composed a man seems on the surface, the wilder he is behind closed doors. She was certain he was a seasoned player. Fortunately, he wasn't invested in the marriage either. He lived in Hong Kong City, while she lived in Beijing, so they could avoid crossing paths after the wedding.

Second, she found a job in Beijing. The company was new, but the pay was good, and she'd heard the boss had an impressive background.

But on the day the new CEO took office, Wen Yang learned that this big-shot boss was her wild-and-wanton husband.

[Two]

Jiang Jifeng was a master strategist in business, decisive and in control. Gentle, polished, calm, and restrained were all words that suited him. In his thirty years of life, the first reckless thing he did was agree to marry the daughter of his grandfather's old friend.

When a friend asked how he felt about it, he lit a cigarette and said indifferently, "Leave it be. She'll bring up divorce when she can't take it anymore."

He was cold and unfeeling, treating marriage like a business deal.

He wouldn't invest or take the initiative. She'd withdraw her stake and walk away on her own.

But Jiang Jifeng, who had always been able to plan for every eventuality, kept miscalculating when it came to Wen Yang.

Later.

Wen Yang made an extra cup of coffee and casually gave it to Jiang Jifeng.

Jiang Jifeng: "This is just a marriage of convenience. You don't need to care so much about me."

Later still.

Wen Yang went out to dinner with her coworkers and got back a minute later than expected.

Jiang Jifeng: "Can't you care about me a little more?"

And later still.

Jiang Jifeng cornered Wen Yang in the bedroom when she was about to leave on a three-day business trip.

He kissed her ear and murmured in a husky voice, "Three days. That's so long."

He was the one who couldn't stand it.

[Bonus scene]

Wen Yang was staying in Jiang Jifeng's room. One day, thinking he hadn't come home, she video-called a friend and complained about all his obsessive-compulsive habits. By the end, her friend said, "He's so handsome. Just look at his face and you'll stop being mad."

Wen Yang gave a little laugh. "Haven't you heard the saying?"

"Handsome men are players."

Later, Jiang Jifeng showed Wen Yang exactly what it meant to be a handsome player.

Jiang Jifeng: "What are you tonight?"

Wen Yang was on the verge of tears. "Tonight I'm the campus belle. And you... you're my devoted bodyguard."

1. They are each other's first love. Neither lead is in love at the start, and both have their own agendas. They're imperfect, but the story gets very sweet later.

2. All sweetness.

My next novel will be Fragrance on Xiangshan.

Everyone who knows Lan Zhuofeng knows that he has a first love in his heart. He gave her the best of everything and kept her in a gilded cage for four years. But when she graduated, that little canary dumped him.

No one was allowed to mention that woman's name in front of him.

Until one day, she appeared in Xiangshan City once more.

-

During her first year of university, Meng Xun wandered into a casino. From a distance, she saw a man seated on a black leather sofa, his elegant legs crossed. A playing card was between his thin lips, and his narrow eyes were fixed on the person opposite him. He pinched one corner of the card and pulled it from his lips. Three kings lay on the table. He said calmly, without a hint of mercy, "I'm not trying to prove anything, but you're really bad at this."

Arrogant and unruly, looking down on everyone: that was Meng Xun's first impression of him.

A friend told her, "He's a huge deal in Xiangshan City. Everyone calls him Master Lan."

He was Master Lan, respected by everyone in Xiangshan City, uninhibited and wild.

She was an ordinary student among the countless people at A University, cool and gentle.

They were worlds apart, like heaven and earth.

She thought they would never have anything to do with each other, but she never expected them to get together.

And even less did she expect to have the upper hand in their relationship and dump Lan Zhuofeng.

-

The next time she saw Lan Zhuofeng was when a business trip to Macau brought her there for work.

Without her, Lan Zhuofeng had continued to thrive, full of confidence and spirit, still the Master Lan everyone revered and feared.

She thought he had long since gotten over her.

But one day, the man lost control and cornered her against the side of a boat. Clinging to the last of his dignity, he gritted his teeth and asked, "Four years. Did you ever love me?"

"I lied to you for four years."

She smiled faintly, with not a trace of amusement in her eyes. "The casino makes fools of people, and love makes fools of people too. So, Master Lan, are you crazy or stupid?"

"Tell me you love me." Lan Zhuofeng's eyes reddened. His voice turned pleading as he shut his eyes and begged her, "Tell me you ever loved me."

[Four]

Later, on a mountaintop in Xiangshan City, Lan Zhuofeng spent a fortune creating a kingdom that belonged only to Meng Xun. He named it

Fragrance on Xiangshan.

Someone asked Lan Zhuofeng if it was worth doing all that.

He gave a faint smile as he watched Meng Xun approach from afar. His eyes crinkled with fondness, and his voice was low as he said, "Meng Xun once told me she was lonely, and that nothing in this world lasts forever. I want to stay by her side and tell her that my love for her will last forever. I want to give her the kingdom of my dreams, and she will always be my Queen."

1. The male lead is more devoted to the female lead.

2. One-on-one romance.

Theme: Learning to love, little by little