The Lion Plays with the Embroidered Ball

Reunion after a long separation / Secret love becomes mutual

Bright, passionate, slightly haughty woman x distinguished, self-possessed scholar (not really)

Female lead: fashion designer x Male lead: former oncologist, now practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine

Shortly after returning to China, Guan Yueshi was dragged into a blind date before she’d even made it to her company. To her surprise, her date was Lu Linshen, the neighborhood heartthrob from her childhood, known throughout their residential compound.

Meeting again after more than a decade, they were polite yet seemed familiar. Looking at the man, whose features had grown even more open and handsome, Guan Yueshi found herself intrigued.

She had always been domineering. Whenever she took a fancy to something, she had to make it hers. But now that the person in front of her was Lu Linshen, for the first time, she felt she couldn’t advance or retreat without losing something.

So she tried to feel him out indirectly, using their second blind date as an excuse: “To everyone else, this must look like fate bringing us together as husband and wife, right?”

The man pondered for a long while before gently turning her down. “If it happens once, twice, and then a third time, I’d say Chinese people believe true fate should come on the third try.”

Guan Yueshi had always believed that people could triumph over fate, so she did everything she could to arrange a third blind date, correcting their fate with her own hands.

A long time ago, someone had asked Lu Linshen what kind of girl he liked.

Lu Linshen replied, “Someone like a lion or a leopard.”

His friend teased him for being secretly wild, saying that with his usual reserved, ascetic demeanor, no one would guess he liked someone untamable.

Lu Linshen shook his head with a laugh. “No, I just envy their brilliant vitality.

Just being near them makes you feel like you’re living life to the fullest...”

At thirty-one, Lu Linshen was reunited with the lion who had grown up.

She didn’t remember the absurd marriage contract they’d signed in Las Vegas, but she still came closer to him, one step at a time.

He tried to restrain himself and keep his distance, but his base desire to possess her continued to rise. And yet, he truly couldn’t tell whether a lion belonged in a forest filled with death and decay...

“Yesterday I saw a lion kiss a deer” - “Lost Stars”

Note: All chapter titles are names of Chinese medicinal herbs.

Married-life extra: The separate bedrooms edition:

Now that they were finally married, Guan Yueshi couldn’t sit still when they seemed to be acting just as they had before.

At first, she tried to hint as tactfully as possible: “I signed up for a fashion competition with a prize of three million. If I win, I’ll give you half?”

Lu Linshen: “That might not be appropriate.”

Guan Yueshi waved her hand. “We’re family. No need to be so formal.”

Lu Linshen hesitated for a moment. “If we’re family, then I may already own half of it.”

Oh? Guan Yueshi raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean I own half your bed, too?”

Lu Linshen: “...”

Later, Guan Yueshi gradually gave up trying. “Have you eaten?”

Lu Linshen: “Have you eaten?”

Guan Yueshi: “Are you married?”

Lu Linshen: “Marri...”

Guan Yueshi threatened him: “Think carefully before you answer!”

Lu Linshen: “I’m married.”

Guan Yueshi nodded, satisfied. “Then let’s sleep together tonight.”

Theme: Dreams have never been out of reach.