I Reach for the Bright Moon

[Cool, aloof physicist (Pachacco, muscle-bound edition) & top-tier Dunhuang dancer]

(The full novel costs only a few dollars. The official and pirated versions differ considerably. I pray day and night for everyone reading the official version.)

[My novel The First Darling Wife in the Entertainment Industry is now updating]

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One:

Jiang Mingyue: "I heard a lot of physics terms are named after the people who discovered them. Does that mean I'll see the Shen Xu Effect when I open a physics textbook someday?"

Shen Xu: "No."

Jiang Mingyue: "Don't be modest."

Shen Xu: "You won't open a physics textbook."

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Shen Xu had been the envy of everyone for thirty years, from a prodigy to a brilliant physicist with a limitless future.

Yet, under the weight of everyone's expectations, Shen Xu, who had worked without a break for years, suddenly submitted his resignation to the research institute. His reason: he was going back to his hometown to get married.

Everyone was astonished.

The director reluctantly granted him three months of wedding leave.

Shen Xu shook his head. "That won't do. My partner and I have already agreed that I'll stay home and look after the kids after we get married."

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Jiang Mingyue shot to fame in an instant with a Dunhuang dance performed amid the sands of the northwest.

Netizens flocked to her social media to comment, "Ding! One emperor-for-a-day experience card!" Their comments were perfectly in sync.

One comment, "Ding! Permanent emperor-for-a-day card!" was boosted to the top by other users.

But an observant user noticed that the followers of this blank account included the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Physics. After digging around, they discovered that the account belonged to none other than the prodigious physicist Shen Xu!

Apparently, Shen Xu had recently been invited to the Mogao Caves to carry out non-destructive material testing.

Netizens lamented: What a lucky guy. He got to meet her right there!

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Later, the two gazed up at the stars together in a secluded corner of Mingsha Mountain. The stars were silent.

The universe was so vast and eternal, and there were so many things humanity could never understand.

Yet on that quiet night, Jiang Mingyue finally took Shen Xu's hand of her own accord. She spoke softly, her voice seeming to drift through the sky.

"You once said that humans are made of stardust."

"So the answer from the stars tonight... I mean..."

"I love you."

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"The atoms of the universe never vanish. We'll always find our way back to each other."

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[Please note: The male lead's plan to quit his job and stay home with the kids is only for the plot. Please don't read too much into it.]

[Sweet romance, not a physics major. If that bothers you, please think twice before opening.]

[Modern romance The First Darling Wife in the Entertainment Industry / Gold-digger pretending to be lovestruck, imperfect heroine]

Blurb:

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After the Chen and Shen families arrange their marriage, less than two months into it, one of the leads, Chen Xian, publicly declares his love for his first love in front of the media and says he's willing to divorce for her.

Everyone waits to see the joke made of Shen Enci, the entertainment industry's number-one darling wife.

After all, she had once publicly fallen out with her own fans for Chen Xian's sake.

The eldest son of the Chen family, Chen Boning, returns to the country because of this.

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Later, on New Year's Eve, Chen Xian is partying with a group of friends at a mountain resort. Someone asks why he didn't bring his wife along and whether he isn't afraid she'll go back to her parents' home and complain.

Chen Xian thinks Shen Enci loves him way too much to do that. Besides, "My brother will help me fob her off."

His friends say nothing, only smile.

Chen Xian races down the mountain in his car that very night.

The door isn't quite shut. On the floor by the entrance, Chen Xian sees Shen Enci's favorite silk shawl, embroidered with a white cat playing among peonies, its design vivid in the dim light.

She sits on Chen Boning's lap, panting softly, leaning on him in helpless trust. All Chen Xian can see is her languid back.

Chen Boning looks up at Chen Xian and raises an eyebrow, radiating authority. "Get out, and close the door behind you."

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At a business gathering, the media notice that Chen Boning, who has never been linked to a scandal, is wearing an engagement ring on his middle finger. Someone boldly asks about his fiancée.

The proud, taciturn head of the wealthy family lowers his eyes, a faint smile in them. "We've known each other since we were children. I've loved her for many years."

It's the first time Chen Boning has discussed his private life, so the media seize the opportunity to ask another question: "How did you two get together?"

Chen Boning remains perfectly composed. He answers calmly, "I took her from someone else."

Everyone is stunned.

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A secretly snapped photo of Chen Boning and Shen Enci kissing in the snow quickly becomes a trending topic.

Netizens erupt: "Holy crap!! Is Chen Xian here? Your wife just got upgraded into your sister-in-law!!"

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[Bonus scene]

"Want to come over tonight?"

"Are you with him again?"

Shen Enci gives a perfunctory reply: "Dealing with just him is already exhausting enough."

A reply arrives instantly: "Divorce him."

Shen Enci types, "Are you always this annoying?!"

Before she can send it, another message comes in.

"Divorce him. Five million a month after tax, plus a perfect-attendance bonus."

Shen Enci deletes what she'd just typed and writes instead: "What are you doing, hubby~ Do you miss your baby? ^_-☆"

Theme: Protect the Dunhuang murals.