Dusk Settles over the Evening [Marriage Before Love]

"Getting ready to wrap up the main story / compulsive editor / Coming soon: Winter Fog Simmering Water (same universe). Blurb at the very end. Please, please, please add it to your reading list!"

=Blurb=

#As dawn fades, I wait beneath the heavy dusk for you to love me#

Marriage first, love later / unrequited love becomes mutual / planned for a long time

-

When Shen Mulian returned to Wugang, the Hong Kong tabloids were blanketing the city with rumors:

"Gu Youyuan, heir to the Gu family and a prince of Hong Kong's elite circles, may have secretly married. No one knows which heiress is his wife."

Everyone envied and teased him, wondering which heiress had managed to thaw the iceberg. Amid their coy, charming voices, only the aloof beauty sitting silently in the corner let out a scornful scoff.

A wild rose that had grown untended. Who would ever feel sorry for her?

Later, in a lavish reception room.

On the dark red carpet patterned with gold, the people who had humiliated her trembled as they knelt with their heads bowed, utterly disgraced.

Amid their shrill pleas for mercy, every one of them called her "Mrs. Gu."

Shen Mulian's lashes quivered. Her gaze swept over the scene before her and settled on the refined, cold-eyed man sitting in an ornate classical chair.

Smoke curled through the air. He held a Mayan Sicar between his fingers, his expression weary, as if he were watching a play that had nothing to do with him.

-

When Shen Mulian entered into a marriage contract with Gu Youyuan, she thought it was simply a transaction that suited them both.

He was distant and taciturn. Even when he came to her aid in a dangerous situation, all he said was, "You're my wife."

Shen Mulian nodded, thinking he was just doing what was expected of him. Any kindness he showed her was only because of his status, something he had no choice but to do.

But she had never imagined it.

That a man as cool-headed and steady as a hawk would one night lean close to her, his jade-like palm tightening around her waist as if he could no longer hold himself back. In a low voice, he coaxed her:

"Come kiss me before the snow falls."

-

After Gu Youyuan's secret marriage was exposed, the Hong Kong tabloids were stunned. They all said that the abstinent heir had completely fallen for Shen Mulian, a wounded wild goose. There were also plenty of rumors that he had long been in love with someone else, and that this brief affair with her wouldn't last more than a few months.

Shen Mulian acted unconcerned. As she gradually grew numb to her guilt in the depths of the abyss, she kept sinking into the fragments of tenderness he offered in the middle of the night.

Until the day she decided to board a ferry to a foreign country without telling anyone. By chance, she opened the email account she had stopped using years ago, back when she was a student.

At five in the morning, an orange-red dawn rose in a glorious sweep above the sea.

Beneath the golden shimmer of the light, a letter from seven years ago finally came to light:

"A-Mu, seeing your words is like seeing you."

"I'm Gu Youyuan. Do you remember me?"

-

"The night in Hong Kong Island surges, and the god of love arrives."

"My eyes have always borne your name."

-

"Before I met you, I was a lifelong bachelor."

"I want this radiant rose to grow thorns of her own."

#A devoted tycoon with true power in the harbor * A once-fallen, resilient heiress#

SC | HE | 1v1

Reader's guide: [See the author's notes for details]

- The leads only ever love each other, both emotionally and physically faithful.

- The male lead has a secret crush on the female lead.

- Neither lead is written as perfect.

- Some elements are fictionalized.

Older man / possessive pursuit / initially coquettish heroine openly pursues an icy man / later, the iceberg melts and the seemingly pure-hearted man turns into a scheming obsessive who pursues his wife

Glamorous actress * powerful business tycoon

*

Everyone knew Ruan Zhuqing was the illegitimate daughter of the Ruan jewelry family, doted on by them, but born to be a pawn in an arranged marriage.

Everyone congratulated her on marrying well into the Bai family of Beijing's elite circles. Only she knew the truth: her fiance was unruly and arrogant, with countless romantic conquests. He was no suitable husband.

At the engagement banquet, she meekly put up with the elders' taunts. She seemed so fragile that even her friends comforted her, telling her not to take it too hard. No one noticed the slyness hidden beneath her tears.

That night, behind the beaded curtains upstairs from the banquet hall, Ruan Zhuqing slowly ran her hand over the man's immaculate suit and whispered intimately:

"Mr. Bai, would you like to have a little fun with me?"

She tried everything, but the man before her remained unmoved, cold as a snow-covered mountain. "Miss Ruan, you've mistaken me for someone else."

Mistaken? Ruan Zhu let out a mocking laugh inwardly.

How could she not know that this elegant, peerless man was one of the most powerful figures in Beijing, the rightful heir to the Bai family?

And also the quiet, abstinent older brother of her fiance.

*

Ruan Zhuqing was famous in their circle for being obedient. She was a dazzling star onscreen, and the Bai family saw her as a docile, future Mrs. Bai.

But at the wedding that had drawn everyone's attention,

the bride, who had been choosing her bouquet not long before, suddenly vanished, leaving behind only a defiant letter calling off the wedding. Furious, the Bai family mobilized every connection they had and turned Beijing upside down.

No one knew that, far away in a Gothic manor in Wugang,

Bai Yanci's gaze rested on the sleeping, alluring face beneath the silk quilt. He brushed his fingers over the girl's sweat-damp hair, then picked up the torn wedding dress beside him and tossed it to the floor with a cold, contemptuous look.

*

During the months she lived in Wugang, Bai Yanci spoiled Ruan Zhuqing more and more. She seemed to have truly become his beloved wife, content and at ease.

Everything fell apart when she saw through the Bai family's scheme within a scheme and realized she was nothing more than one piece in Bai Yanci's bid for power.

She left without a word that night, vanishing from the manor Bai Yanci had built for her. From then on, there was no trace of her.

The day he learned she intended to join herself in marriage to another man,

Bai Yanci rushed back from Manchester and searched tirelessly until he found her, keeping watch outside her door all night.

Ruan Zhuqing sat on the edge of the table, gazing at the man before her, still wearing the frost and dew of the night. Not in the least surprised, she deliberately sneered, "Your dear younger brother spent the night in this very bed."

He didn't hurry. He took off his suit and gave her a smile. "Is that so?"

Then his lips brushed lightly against the tender nape of her neck. His voice dropped, full of implication:

"He didn't see the marks of my kisses on you?"

*

#So much for being abstinent?!#

#This really is the last time today#

*

Theme: Someone loves your resilience

2:"PS: A Gojo and Geto pairing fanfic.

One day, Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru stumbled upon a curse's "lair" while on a mission.

Report back to their superiors and go in later?

No way!

The dim-witted Gojo Satoru and the grouchy Geto Suguru charged right in, only to discover that the curses were secretly... working odd jobs in all kinds of dungeon scenarios?

Curses killed in battle teamed up with dungeon bosses to earn points, while dead curse users not only played NPCs but also had to beat up players, shouting, "Work hard and improve every day!"

People who had vanished became players trying to clear the stages, and the sorcerers once again took on the responsibility of protecting everyone.

As the strongest duo worked hard to clear the dungeons, they unexpectedly encountered some people they never thought they'd see.

Student Gojo: Suguru??? What are you doing here???

Cult Leader Geto, being chased by Gojo-sensei: Hahahahahahaha, you didn't see me, hahahahahahahaha!

Teacher Gojo, clearing the stage: Chases Cult Leader Geto without mercy and decides to punish him.

Student Gojo: Completely baffled, but joins in on bullying Cult Leader Geto.

Student Geto: Wait, what happened?????

Gojo Satoru in the Prison Realm: ?

Gojo Satoru about to execute someone: ?

Cult Leader Geto: Enough!!! There are too many Gojos!!!

Theme: The deeper the love, the more deeply they are missed

3:Commentary is open!

A story about young Xie dreaming of old Xie and old Li playing all kinds of role-playing games, then taking it seriously.

In this AU, the future Xie and Li have broken through in their cultivation, restoring their appearances to their youthful selves.

OOC! OOC! OOC! The important things must be said three times!

Theme: Cherish the person before you

4:"[My next serial, Two People Living Alone in a Desolate Village [Apocalyptic Farming], is coming soon. The blurb is at the end. Little angels, add it to your favorites if you're interested!]

Blurb:

Shen Xiaochai, a veteran overtime worker, fainted from low blood sugar on her way home from work. When she woke up, she discovered she had transmigrated into an abandoned village in ancient times.

No roosters crowing, no dogs barking, no smoke rising from chimneys.

Only abandoned fields, broken walls, and bones.

And a Taobao System where everything could be scavenged.

A socially anxious young woman from the 21st century begins a carefree, secluded life in an ancient, deserted village. Let the fun begin!

With Taobao at her fingertips, high yields are assured: high-yield drought-resistant rice seeds that produce 1,400 jin per mu, corn seeds that yield 1,500 jin per mu, peanut seeds that yield 500 jin per mu...

With Taobao at her fingertips, she has everything she needs: sanitary pads, cola, spicy snacks, river-snail rice noodles...

Food, clothing, housing, and travel, even a boyfriend: everything is "the best arrangement".

Warnings:

1. This is an extremely loose fictional setting, so please don't nitpick the details.

2. Protecting rare and endangered wildlife is everyone's responsibility.

3. I hope this will bring comfort to people like the author, who long to escape the city and live in the countryside.

Blurb for the upcoming novel Two People Living Alone in a Desolate Village [Apocalyptic Farming]

Please add it to your favorites, little angels!

If not for the zombies that came calling from time to time and the mutated livestock, Yang Liu might have thought the apocalypse had never come. It would have seemed as if time had simply turned back.

Life felt like it had returned to more than a decade ago. No phones, computers, or apps. People followed the changing seasons in the mountains, and the days passed slowly and peacefully.

The river in front of the house was crystal clear. In spring, the rain spilled over its banks, and the Japanese knotweed on the riverbank shot up overnight. Blanch a handful, stir-fry it with dried chilies, and serve it with a bowl of hand-pulled noodles: a delicious meal that let a grandmother and her grandchild forget their worries about the apocalypse.

In July and August, the corn in the fields was so tender that juice ran out when you pinched it. Toss one or two beside the stove while cooking, and the roasted corn would smell wonderful. Or grind it on a stone mill, wrap it in banana leaves, and steam it. Either was enough to soothe the losses caused by the zombie attack the night before.

In autumn, wild animals ruined much of the crops, but the high-yield sweet potatoes did not disappoint. Mix sweet potato starch with flour and eggs to make pancakes, then bring out the spicy-sour sweet potato stems pickled in summer. Life still seemed to have its share of pleasures.

In winter, the radishes and potatoes dug out of the cellar shattered the grandmother and grandchild's peaceful life.

Who was hiding in the shadows, friend or foe...?

Would these peaceful days in the mountains finally have to come to an end?

Warnings:

1. This is an extremely loose fictional setting, so please don't nitpick. If you do, you win.

2. Protecting rare and endangered wildlife and national treasures is everyone's responsibility.

3. A cozy, gentle story with a realistic feel.

Theme: Make flexible use of resources to achieve your dreams

5:"[I've decided to remove the novel from the site. Once the hiatus period is over, I'll tell my editor. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry.]

[Updates are irregular. Enter at your own risk!!!]

[Younger, refined yet depraved, sickly-sweet obsessive top x beautiful bottom with a slight universally adored vibe]

At 27, Shi Yu was washed-up and broke, a nobody in the entertainment industry. Then he suddenly landed a spot on a famous director's first variety show after a career change.

A well-known dating-show director had been silent for two years before reinventing himself as a top mediator. The fifth celebrity couple was announced: Shi Yu versus Xie Xun, the entertainment industry's top-tier star and youngest-ever Best Actor.

Netizens were furious and mocked him: Anyone else would be fine. Make him get lost!

On the day the show premiered, a young man appeared in the livestream wearing a pure white shirt, his short hair neat and clean. His skin was white as snow beneath the blazing sun, his eyes were like lifeless crystal, and the faint curve of his lips immediately caught the audience's attention.

[That said, he's really good-looking...]

The guests entered one after another, and each pairing fell silent. Then the last young man stepped into the frame under an umbrella and walked straight over to Shi Yu as if no one else were there. He held the umbrella over Shi Yu's head, his voice slightly husky with a trace of complaint and hurt. "Brother, that's so mean. You didn't wait for me again."

Netizens: ? A mediation show? A feud? A smear campaign? Do you think I'm blind? :)

-

Five years ago, Shi Yu had been in a secret relationship.

His younger boyfriend had just entered the industry and was like a puppy that couldn't be weaned. He had to report in whenever he went to film, check in at every meal, and even when he came home drunk from a group dinner, he would face a tearful reprimand. Afterward, Shi Yu could only let him have his way and slowly coax him.

Shi Yu was hopelessly immersed in the relationship, willingly tattooing his boyfriend's symbol over his heart. He even took an overnight flight to surprise him at his concert.

But when he opened the door, he saw that his usually sweet, adorable, deeply attached boyfriend was sitting with his legs crossed on the sofa, his hair and makeup immaculate, eyes bright and flamboyant, acting brazen and uninhibited. With a scoff, he said to the person opposite him, "Like him? Ha. I just thought he was pretty and easy to fool, so I was playing around. Who would take it seriously?"

The pain spread from Shi Yu's chest before he could process what he had heard. His hands and feet went cold, and he turned to leave.

-

At first, the audience just wanted to see how much of a fool Shi Yu would make of himself on the show.

Then they realized he was good-looking and started shipping them.

Next they realized the sweet moments were addictive and gobbled them up.

Then they discovered there were knives hidden in the sweetness and spat it all out.

In the end

Audience: Fuck you, Xie Xun, get lost! Shi Yu is my wife!!!

Polite Xie Xun: Yours? (smiling.jpg)

Reader's guide:

1. Neither lead is based on a real person. Don't associate them with anyone.

2. Don't read this from the perspective of a solo fan, because the actual star is love-struck and the author is a shipper.

3. This is not a groveling-redemption story. It's bittersweet [emphasis].

Blurb for the upcoming novel My Husband Is Frail and Sickly:

Rong Tang had read a book.

The antagonist in the book, Su Huaijing, was a heaven-blessed prodigy and a textbook example of a beautiful, powerful, tragic character. He was a high-IQ antagonist in a revenge-and-leveling-up story, but his character went off the rails, and he met a terrible end.

Then one day, Rong Tang transmigrated into the book as the sickly cannon-fodder character who shared his name and died young. He was also bound to a System to save the male lead, and he was reborn three times in total.

The first time, he followed the male lead with unwavering loyalty, helping him escape the schemes of various cannon fodder and antagonists. But someone poisoned him and he died. Mission failed.

The second time, he worked both sides, aiding the male lead while also approaching the antagonist. The male lead stabbed him to death. Mission failed.

On his third rebirth, Rong Tang thought, To hell with the male lead. I'm done saving him.

So, on the night the great antagonist Su Huaijing was drugged and tied up, Rong Tang forced himself into a brothel room despite coughing so hard he was about to cough up a lung. He helped Su Huaijing counteract the drug, then earnestly asked, "Would you like to marry me?"

Su Huaijing: "?"

-

Rong Tang suffered from a chronic illness that resisted treatment. He stayed by Su Huaijing's side, reminding him every few days, "Don't worry. When I die, you'll inherit everything."

Just as everything was settled and Su Huaijing was about to ascend the throne, the mission was miraculously declared complete.

Delighted, Rong Tang fled by faking his death, without a shred of guilt, to protect the emperor's reputation.

He hadn't even made it out of the capital when the imperial guards surrounded him. Falcons circled overhead, hunting dogs drooled, and officials knelt in two lines. The little donkey Rong Tang had bought along the way sneezed in fright. The emperor, dressed in bright yellow ceremonial robes, walked toward him from behind the crowd, smiling with every step. Looking up at him tenderly, he asked, "Husband, are you abandoning your wife and child and leaving me after seducing me?"

Rong Tang: "?"

You can have children?

No, wait! Is it appropriate for someone on top to play the wife's role so enthusiastically!?

The emperor walked up to him, raised his hand, and smiled. "Come back with me. I'll share half the realm with you."

-

A little scene:

One day, in a certain year and month, Rong Tang finished dinner and lay in the courtyard to enjoy the cool evening air, as usual planning the future with Su Huaijing.

"I probably only have two years left. When the time comes, remember to take back the estate in Longxi, "

Su Huaijing expressionlessly poured a bowl of bitter medicine into his mouth.

Then, on another day in another year and month, Rong Tang finished reading a storybook and curled up in front of the brazier to keep warm. He earnestly said goodbye to Su Huaijing.

"I probably won't live another couple of months. If the house in the west of the city is too small, I also bought you one in the south, "

Su Huaijing gritted his teeth and fed him three fist-sized pills.

Then, on yet another day in another year and month, the lotus flowers were in full bloom in the imperial garden. Rong Tang sat by the bridge eating lotus pastries.

"I might die tomorrow. Remember to bury me, "

Su Huaijing could take no more. He leaned down and silenced him with a kiss.

A moment later, the emperor, who never let his emotions show, slowly pulled back and looked at his empress. "Did I never tell you that I'm the best doctor in all of Great Yu?"

"If you say that again, I'll accuse you of assaulting your doctor."

We share this realm, and we share this land and its rivers and mountains.

Theme: When mountains and rivers meet, the future is full of promise.