My Archenemy Is Still Asking to Marry Me Today

[Clever, pampered young lady x arrogant, rakish young marquis]

Everyone in the capital knew that Xu Ruowei, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's household, and Ji Huan, the only son of the Marquis of Jingbian, had never gotten along.

They had known each other since childhood and had always rubbed each other the wrong way. Whenever they met, they were sure to trade barbs, then sulk and ignore each other afterward.

As they grew older, Ji Huan became even more outrageous. He actually sent his dog sneaking into the duke's estate, where it made off with Xu Ruowei's belongings every few days.

Xu Ruowei was furious. She ordered the gatekeepers to raise several fierce dogs, which chased Ji Huan and his dog for three streets before he finally stopped.

When she was sixteen, Xu Ruowei attended a palace banquet, where an assassin attacked in the main hall.

Some fool with no sense shoved her forward to take the sword's blow.

When she woke, Xu Ruowei was unharmed, and was told that by pure chance, she had been standing in front of Ji Huan.

Though she was the one forced to take the blow, she heard that Ji Huan had been injured and wouldn't be able to leave his estate for ten days to half a month.

But three days later, one evening, Ji Huan suddenly appeared atop the wall of her courtyard.

The young man looked down at her, his brows and eyes touched by a faint smile. In the setting sun, it was almost dazzling.

"I know how you feel now. I'll come ask for your hand as soon as I can."

Xu Ruowei was dumbfounded. This wasn't some romance novel, so why was he pulling the whole "repay a life-saving favor by marrying me" routine?

Besides, had he gotten the wrong idea about something?

She had no intention of marrying Ji Huan, so she decided to make the first move and find herself a suitable husband.

But every time a matchmaking meeting seemed to go well, the marriage would inexplicably fall through.

The eldest son of the Earl of Cheng'en's household had been trading poetry with her one moment, then said he wasn't worthy of her the next. The second son of the Minister of Rites' household went flower-viewing with her, then never showed his face again afterward. She heard some villain had beaten him until his face was black and blue.

Xu Ruowei was puzzled until she finally realized Ji Huan had been sabotaging her chances at a good marriage.

She was about to storm over and settle the score, but he came to her of his own accord, grinning like a fox who had gotten his way.

"Since no one else dares marry you, how about trying me?"

Bonus scene:

On the second day after their wedding, Xu Ruowei found a sandalwood box in Ji Huan's room. When she opened it, she found all the things his dog had stolen from her over the years.

Xu Ruowei picked up a piece of thin fabric and asked through gritted teeth, "What. Is. This?"

Ji Huan's delicate brows drooped as he explained in a small voice, "Don't worry, my lady. I've kept myself pure. These are simply being returned to their rightful owner now..."

Reader's guide:

1. Childhood sweethearts who are sworn enemies. 1v1, both sexually inexperienced, happy ending.

2. Puppy love, an arrogant hero who inevitably eats his words, and he starts chasing his wife from the very beginning.

3. The heroine didn't willingly take the sword blow and wasn't injured; the hero was the one who got hurt.

4. The hero acts like a playboy, but studies by candlelight and pricks himself with an awl to stay awake for the sake of winning her back.

5. More to be added if I think of anything.

Theme: Strive tirelessly for self-improvement.