Vulgar Souls

[1]

Ming Wei was the only cherished daughter of the Ming family, beautiful and dazzling, spoiled and proud.

Xie Zhao was the adored young master of the Xie family, refined as jade, distant and restrained.

The Ming and Xie families had never gotten along, and no one would have imagined that these two people, with such different personalities, would ever be together.

Until one deep winter, the Ming family went bankrupt and their property was seized.

After breaking up with her boyfriend, Ming Wei dragged her suitcase through the snow.

In a daze, she saw Xie Zhao walking toward her through the snowy haze, dressed in a dark wool coat, his expression stern.

For many mornings afterward, Ming Wei would wake up in Xie Zhao's bed, her legs too weak to stand straight.

Their two wild years came to a quiet end when Xie Zhao's white moonlight returned from abroad.

[2]

In Xie Zhao's eyes, Ming Wei was beautiful and vain, with a flashy lifestyle.

When Ming Wei asked to break up, he coldly acted as if it had nothing to do with him.

He only said, "Ming Wei, think it over carefully. I don't go back to an old flame."

[3]

In Ming Wei's eyes, Xie Zhao had always been proud and restrained, calm and aloof.

Until one charity gala, when she attended publicly with her ex-boyfriend on her arm.

During the event, as a moderately famous internet celebrity mocked her in front of everyone, Ming Wei was invited to catch up with a mysterious, top-tier special guest.

In a dazzling private room, a beam of dim light fell across Xie Zhao's stern features.

He pointed to a large stack of cash and asked Ming Wei, "Do you like it?"

"Come sit in my arms and count it."

Later, when Xie Zhao held Ming Wei close and kissed her until she melted into a puddle, she murmured:

"Xie Zhao, didn't you say you don't go back to an old flame?"

"I don't go back to an old flame."

"I want you."

Later, the media reported that Xie Zhao had paid eight million for a royal blue sapphire at the charity auction and given it to Ming Wei.

This was his response:

"Jewelry is tacky, but my wife is truly beautiful."

#Being money-minded won't help. You should worship me instead

#It's not your fault you're vain. You're just too beautiful

Down-on-her-luck canary x lofty beauty brought down from his pedestal

Pre-release: Please add Ashes and Snow to your favorites

A heavy snowfall blanketed the south. Wen Chan carried a book to class in one hand, walking into the biting wind as she lit a cigarette by her lips.

Wen Wan stopped her. "Wen Chan, Dad said the exchange program in Russia is going to me. You're not in great health, and you don't really want to go anyway, right?"

"Mm."

The girl's face instantly lit up with a radiant smile. "Oh, it's my birthday today. My mom made the dishes you like. Will you come home with me?"

"No. Today is the anniversary of my mom's death."

After Wen Wan left, Wen Chan smoked in the snow. As the cigarette burned down, the window of a Rolls-Royce nearby rolled down.

A man sat in the driver's seat, wearing a dark wool coat, his profile sharp.

A professor in the physics department at A University, an elite in his field, in his thirties, with impressive research achievements. Chaste and refined, he kept his distance from women.

He also happened to be Wen Wan's maternal uncle.

Wen Chan walked over, leaned against the car window, and knocked. Holding up her cigarette, she smiled seductively and said, "It's snowing hard. Can I borrow a lighter?"

Zhou Sinan turned around and frowned almost imperceptibly.

Out of courtesy, he handed her the lighter the driver had left in the car, then drove away.

-

Wen Chan lost the lighter she'd borrowed.

Wen Chan bought him a new one.

Wen Chan sprained her ankle on the way to give it to him.

Later.

Wen Chan leaned against Zhou Sinan's broad shoulder and used that lighter to light a cigarette. She gently exhaled a puff of smoke, then brushed the cigarette against his lips, its tip stained a vivid red. "Want to try?"

Zhou Sinan took it, didn't even look at it, put it out, and tossed it straight into the trash. "Wen Chan, stop copying those disreputable people."

Later still.

Through a carved window, Zhou Sinan heard Wen Wan confront Wen Chan.

Wen Chan said, "Zhou Sinan got me the position on the program. I did want it, but I don't care for the accompanying teaching assistant role. My dad could treat people to dinner a hundred times, and it still wouldn't be as useful as one word from Zhou Sinan."

Wen Wan's eyes widened. "You don't even call him Uncle?"

"I do." Wen Chan looked at Wen Wan's unhappy expression and smiled.

"In bed."

-

The female lead and her younger sister share a father but have different mothers. The male and female leads are not related by blood.

Theme: Live well.