Cherishing Mo

Refined, stiff upper-class man in power x pampered young lady | Age gap | Fostered upbringing | Chasing his wife | Tense, flirtatious push and pull The most improper thing Xia Zhimou had ever done was secretly fall for a man. That man was none other than Second Master Xie, a powerful figure from the Xie family of Lihai. Everyone said Second Master Xie was born fickle and had no intention of ever marrying. Only she knew how captivating Xie Wenchen's deep, cool gaze became once he fell in love. She also knew that this man, who doted on her to the point of spoiling her, didn't love her. He didn't love anyone. Yet later, he got engaged to someone else. That was when Xia Zhimou made up her mind to leave Lihai and leave his side. * Everyone in Lihai who knew Xie Wenchen knew he had someone hidden in his heart, a beloved person at the very center of it whom no one could touch. Only, that cherished person never appeared by Second Master's side again. They say Second Master Xie himself sent her away. They thought things would end there. Until one day, the aloof and heartless Second Master of the Xie family began pressuring and pursuing a young woman. Who else could this young woman be but the little darling he'd kept in the palm of his hand and pampered for years? The young woman, cornered in a room and bullied, glared at him with wide, rabbit-like eyes. "I-I warn you! Don't go too far. I can yell at you!" He raised an eyebrow. "A few years apart, and you haven't gained any other skills. You've only gotten sharper-tongued. And you don't even know how to address me anymore?" Xia Zhimou held her flushed little face steady and snapped, "Uncle." Xie Wenchen always had everything under control. What did he regret most? Letting that red-eyed little "bunny," who had once wholeheartedly nestled against him, leave. When they met again, the little bunny who used to call him "Xie Wenchen" in a childish voice now addressed him properly as "Uncle." Her clear, lively eyes held nothing but respect and distance for an elder, with none of their former affection. The feelings he had restrained and buried inside him went utterly wild. Like a creature in the dark, once freed from its restraints, they grew unchecked and became impossible to stop. One late night, the usually cold and indifferent Second Master Xie embraced the girl from behind as she tried to leave, pleading pathetically, "Momo, don't leave my side." The feelings buried deep in his heart could no longer stay hidden. They grew wild and vigorous in the darkness, winding around her completely until she returned to his side once more. [Reading Guide] 1. Refined, stiff upper-class man in power x gentle, pampered young lady. 2. Sweet age-gap romance with an 11-year difference. The heroine is an adult when they begin dating. The pursuit isn't quite a dramatic groveling arc. 3. The leads are not legally related by blood and are not registered in the same household. There is no pretend blood relation of any kind. 4. Blurb written on 2023/11/10 and saved. This is the blurb for now. I'll polish it if I think of something better. 5. The setting is entirely fictional, with no connection to real life. Please don't read anything into it! Coming next: Bewitching Marriage. Please add it to your favorites Tong Wanshu knew from an early age that she had a fiance. He was a stranger to her. All she knew was that Xie Juanhe was the youngest son of the old master of the Lihai Xie family, a powerful and influential man whose roots were in Haicheng. He wasn't easy to get along with: aloof, arrogant, cool, and domineering, like a machine without feelings. She'd heard he was planning to call off the engagement and had no interest in her. He'd only agreed to the marriage because of Old Madam Xie's wishes. Her friends even teased her that a man as iron-fisted, tough, and unromantic as Xie Juanhe would be too much for someone as delicate and pampered as her. Tong Wanshu smiled, not particularly interested. She knew she couldn't refuse the marriage, so she accepted with trepidation and resentment. The moment his warm palm, roughened with calluses, closed around her hand, the stark contrast between her soft, pale skin and his iron-fisted strength brought her fear, but also a sense of security. * The day after their wedding, Xie Juanhe left Haicheng. Tong Wanshu didn't expect a marriage of business convenience like this to come with any affection. She thought they would become strangers from then on. After all, he was busy, disliked her, and had no time to look after her. Tong Wanshu secretly began planning to divorce him and asked an acquaintance for help. The acquaintance asked why: Tong Wanshu panicked and accidentally selected the auto-generated option "marital discord," which actually meant "unsatisfactory sex life." By an unlucky coincidence, Xie Juanhe saw it and punished her on the spot. He gave his new wife all the restraint, patience, and tenderness he had kept inside him all his life. He was afraid of going too far and overwhelming his new wife. Every night, he proceeded with the utmost care. And his new wife actually wanted a divorce, for this completely made-up reason! Fine. He wouldn't hold back anymore! Afterward, the dignified, resolute man held her and asked in a husky voice, "Is it satisfactory now?" Wah It had always been satisfactory. Far too satisfactory. Tong Wanshu trembled, unable to touch the floor. She stammered and couldn't get a word out. The steady table began rocking again. The man asked again, "Darling, do you still want a divorce?" Tong Wanshu whimpered: There was no way she could leave him. Damn this evil autocorrect Pre-release novel: Newlywed Mishap. Please add it to your favorites Xie Junqian was determined never to become a lovesick fool like his father. In his worldview, everything could be reduced to profit, including marriage. In the second year after his company went public, he arranged a blind date with someone who made sense for his interests. Then his mother told him she'd chosen a suitable wife for him. Nie Jinjiao had won the gold medal in the Miss Globe pageant and was well-known in high society. She was a famous pretty face in Lihai, blessed with extraordinary beauty but no ambition, a spoiled rich kid who did nothing but eat, drink, and have fun. * One day, Nie Jinjiao heard through the grapevine that Xie Junqian was getting married. She eagerly joined in the gossip, wondering which unlucky woman would have to marry such a cold, selfish man who cared only about profit. She never expected the marriage contract to land on her own head. * That day, Xie Junqian laid down three rules for Nie Jinjiao. Don't touch him. Don't enter the master bedroom. Return to Xie Manor for the family gathering every Friday. Nie Jinjiao gave Xie Junqian two conditions of her own: She would spend his money from then on. She would sleep in the master bedroom. Xie Junqian agreed at once. He had plenty of money. She could have the master bedroom, as long as she didn't cause him trouble. A newlywed mishap led them into a shameless arrangement: sex without love, sharing a life together. Until Miss Nie was having the time of her life among a group of aspiring models, and Boss Xie caught her in the act. She even pretended she didn't know him. Xie Junqian immediately pulled her out from among the group, gritting his teeth. "Mrs. Xie, did you think your husband was dead?" Nie Jinjiao gave him a bewitching smile. "Oh, Boss Xie is still alive? I thought I'd been widowed." That night, Xie Junqian dragged Nie Jinjiao into his bed. Nie Jinjiao, sound asleep, looked up at him with teary eyes. "What are you trying to do now?" Xie Junqian's long fingers began unbuttoning his shirt as he murmured by her ear, "Didn't Mrs. Xie complain that I'd been neglecting her? Tonight, I'll fulfill my duties as your husband." Later, Xie Junqian got hooked and wanted to cuddle with his wife every day. Nie Jinjiao, however, barely paid him any attention and often stayed out all night. The cold, fickle Xie Junqian held his wife each night and begged for affection. "Wife, please be nice to me." Theme: Live well, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in.