Winning the Beauty's Heart

[Synopsis]

1.

Shen Xiang has been a die-hard straight woman for thirty-two years. She never expected someone to turn her gay one day.

And the person who turns her is a seasoned player who never stops spouting nonsense.

When one of Ye Qingnong's exes mistakes her for a homewrecker and splashes coffee on her, Shen Xiang thinks the world is full of strange things and laughs it off.

When her childhood friend warns her that Ye Qingnong can't walk past a pretty woman without staring, Shen Xiang thinks, So what if she's a player? It has nothing to do with me.

When Ye Qingnong flirts with her in a way that could mean anything, Shen Xiang finds it amusing and gives as good as she gets. A few gentle words are all it takes to leave the other woman reeling...

See? There was nothing to worry about. Everything was under her control.

When did things start slipping out of control?

Shen Xiang can't say.

After thinking long and hard, she comes to a conclusion:

What's the point of a player? If she's taken an interest in me, then she can only love me.

2.

Ye Qingnong likes women, especially beautiful women.

But talking about money is fine. Talking about feelings ruins the fun.

But fate has a way of catching even the most skilled hunter.

That beauty mark beneath her eye looks like it would be lovely to kiss.

That's Ye Qingnong's first impression of Shen Xiang.

Until one day, just before Shen Xiang pins her against the wall and kisses her until her legs tremble, Ye Qingnong never would have imagined that she would fall for a "straight woman" in this lifetime.

[Bonus Scene 1: The Pretty "Straight Woman" Who's Always Clinging]

"Lawyer Ye, the kitchen is a high-risk area. No open flames, and no smoking."

"Then I'll smoke in the living room."

"Don't. I want you to stay here and keep me company. I'm lonely on my own. It's more fun with two people."

"..."

[Bonus Scene 2: The Irresistible Her]

"Lawyer Ye, there's a fashion design exhibition this Saturday. Would you like to go?"

"You know I'm not interested in fashion design, right?"

"Come on, do it for me. I'll be lonely by myself. Come keep me company."

"..."

[Bonus Scene 3: Why Is the Pretty "Straight Woman" Always Like This?]

At a dinner party, after several rounds of drinks, Ye Qingnong, who can hold her liquor like a champion, pretends to be tipsy and tests the person beside her.

"Shen Xiang, you've lived abroad for so many years. Have you ever thought about trying to like women?"

"I've never tried. I'm straight. How could I like women?"

"You don't like them at all?"

"Not at all."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. What's gotten into you today? Have you had too much to drink?"

"..."

Looking at the gentle, radiant smile on her face, and the beauty mark beneath her eye that lent her a touch of mystery, Ye Qingnong heard her own heart break.

What goes around comes around. This time, she'd fallen for someone.

She tries to drink away the bitterness in her heart. But the very next moment, a certain "straight woman," who has no idea how flirtatious she is, naturally leans close to her ear and murmurs:

"Let's go out alone next time. I just want to talk with you."

"..."

Ye Qingnong, who had always held the upper hand in relationships, finds her heart racing for once. She is just about to say something when the woman beside her presses even closer, close enough that the slightest movement of Ye Qingnong's arm would brush against the softness of her chest.

"It's a little late, but I still want to say this: A Nong, happy birthday."

"..."

[Bonus Scene 4: How a Scheming Player Won Her Place]

"Lawyer Ye, I think we need to have a proper talk about what happened that night."

"Shen Xiang, I've missed you so much these past few days."

"...I know."

"Why didn't you answer my calls?"

"...Now's not the time to talk about that. We need to... A Nong, I'm trying to talk to you about something serious. Could you take your hand out first?"

"You're not calling me Lawyer Ye anymore?"

"..."

"Doesn't this feel good?"

"Mm... it does... but, A Nong, we really should talk properly..."

"Shh. We'll have plenty of time to talk later..."

"..."

[Bonus Scene 5: You Can't Put a Price on Doing What Makes You Happy]

After meeting Shen Xiang, Ye Qingnong changed in ways anyone could see. Even her friends couldn't help noticing, and they were all curious about what kind of magic this "straight woman" named Shen Xiang had worked on her.

"Did you two fight?"

"Yeah."

"Want a cigarette?"

"I quit."

"You quit?!"

"Shen Xiang doesn't like the smell of smoke."

"...Then want to go to a bar and relax?"

"No. I'm not in the mood."

"Come on, sis, this is so unlike you. Your style is always 'Next one, please, and make her even sweeter.' What kind of magic does that little lover of yours have to make someone like you turn over a new leaf for love?"

"She's not a lover. She's my official girlfriend. I never used to believe in two people staying together for life. I could fill an entire garden with flowers and let them bloom however they liked. But things are different now."

"...How are they different?"

"Now I don't want to bloom all over the place. I only want Shen Xiang to pick me."

"..."

Main couple (a battle of wits and a story of healing):

[A seasoned player and bad girl at first, then a clingy, devoted, jealous wife × a gentle, sweet, first-love beauty on the surface, but actually a highly skilled, alluring pursuer with maxed-out possessiveness (?) and catlike charm]

Secondary couple (substitute romance and a groveling pursuit after a breakup):

[A dark-sesame-glutinous-rice-ball little ghost × a pure-hearted, seductive fox who hides a sharp edge beneath a sweet exterior]

Notes:

1. Happy ending.

2. Slow burn.

3. One heroine has had more relationship experience (all her partners are women). She's not promiscuous. If that bothers you, please don't read.

Theme: Live well. The sun always shines after the storm.