Dyeing the Night

After retiring, Old Madam Li spent years worshipping Buddha. Every New Year's Eve, she made sure to climb Mount Xiao's Taigong Peak herself and pray for her two grandsons.

The Li brothers were complete opposites in temperament, one proper and gentle, the other wild and untamed, but their features were three-tenths alike. Both were handsome as orchids in the snow.

Once again, New Year's Eve arrived. Snow fell on Mount Xiao, and the path was treacherous.

Knowing that she was getting old and could no longer manage the climb, the old madam asked Gu Wenxi, the disciple she cherished most, to go in her place.

The Guanyin Hall stood at the summit, reached by a flight of 108 steps.

After praying for a safety charm, Gu Wenxi carefully started down the stairs. But the snow had just stopped, leaving the path slick, and her foot suddenly slipped.

A hand reached out from the side. Its long, strong fingers and sharply defined knuckles caught her left arm and held her steady.

Gu Wenxi's face turned slightly red. She softly thanked him and tried to brush his hand away.

Their fingertips touched. Instead of letting go, the man curled his fingers around her arm and held her even tighter.

Gu Wenxi froze. Her heart pounding, she looked up and reminded him after a long pause, "A Yue, we should head back."

The man stared straight at her, his gaze possessive and unapologetic. After a long moment, he curled his lips with a hint of amusement and said softly, "The wind is strong and the path is slippery. Be sure to take it slow, Sister-in-law."

*

Reader's guide:

1. The female lead and the older brother aren't married, only engaged. She feels a sense of duty toward him, but no love.

2. The younger brother falls for his older brother's fiancee and uses every means at his disposal to steal her away.

3. A little forbidden-sweetness for us to enjoy.

Theme: Love is an eternal faith.