[Arranged Marriage to Love, Two Taciturn People Fall in Love]
Aloof, tight-lipped male lead x frail, easygoing female lead
1.
After a bout of high fever nearly killed her, Wei Qianqian gained a special ability: she could hear people's thoughts.
Of course, she only heard the thoughts people dwelled on day after day, the ones they felt most strongly. For instance, she could hear her mother grumbling inwardly about her father's loud snoring keeping her awake, or hear Auntie Wang next door hoping her daughter-in-law would give birth to a big, chubby boy...
Then she happened to hear that her fiance was already involved with the daughter of a merchant in town.
Their marriage had been arranged long ago. Besides, she was born frail and had no older brother to stand up for her, so she had no choice but to seek out the notorious cursed loner at the head of the village.
He was an orphan with no family or elders. Though he had passed the county-level imperial examination at a young age, no one had arranged a marriage for him. Swallowing her embarrassment, Wei Qianqian went to his door and asked, "Would you be willing to marry me? My father can pay for your studies."
He looked at her for a long while, then said, "All right."
2.
Wei Qianqian couldn't do farmwork, and she was physically weak. Neither of them was good at talking, so their marriage was neither warm nor cold. They treated each other with mutual respect, like honored guests.
Wei Qianqian accompanied her husband through the imperial examinations, from the county seat to the capital. Mo Lingyun passed all three levels with top honors, rose to the highest rank, and became a powerful minister who held sway over the court.
Wei Qianqian never would have imagined that a poor boy branded a cursed loner could achieve so much.
Throughout their journey, Mo Lingyun always appeared calm and reserved in front of Wei Qianqian. He never told her he loved her, yet protected her fiercely. Like a taciturn man, he simply kept her within his own domain. He took no concubines for years and often refused the emperor's arranged marriages.
Everyone thought he was strange. Only Wei Qianqian knew that late at night, this man would hold her in his arms. He was every inch the refined gentleman, but in his heart, he was thinking things completely at odds with his reserved nature, things that truly should not be heard.
Theme: Women should always be independent and strong, and dare to face life's challenges.
Coming from xhs, I feel pretty good. Stock up.