I'm Not Keeping My Nemesis a Widow!

【Pretty, spoiled playboy bottom x cold-faced, secretly passionate top】 Lin Guanyu had relied on his family’s influence to do as he pleased since childhood. Then, one day, he was betrothed to the eldest son of the Xie family, his family’s sworn enemy. He thought his carefree days were over, but on their wedding day, his new husband was demoted and died in prison. The good news: His husband was dead, so he could go back to wine, women, and song. The bad news: He was now a widower and had to mourn his husband for three years. And the bad news got even worse. His brother-in-law, Xie Jiulang, who had been his nemesis since childhood, watched him at home every day, making him eat vegetarian food and recite scriptures. As if forbidding this and that weren’t enough, he also warned Lin Guanyu daily not to lose his heart or sneak around with someone else. …Who could put up with that? So Lin Guanyu took the opportunity to visit his family, then ran off to eat and drink to his heart’s content. He even bought the freedom of a stunning performer from a pleasure house and brought him along. Of course he was going to sneak around! Was he supposed to stay faithful to his dead husband forever? The performer was a bit too strong, but at least he was well-endowed. After their passionate night, Lin Guanyu, sore all over, pulled him into his arms and sighed contentedly. “You’re much better than my dead husband, who could only leave me a widower.” The performer: “...?” - Everyone knew that Xie Lingyun, eldest son of the Xie family of Langjun, Fanzhou, was a peerless talent. Apart from his excessively cold temperament and ruthless nature, he was impeccable. After entering government service through family privilege, he quickly rose from magistrate of Lingling to governor of two provinces, then became Director of the Metropolitan Commandant’s office. Unfortunately, fate was unkind. At twenty-six, he was imprisoned for a crime and died in the prime of his life. What the world didn’t know was that Xie Lingyun had faked his death under a secret imperial order so he could investigate a case. If he succeeded, he could return to high office. If he failed, he could simply disappear and live freely under another name. But along the way, he somehow got entangled with a beautiful widower who mistook him for a performer. And, as it happened, this widower had been widowed because of him... At first, Xie Lingyun didn’t care whether this notorious, good-for-nothing playboy from Fanzhou would be condemned for becoming a widower on his wedding day. He had enough troubles already. Later, Xie Lingyun discovered that the young man was innocent and straightforward. His beauty was his least remarkable virtue, and his lack of learning was his least remarkable flaw. No wonder the Lin family treasured him like a precious jewel. Later still, as he listened to that clear voice by his ear, Xie Lingyun quietly hid the golden seal and purple ribbons that would give away his identity, then smiled and agreed, “You’re right, darling. There isn’t a single decent person in the Xie family.” - Two major events have shaken Fanzhou lately. First, the Xie family’s supposedly dead eldest son came back to life. After helping the emperor put down a rebellion, he was appointed Grand Commandant. Second, on the day the Xie family held a celebratory banquet, someone discovered that the Grand Commandant’s husband was having an affair. How scandalous! The noble families who had come to offer their congratulations immediately followed Xie Jiulang, who was leading servants to catch the adulterer, loudly condemning the affair in hopes of winning Xie Lingyun’s favor. But the moment they entered, they saw Xie Jiulang kneeling before the man who was still embracing the Grand Commandant’s husband. He shouted in disbelief, “Didn’t you say you didn’t like Lin Guanyu, Elder Brother? Didn’t you say...” “He is the husband I signed a marriage contract with.” A menacing voice came from behind the parted curtains, revealing the adulterer’s face: it was the spitting image of the eldest son of the Xie family. Everyone fell silent at once and dropped to their knees to beg forgiveness. All they heard in reply was a cold, coaxing voice: “Don’t cry, darling. Your husband is here.” - Reading guide: 1. Spoiled, sunny bottom x cold-faced, hopelessly lovestruck top. Both are each other’s only partner. 2. A sweet little romance, set in an alternate world. The setting and plot serve the romance. Upcoming historical danmei: Why Is My Cousin Like That? Mild-mannered, earnest, pitiful bottom x seemingly innocent but scheming, wildly imaginative top Why Is My Younger Cousin Like That? Gentle, sickly beauty bottom x younger, seemingly innocent but scheming top Note: The character art for the bottom was created by a very, very, very, very wonderful friend (the same source as the cover). I’m so grateful for her gift and her creative work ^3^ Theme: Keep a level head and strive to improve yourself.