Cool, aloof celebrity × powerful heir to a wealthy family
Arranged marriage to love | Four-year age gap | The male lead becomes a brooding, obsessive ghost in the second half | Showbiz | Powerful families | Push and pull
Cen Lin has been afraid of Shen Peinan since childhood. From the very beginning of her marriage to him, she plans to make a clean getaway.
The Shen family keeps its promises. A marriage contract drawn up before Cen Lin was even born still takes effect after her family falls on hard times, making her and Shen Peinan husband and wife in the eyes of the law.
After they marry, Shen Peinan, usually so serious and distant, treats Cen Lin very well.
He gives her gifts, from flowers to jewelry worth millions, from warm drinks during her period to a home in the city where she works.
He takes care of every little detail.
The most outrageous time, the usually aloof and untouchable Shen Peinan kneels on one knee in front of a crowd to put shoes on a drunk Cen Lin. His movements are gentle and reverent, as if he’s afraid of hurting her.
Everyone there is stunned.
Her friend teases her: “Dating an older man is the best. I dream of finding someone older who treats me like a treasure. I’m so jealous of you, Linlin.”
But Cen Lin knows Shen Peinan doesn’t love her. No one is kind without a reason, and the better he treats her, the more anxious she becomes.
Overwhelmed by worry, Cen Lin finally can’t take it anymore and asks Shen Peinan for a divorce.
“Shen Peinan, I don’t want the jewelry, cars, houses, or money you’ve put in my account. Just let me go.” She gathers her courage to speak.
His reply is a lingering, tender kiss, cool against her lips.
When it ends, Shen Peinan’s voice is as calm and clear as ever. “Jinjin, what have I done wrong? Tell me.”
Cen Lin smiles bitterly.
“You’ve done nothing wrong. It’s just…”
“Just what?”
Just that she is about to drown in his tenderness.
She doesn’t want to fall in love with a man who doesn’t love her. It’s terrifying.
/
Shen Peinan ultimately refuses to agree to a divorce. First, divorcing within a prominent family is too much trouble. Second, he says that if Cen Lin wants a divorce, she’ll have to give him a reason he can accept.
Cen Lin can’t be bothered to think of a reason.
Or maybe she’s a little reluctant to leave.
But she notices that Shen Peinan has changed somewhat since then.
No.
He has changed a lot.
The old Shen Peinan would never kiss her while she was asleep. They had always treated each other with polite respect.
But now he is kissing her, from her forehead down to her collarbone, sometimes with soft, lingering kisses, sometimes with the force of a storm, as if he wants to bite her hard.
Cen Lin is so frightened she could cry, and she doesn’t dare move.
At last, Shen Peinan bends over her waist and murmurs, “Please don’t divorce me, okay?”
“…Okay.”
She interlaces her fingers with his in the darkness.
Even if she will suffer countless pains in the days to come, she still sinks into the warmth of this moment.
/
Shen Peinan knows Cen Lin is afraid of him. He has known since they were children, and he still knows it after they marry.
But precisely because she barely dares look him in the eye, he can keep his gaze on her for a long, long time.
Afraid she’ll notice, and afraid she’ll never notice.
Both leads are virgins.
The blurb and main text were updated on March 20, 2026.
Theme: Cherish the present
