Synopsis
Qian Mingguang was born into an aristocratic family, but was kidnapped by traffickers as a child and, by a twist of fate, became a merchant's adopted daughter.
Fate had its way with her. At eighteen, she was healthy in body and mind, and rolling in money.
When the truth about the strange events of her past came to light, Qian Mingguang decided to return home disguised as an invalid and investigate what had really happened.
The family was a den of wolves. Some schemed to take her money, while others wanted her dead.
Qian Mingguang decided to play along. She panted with every step, then collapsed on the spot and spat blood in front of everyone.
Everyone: !!!
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While maintaining her secret identity as the richest person in the region and guarding her vast fortune, Qian Mingguang also crossed wits with the Qian family.
Just when she'd finally established herself in the family, some man inexplicably showed up and shut down her shops on the pretext of investigating illegal salt trading!
What kind of nonsense was that? She had always obeyed the law and worked hard for years to build up her savings. If anyone picked a fight with her, she would fight them to the bitter end!
After several months of clashing, her sworn enemy suddenly barged into her home and confessed his feelings.
Qian Mingguang: !!!
How utterly presumptuous! (Terrified.jpg)
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Xu Zhaoxing searched for Qian Mingguang for ten years.
Then an imperial decree confined him to Chang'an.
He waited for ten years, and only after his grandfather died was he able to return to Nanzhou.
The emperor entrusted him with an important mission. On the surface, Xu Zhaoxing used the investigation into illegal salt trading as a pretext to keep showing up in front of his unrequited love.
But the illegal salt dealers were too crafty, constantly tripping him up and delaying his progress in winning Qian Mingguang's heart.
The richest person in Nanzhou was highly suspect. He would lock those illegal salt dealers up sooner or later!
But life is full of surprises.
Xu Zhaoxing: What do I do? I impulsively confessed to my unrequited love and forgot to switch accounts? :)
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[Artwork permissions]
The character design on the cover is by A Ze from Yelan Tingyu Ge.
The artwork is not exclusive, so please don't start drama about it.
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[Reader's guide]
Updates every day before 10 p.m. Please, please add it to your favorites!
1. This is not a female-dominant story. The leads are equally matched and constantly at odds, with household intrigue and everyday family matters, but no conflict over legitimate and illegitimate children. The household struggles are driven solely by self-interest, with the leads on opposing sides!
2. The plot-to-romance ratio is 6:4. The leads are each other's first love.
3. Neither lead is perfect; both have their flaws.
4. The romance is not angsty!
5. This is a fictional setting with my own worldbuilding. Please don't overanalyze it.
More details to come...
--I'd be deeply grateful if you enjoy it--
--Coming next--
"Don't Bother This Cat"
See the announcement for the link and details.
[Blurb]
Before Man Que returned to Bianjing to divorce her husband, she hired someone to kidnap them both.
She had already decided that once it was all over, she didn't want to live anymore.
When she opened her eyes, she was deep in the mountains and forests, and had turned into a cat.
She only took cat form at night, returning to normal at daybreak.
Things had slipped out of her control and taken a turn for the worse.
Worse still--
At that very moment, Zhou Chengxue was holding her in midair by the scruff of her neck.
Zhou Chengxue: "In the middle of nowhere, and there's a stray cat too."
Man Que flexed her furry black paws.
She had always thought her husband was arrogant by nature, and so had always been prejudiced against him.
Now that prejudice turned into action.
Her cat-paw punches landed on his nose so fast they were only a blur.
Zhou Chengxue covered his nose, looking pained but not angry.
Of course he wouldn't get mad at a cat.
Just as over the past three years, he'd always remained calm and rational in the face of all her coldness and deliberate hostility.
As though getting angry with her would be beneath him.
After committing the crime, Man Que planned to escape under cover of night.
But fate caught her by the scruff again, and he pinned her down.
Zhou Chengxue: "Naughty cat. You hit someone and still want to run?"
Zhou Chengxue tucked Man Que under his arm and carried her away. Along the way, he also fished a lively, wriggling fish out of the river.
It was bigger than she was, and he tossed the fresh fish in front of her.
She was so startled that she stood bolt upright on all fours, then leaped backward.
"Eat."
The fish's tail slapped her cold, indifferent cat face again and again.
Man Que realized that Zhou Chengxue could be a real pain sometimes.
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Zhou Chengxue was born a favored child of heaven and had never been short of people eager to flatter him.
They all acted obedient, but each secretly hoped the Zhou family would fall.
Later, the emperor arranged his marriage, and he took the eldest daughter of a fifth-rank official as his wife.
She was thoughtful and capable, a suitable match.
But she had always been prejudiced against him.
They were ambushed on the road, and when he woke up, his wife was nowhere to be found.
All that remained was a black cat staggering around in circles as if drunk.
That night, the black cat ran off while he was asleep.
Later, he discovered that he turned into a dog during the day.
At that very moment, he faced the greatest challenge of his life as a human (dog).
The culprit, Man Que, was squatting five paces away with a beaming smile.
She held a piece of roasted pork belly seasoned with fragrant pepper and kept waving it around, making coaxing "pspsps" sounds.
Zhou Chengxue turned his head and tried his best to resist, but the savory smell crept into his nose against his will.
His tail moved.
Theme: Be independent and strong. Never give up.
