Arranged marriage, then love / The wife-chasing crematorium / A secret crush comes true
Huang Jiawen was Song Lin's mother's top choice for a daughter-in-law. She once asked Song Lin, "What do you think of Jiawen?"
Song Lin had nothing against Huang Jiawen herself, but he had a rebellious streak. How could someone like him let anyone else dictate his love life or marriage? He gave a derisive chuckle and said, "She's not my type."
Song Lin's mother patiently asked, "Then what is your type?"
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his smile. "The exact opposite of her."
Later, when Huang Jiawen wanted to divorce him, he glared at her furiously and said, "Don't even think about it. Keep dreaming. Give up on that idea while you still can. You'd be better off hoping to become a widow sooner."
Huang Jiawen was called to school because of something that had happened. Her mother had left not long ago, and her father had started a new family. She stood with her head bowed in the school office, quietly trying to think of a way out, when she heard Song Lin's voice behind her. He was only a few months older than her, but spoke in a steady, protective voice: "I'm her guardian. Whatever you have to say, tell me."
For Song Lin, that day was perfectly ordinary. But it stirred up a huge storm in Huang Jiawen's heart. She began a lonely, long-lasting secret crush.
She knew Song Lin thought of her as a younger sister, as a friend, but never loved her as a man loves a woman. She thought her feelings for him would never see the light of day. Until one day, Song Lin suddenly said to her, "Huang Jiawen, let's make a deal. Marry me, and when the time is up, I'll give you an apartment."
Huang Jiawen's eyes widened. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond. Thinking she was hesitating, Song Lin tempted her again: "Three hundred square meters in the city center, with the renovation included."
The agreement was for two years. After one year, Huang Jiawen was the one who brought up divorce and ended the contract.
Song Lin held his wineglass in silence for a long time. Then he said, "Huang Jiawen, don't regret this."
On a rainy night, a male colleague brought Huang Jiawen some documents. Someone knocked at the door. Soaked to the skin, Song Lin braced himself against the doorframe and wouldn't let her close it. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "You've only fulfilled half the contract, so you can only take half the apartment. The other half is mine, and I won't let strangers into my home."
Theme: Freedom and courage
