The President Is Self-Conquering Again

My next novel will be "A Season to Call Our Own," a marriage-first, love-later story with a fake-substitute trope. Please add it to your collection. The synopsis is at the bottom.

Synopsis:

[Cool and Proud, Conquering Himself x Oblivious, Easygoing Couch Potato]

The thing Ling Xi regrets most in her life is believing her best friend's nonsense.

"He hasn't touched me in three months. Every morning, he calls his boss as soon as he wakes up. They must be having an affair!"

"Your husband is the CEO's assistant. Isn't that normal?"

"No! He even makes breakfast for his boss at home!"

Ling Xi patted her chest. "Give me a month, and I guarantee I'll dig up evidence that he's a scumbag who tricked you into marriage!"

After going undercover at Zhou Mingye's company, Ling Xi got her wish and landed a job in the CEO's office.

Day 1: She hid outside the office and watched Zhou Mingye and her best friend's husband "get close." What could they possibly need to stand so close to discuss?

Day 7: She watched Zhou Mingye work out at the gym and accidentally caught a glimpse of his eight-pack.

Day 15: She drenched herself in the same perfume as her best friend's husband and rode the CEO's elevator. Zhou Mingye sneezed and asked Ling Xi, "Are you wearing the same perfume as Assistant Han?"

Ling Xi was screaming yes inside. Let's see how long you can keep up the act.

Who knew Zhou Mingye would calmly ask, "You know Assistant Han is married, right?"

Ling Xi: "..."

*

On the new employee's first day in the CEO's office, Zhou Mingye could tell she had ulterior motives.

She stole glances at him, arranged physical contact at the gym, asked about his sleep, and even gave him presents.

She was certainly going to a lot of trouble.

After their Nth chance encounter, Zhou Mingye couldn't help asking, "Miss Ling, you've been watching me for 46 days. What exactly are you after?"

Ling Xi's mind went blank. All she could do was pretend to be a bystander gossiping. "W-well... I heard you only eat breakfast made by Assistant Han. Is that true?"

Zhou Mingye scoffed. This was getting more ridiculous by the day.

He gave his tie a light tug and smiled. "Are you that interested in my sexual orientation?"

[Extra Scene]

Only later did Ling Xi learn that Zhou Mingye had watched the surveillance footage of her far more times than she had "watched" him.

In the office, Zhou Mingye pulled Ling Xi onto his lap, his voice low and husky. "Are you satisfied with what you personally verified?"

Ling Xi remembered the fragmented scenes from the night before, her face turning red to the tips of her ears. She turned her head away. "It was all right."

"Was it?" Zhou Mingye turned her face back toward him, his hot breath brushing her lips. "Seems I didn't verify things thoroughly enough if you still have the strength to talk back. Tonight, I'll make sure the only word you can say is 'satisfied.'"

Reading guide:

A lighthearted, sweet romance. Both leads are each other's first.

The story about the best friend's husband tricking her into marriage is a misunderstanding!

Assistant Han is straight (and a bit of a blockhead).

Synopsis written on 2025.4.2 and screenshotted for the record.

Synopsis: A Season to Call Our Own:

[Marriage First, Love Later | Mutual Pining | Fake Substitute | Chasing His Wife]

Roguish young master x sweet, demure girl

Everyone thought Ji Shuyan married Pei Shizhou out of spite.

It was no secret in their social circle that she had a crush on Pei Lin.

And Pei Lin was Pei Shizhou's cousin. He had just gotten engaged last month.

After the wedding, Ji Shuyan was so well-behaved she was almost too considerate.

She never asked where Pei Shizhou had been, never interfered in his life, and never brought up the word "love."

Pei Shizhou gradually grew accustomed to their relationship.

They treated each other with courtesy by day and were intimate at night.

At a gathering, Pei Shizhou once heard a friend ask Ji Shuyan, "What's the point of staying in a marriage like this?"

Ji Shuyan was silent for a long time before quietly answering, "At least I get to see him openly."

Pei Shizhou knew exactly who she meant by "him."

Standing outside the door, he suddenly felt that their marriage was absurd beyond belief.

That night, Pei Shizhou asked for a divorce.

Ji Shuyan didn't explain. She simply lowered her eyes and said she would move out as soon as possible.

A week later, Ji Shuyan left the city, leaving behind a signed divorce agreement.

Later, Pei Shizhou used almost every connection he had to search for a woman who didn't love him.

He thought he might have gone mad. Otherwise, why would he think that as long as Ji Shuyan came back, he would accept being a substitute for Pei Lin?

It wasn't until much later that Pei Shizhou found a photo from the day they married in Ji Shuyan's old diary.

Underneath, a line of tiny writing read:

I finally married the person I've loved since I was young.

Theme: Love needs communication.