Embers

[Female Detective (27) 💗 Cartoonist (35)]

1. Lu Xingyi is a notoriously tough officer at the city bureau, with top-notch physical and investigative skills. She once spent years undercover in a major counterfeit-currency case.

Xie Chaowei is a hugely popular cartoonist, whose drawings are so realistic they can even fool banknote detectors.

The two seem to have nothing in common, but five years ago they shared a secret romance

Back then, Lu Xingyi was still a police academy student when she unexpectedly met Xie Chaowei, who was struggling with a creative block.

After one reckless night, they fell into a relationship as lovers, understanding each other without a word.

She willingly gave up all control, letting Xie Chaowei call the shots and take charge.

But before long, Xie Chaowei ended it with her own hands.

Years after they parted, the dormant counterfeit-currency case stirred back to life, and Xie Chaowei was drawn into it.

They meet again on official business, but their roles have completely changed

Lu Xingyi is now the one assigned to protect Xie Chaowei around the clock.

2. Xie Chaowei never imagined that a by-the-book, self-disciplined future police officer would gaze at her in bed with starry eyes and tears on her lashes.

The extreme contrast and incredible experience brought inspiration flooding back after years of creative drought.

But in the end, she was the one who cut their relationship short.

Afterward, she continued to spend her nights at bars, as if nothing had ever happened.

That was until she saw the familiar name on the list of the fallen.

That night, as she stared at the only photo they had taken together, she realized for the first time that pain could become so intense it left you unable to make a sound.

When they met again, everything had changed.

Xie Chaowei's eyes were damp, but Lu Xingyi remained unmoved, distant and cold, keeping everyone at arm's length.

3. Later, after Lu Xingyi was injured several times on missions, Xie Chaowei placed a hand on her taut stomach and, eyes reddening, tried to reason with her: "Your muscles aren't what they used to be, Officer Lu. Don't push yourself, okay?"

Lu Xingyi brusquely moved her hand away. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Xie Chaowei's phone lock screen: the photo they had taken together when they were dating, after Xie Chaowei begged her again and again.

In the photo, Xie Chaowei had an arm around her neck, laughing with wild abandon, nothing like the broken, out-of-control woman she was now.

Wasn't she supposed to have incredible self-control?

It was obvious who was pushing herself now.

Lu Xingyi said pointedly, "Miss Xie, didn't you inspect me inch by inch back then? You know better than anyone whether I'm pushing myself."

Reader's Guide:

# One-on-one romance, happy ending, eight-year age gap

# No real-life inspiration. Please don't message me if you drop the novel.

Blurb written on 2026.07.12, revised on 2026.07.26, screenshots saved

Theme: Love faces every hardship and overcomes them all