A Long Road Through Love and Moonlight [Marriage Before Love]

[The End. Revised the text, not responsible for the plot of pirated copies. The next book in the series, A Beautiful Day Arrives, is now underway. The blurb is below. Please add it to your library!]

Strangers to spouses | Both leads are CEOs | A career-driven, dazzling beauty x a cool and aloof man who becomes devoted, a real king | Well-matched rivals | The hero falls first

After Cheng Hexi and You Yue married on a whim, she was quite satisfied with her life. Their marriage was loveless, but her trophy husband had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and stood 187 centimeters tall. From his face to his physique, he was exactly her type. He also stuck to their agreement and never crossed the line. He didn't show the slightest displeasure when she forgot his birthday, and he didn't mind when she went on a business trip without remembering to say goodbye.

Their first time holding hands was to act like a loving couple in front of their elders. Their first kiss happened because of the kiss cam. Even after many days of marriage, they kept up appearances in public, all sweetness and affection, while remaining distant in private.

-

One day after their wedding, Cheng Hexi was driving home when she spotted her husband smoking in his car. Remembering some posts she'd read, she wondered if their marriage could really have made him so uncomfortable that he didn't even want to come home. They never interfered in each other's lives, after all.

It was only later that Cheng Hexi learned You Yue hadn't gotten out of the car because he didn't want to smoke in front of her.

She disliked the smell of smoke.

-

The night before the anniversary of her mother's death, Cheng Hexi had an upset stomach and was reminded of some painful memories. She lay awake until the early hours of the morning.

The hallway light came on, then went dark. A weary figure pushed open the master bedroom door. The man, who wasn't supposed to be back until the next day, had taken a flight home in the middle of the night.

Cheng Hexi was surprised and asked why he had returned to Beijing early. You Yue knew what day it would be tomorrow. He brushed her hair and said gently, "I was afraid you'd be in a bad mood, so I came back to keep you company in bed."

-

As the most capable heir in the business media, You Yue's abilities were beyond question. His arrogant, overbearing personality, however, was often criticized.

His friends all knew he'd married because he'd followed his elders' arrangement. It was just an alliance between two families, and no one thought anyone could really tame him.

At a dinner, someone offered him a cigarette. You Yue waved it away, saying, "I've quit." The man was surprised and asked why. You Yue replied simply, "My wife doesn't like it."

His tone was casual, but his natural fondness for her shone through. He was nothing like the untouchable man who'd once never changed for anyone.

A few things to know:

1. Both leads are each other's first and only love, with no past relationships or flings.

2. There is a secondary couple, but they get very little page time.

3. Please support the author by purchasing chapters. Happy reading!

Blurb for A Beautiful Day Arrives

Two wealthy childhood friends | Older man with a longtime secret crush | Heiress x heir | Sunny sweetheart x protective older man | Height difference

Chi Yu'an and Ying Zeqing had known each other since childhood. Though their personalities were worlds apart and they had nothing in common professionally, they had always been inseparable.

According to their mutual friends, there was an unbreakable bond between them that no one else could penetrate.

At a gathering of friends, however, the two acted nothing like usual. Chi Yu'an seemed uncomfortable around Ying Zeqing, ignoring him and even avoiding him when they crossed paths. The man she was ignoring looked as composed as ever, giving nothing away.

After the gathering, one of their mutual friends asked President Ying, clearly eager for gossip:

"What's going on?"

"Did you finally stop pretending and confess, and scare her off?"

Ying Zeqing glanced at him calmly and said nothing, tacitly confirming it.

He had always been levelheaded and restrained, skilled at planning several moves ahead in business. But when it came to Chi Yu'an, he couldn't keep his composure.

He no longer wanted to settle for being her so-called good older brother and good friend.

When Chi Yu'an found the photo in his wallet, Ying Zeqing met her gaze without hesitation and told her he loved her.

Shocked and conflicted, she asked if he'd gotten the wrong idea, mistaking his protectiveness and friendship for liking and love.

Ying Zeqing thought, I've loved you all these years. How could I not understand my own heart?

In his usual casual tone, he told her, "I've dreamed about making love to you."

Bonus Scene

At their first gathering after getting together, Ying Zeqing and Chi Yu'an sat beside each other again. He had made a point of ordering her favorite dessert. Their friends knew Chi Yu'an had been giving him the cold shoulder on her own for a while, and now it seemed they'd made up. They teased Ying Zeqing for always giving in to her. The heiress had an excellent sense of her own worth. "He's pursuing me, so of course he should treat me well." With everyone's eyes on them, Ying Zeqing glanced at the smug young woman beside him and readily agreed.

On the drive home after dinner, Chi Yu'an climbed into the car and immediately tried to kiss him. Ying Zeqing held her chin, gazing down at her impassively. "What are you doing? Didn't you say I was pursuing you?"

Chi Yu'an stared at him in disbelief. "You won't even let me kiss you now that we're together?"

Ying Zeqing raised the privacy partition and looked at her. "Come here. Sit on my lap, and I'll let you kiss me."

He pulled Chi Yu'an onto his lap. Between kisses, he asked, "Miss Chi, when are you going to make our relationship official?"

Dizzy from his kisses, she said, "...Tonight."

-

Chi Yu'an knew full well that no matter how far or high she flew, he would always be there to protect her. They had known each other for years, like two tidally locked planets. The love she had never noticed was waiting on the moon's far side.

Theme: Kindred souls resonate with each other.