Liang Xiaozhu gets in trouble at school, and when the teacher calls her family, the person who shows up is a young man.
The teacher takes in his upright, imposing appearance and asks suspiciously, "Are you her father?"
The man's gaze stays coolly fixed on Xiaozhu beside him. Only then does he glance back and answer, "Her uncle."
He takes her home without a word.
Xiaozhu follows behind him, her schoolbag slung over his shoulder.
As soon as they get home, Qi Xiuyuan points to the balcony and says, calm and stern, "Stand there for half an hour before you eat."
Liang Xiaozhu has forgotten when she started calling this man her uncle. Intimidated by his authority, she is obedient and well-behaved, yet bold enough to covet him day after day.
When people ask about the girl, he always says, "She's a friend's kid. I'm looking after her for now. I'll send her away in a couple of days."
But somehow, he ends up looking after her for many years.
The day she learns he has broken up with someone, she grabs his belt and tries to kiss him.
Qi Xiuyuan pins her hands down and presses her against the door, gritting his teeth as he scolds her: "...Think you're all grown up now?"
He holds her hands so she can't move, but for the first time, Qi Xiuyuan feels that he can no longer keep her in line.
Willful young woman x composed older man
Nine-year age gap
* Foster-family setup, no blood relation. Their romance begins when she is an adult.
* The male lead has no exes or romantic entanglements. The female lead dates someone while in college, so proceed with caution if that bothers you.
Theme: The road ahead is long and arduous
