[Marriage first, love later / Age gap / Stiff and refined vs. aloof and gentle]
1.
At twenty-three, Ji Qingran has just been brought back to the Ji family. Following her family's arrangements, she marries a stranger she has never met.
Song Weichen, head of the Song family, is mysterious and low-key, with a ruthless way of doing things. Many people try to ingratiate themselves with him, but none can catch his eye.
Everyone says Ji Qingran is lucky. She has only just arrived in Hong Kong, and already she has the title of Mrs. Song.
Three months after registering their marriage, Ji Qingran has never met her husband in name alone.
Song Weichen is expanding his business empire across the ocean. The only reminder of his existence is the daily transfer notification, with an uncountable number of zeroes, appearing on her bank card.
2.
At a welcome-home banquet, Song Weichen attends with his new wife.
People praise them as a perfect match, handsome and beautiful, made for each other. Only Song Weichen's friends know that this marriage was just to appease the elders, and that the couple could split up at any moment.
Later, at a gathering with friends, Song Weichen goes downstairs to fetch Ji Qingran, who has gotten lost.
After a long time with no sign of him, a friend goes to look for him, only to see the usually composed and elegant man holding Ji Qingran in his arms.
His suit is draped over her slender shoulders. He bends his head and kisses her earnestly, his profile striking and deep-set.
His fingertip rolls her flushed earlobe as he says nonchalantly, "I've been teaching you for so long, and you still don't know how to breathe."
3.
At first, Song Weichen doesn't take this marriage seriously. They have nothing more than a marriage contract, each getting what they need.
But after pretending for so long, he starts to feel something else.
Later, Song Weichen finds a divorce agreement in his study. Ji Qingran's signature on the final page stands out painfully.
That night, the divorce agreement lies on the table. Ji Qingran looks distant, her eyes shifting away. "I've had enough of pretending. I don't want to keep this up."
"Pretending?" Song Weichen picks up the agreement with his long, slender fingers and tosses it into the trash, his expression cool.
The next moment, he holds her by the waist, their breaths mingling. His low voice turns husky. "Sorry, I'm not that good an actor."
If I didn't love you, how could I act like I do?
[Bonus scene]
"Ignoring me?"
"I tore your shirt to shreds last night, and you're still not satisfied?"
With a soft laugh, Song Weichen pulls the silent Ji Qingran into his arms, kissing her fingertips. "Baby, teach me how to make it up to you?"
One-on-one, both protagonists' first time
Theme: Don't let love pass you by.
