The Lost Nightingale

[Undergoing revisions. Expect updates to resume in late September or early October. Thank you for your patience and understanding. See the author’s note in Chapter 1 for details.] [Polite scoundrel × college girl | Pretend uncle and niece · Possessive romance · Foster-care story] Ye Ying has been adopted by the Xi family for less than six months when her adoptive father dies in an accident. Her adoptive mother blames her for bringing bad luck and plans to send her away. The only lifeline she can cling to is the man standing by, watching without intervening. Xi Jingyuan stands beneath the covered walkway, tall and slender, utterly out of place amid the commotion. He is like a line of cold scripture, urging people to cast aside desire even as he inspires wanton thoughts. Ye Ying rushes forward and grabs his hand, sobbing uncontrollably. “Uncle, please don’t send me away... I’ll be good.” Everyone in Beijing’s elite circles knows Xi Jingyuan is cold by nature and never gets involved in romance. Yet he doesn’t pull his hand away from Ye Ying. He glances coolly at his hysterical sister-in-law and makes his decision: “From today on, she’s under my care.” For years afterward, Xi Jingyuan raises Ye Ying by his side, granting almost every request. Until he catches her sneaking out in the middle of the night to date a boy from her class. It’s the first time he loses his temper. Ye Ying’s first love ends without warning. She refuses to believe her boyfriend has cheated on her. Watching her look utterly lost, Xi Jingyuan says coolly, “I told you he was no good.” For the first time, Ye Ying talks back to him. “You’re not allowed to badmouth him! He’s wonderful!” Xi Jingyuan narrows his eyes and slowly stubs out his cigarette. “You climbed into your uncle’s bed in the middle of the night because of him, and now you dare talk back to me.” “Tell me, how should I punish you?” Ye Ying fearfully takes a step back. Xi Jingyuan grips her chin, then gently wipes away her tears. “If you shed one more tear for him, just wait and see how much worse things can get for him.” “You should know I always keep my word.” - “In your eyes, who am I? Who do you want me to replace?” *Blurb revised on August 28, 2026* *Screenshot saved as proof of the original blurb* ||||The hero and heroine are not related by blood and are not registered as members of the same household. The heroine has simply lived in the hero’s home for many years. ||The heroine is resilient and headstrong, a hot-tempered little firecracker with a tough exterior and a soft heart. She keeps growing throughout the story. ||The age gap between her and the hero is seven years. She is the same age as her first love. Theme: Make choices that follow your heart