Blurb:
The Marquis's daughter, Xiruo, suddenly comes down with a strange illness. When it flares up, she has difficulty breathing and suffers from extreme anxiety. The only thing that eases it is embracing and pressing close to a man.
To cure it for good, she needs to get skin-to-skin with lots of different men.
As it happens, her twin brother is studying at the Wuya Academy, where countless handsome young men can be found. She and her brother also look almost exactly alike.
She decides to disguise herself as a man and attend classes in his place, taking advantage of his popularity to openly get "close" to her classmates.
Before she leaves, her brother gives her all kinds of warnings: "There are plenty of young scholars for you to choose from, but whatever you do, don't touch the three Huo brothers..."
"Hello? Hello!"
"You little brat! Why are you running so fast?!"
*
The three Huo brothers come from a distinguished family. Each is exceptionally handsome, but they share a little-known secret:
All three suffer from a skin-touch disorder. If their skin touches an outsider's, they'll break out in red rashes and suffer unbearable itching.
That's why the brothers never let outsiders get close.
But the Marquis's heir, back from the farming holiday and apparently unafraid of death, insists on sticking to them.
The third young master is spirited and unruly. As he rides, the "heir" eagerly follows alongside, then takes the opportunity to wrap an arm around his strong waist. "Third Young Master, teach me how to ride, will you?"
The second young master is gentle as jade and a perfect gentleman. The "heir" uses palm reading as an excuse to hold his hand from noon until nightfall.
The eldest young master is silent and imposing, with the aura of a wolf. He's a martial arts and literature instructor temporarily assigned to teach at the academy.
Late at night, the "heir" grabs a quilt, nimbly climbs into his bed, links arms with him, and yawns lazily.
"The bed in my room is so hard. I hope you won't mind putting me up for the night, Instructor."
The three brothers stare at the person clinging to them. They haven't broken out in rashes, nor have they had any other strange reactions. All three fall into deep thought.
*
A few months later, Xiruo successfully cures her illness and switches identities with her brother.
On her first day back at the estate, she sees the three Huo brothers storming in and cornering her bewildered brother in the study.
Third Young Master: "Didn't you say my abs felt the best? Why aren't you touching them today? What gives?!"
Second Young Master: "I'm not a worldly man. Even if we're both men, cough... I don't mind."
The eldest young master toys with a sharp knife and sneers.
"Either die, or choose one of the three of us."
Xiruo trembles outside the window.
Good heavens!
Can I still run away now...?
PS:
1. Before the female lead is sure of her feelings, she won't date anyone, let alone have any actual intimate contact.
2. The female lead is a heartthrob, not a traditional historical-romance heroine, and doesn't have strong morals. There will be male competition. The ending is 1v1, and both leads are virgins.
Theme: Persevere and strive for self-improvement
