When Ruan Tingyi was twenty-seven, she married the man she'd had a crush on for years.
At the time, Pei Huaijing came from a prominent family. He was a sought-after tech upstart, the founder of a conglomerate, and an envied child of fortune.
She was just a classmate whose name he couldn't remember.
After they married, they shared a bed for many days, but never touched each other.
Ruan Tingyi knew their marriage, arranged by their families, was in name only, just for show.
-
One rainy night, a friend rode home in Pei Huaijing's car. The man, who never ate sweets, took a detour to a dessert shop and brought back a pile of cakes that looked better than they tasted. After taking a phone call, he turned around and went back the way he'd come.
Everyone knew that the haughty Young Master Pei had countless admirers, yet had never given any of them a second glance.
His friend teased him, saying maybe he was taking the act too far, even rushing to pick someone up after work.
"I can't very well leave a young lady out in the rain."
It didn't sound like he cared much.
A little later, Pei Huaijing pulled over, got out with an umbrella, and brought a pretty young woman back to the car. She was wearing the suit jacket he'd just taken off.
The man hooked a finger through the cake bag and placed it in the arms of the young woman, whose eyes were red. Patiently, he coaxed, "Have some. Don't cry."
-
Pei Huaijing would make time to accompany Ruan Tingyi while she made desserts, and come to pick her up with just one phone call. She knew he was simply fulfilling his duties as a husband.
But later, all his friends said that the usually aloof A-Huai had always been the one turning others down while people chased after him. It was the first time they'd seen him swallow his pride and go out of his way, all just to cheer a girl up.
Later, at a class reunion, there were plenty of guesses about who Pei Huaijing had married. When people tried to curry favor and fish for information, most were told it was just an arrangement made by their families.
Ruan Tingyi sat in a corner. Someone took the seat beside her and casually draped an arm over the back of her chair, drawing her into his embrace.
Pei Huaijing had just arrived. His usual pride and coolness had given way to a plaintive tone.
"Wife, are you still not going to give me a proper title today?"
[Bonus Scene]
While Pei Huaijing was on a business trip in Boston, he got a call from the landlord of the place where he'd stayed as a student. After the rain, the wind chimes by the window tinkled softly, and Ruan Tingyi received a love letter.
"I want to tell the twenty-seven-year-old Ruan Tingyi that I loved her, even if it's late."
"Mrs. Pei, please let me love you for the rest of my life."
-
Marriage first, love later / Crush becomes reality / Reunion after a long separation
A cool and aloof tech tycoon x a gentle, sweet doctor
-
Theme: Tomorrow will be better.
