Gold-Set Jade

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Next historical romance: Silver Notes on the Sheng, Incense Burning in the Shape of a Heart, a princess x the emperor

Synopsis: A refined, ambitious heir to a wealthy family x an independent, clear-eyed, resilient flower | Patriotic industrialist x academic woman

Love at first sight / Secret love fulfilled / Prince and Cinderella / A romance across the ages

One-on-one romance, both devoted to each other, happy ending

They first met on the deck. Sheng Tang, the only son of a wealthy family, had chartered the entire cruise ship to celebrate his fiancée’s birthday. He was dashing and charming, with society ladies all around him.

She was dressed as a maid. Underage, she stood among the other maids, her only distinguishing feature being her aloof, youthful air.

She saw him holding a glass of champagne, effortlessly working the room. His peach-blossom eyes were languid and tipsy, his smile not quite genuine.

Their lives should never have crossed, but they briefly met each other’s gaze against the sunlight.

She never dared dream of the young master of the Sheng family, not even for a moment. He had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, refined and privileged, while she was mired in the mud, her life a shattered sea of glass that would cut anyone who touched it.

She could only occasionally indulge in remembering their first meeting in secret. Love at first sight had ended in such a hurried, messy way. Later, when he slipped a priceless jade bangle, carved with mountains and rivers, onto her wrist, he told her that in his eyes, she had always been jade.

*

While she was still a student, he supported her studies. They poured their hearts out to each other through letters, with no romance between them, only the knowledge that they were kindred spirits.

She saw another side of him, the wealthy businessman. Born into a family of merchants, he was passionate about mining and metallurgy. He defied his father’s orders and resolved to become a scholar, carrying a loneliness far ahead of his time. He was the one who led her into the ivory tower of academia, and she was willing to give him her youth and steadfastly walk beside him.

*

Later, when war engulfed the land, he returned from overseas and rebuilt industry, an industrialist who never regretted risking his life. She became renowned in academic circles and finally stood at his side as his equal. Through storms and raging seas, they joined hands to usher in a new era.

Theme: Use research to enlighten the people and technology to strengthen the nation.