Beauty by My Side

[Fake siblings-to-lovers, sweet and doting slow-burn romance | Older man teaches love]

[Sweet, soft, silly heroine & gentle, scheming powerful minister]

Jiang Lingyi, the second daughter of the Minister of Rites, is fragrant, delicate, and beautiful. She has been engaged to the heir of a marquis's household since childhood.

Then everything changes, and her father entrusts her to his student, Yan Che.

Lingyi neither cries nor makes a fuss. She timidly takes the young gentleman's hand and sweetly calls him, "Brother..."

*

Everyone says that Yan Che appears refined and gracious, but is actually gloomy and difficult to approach.

Only Lingyi loves to cling to him. Whenever he returns, she lifts her skirts and runs to greet him.

Calling, "Brother Xunzhi," she throws her arms around his neck and asks him to pick her up.

Yan Che responds with indifference, never taking the initiative to touch or hold her.

Until one day, he uses his brush to lightly mark a floral ornament on her shoulder, then traces a path down to her chest.

"Go see him."

"The people of the marquis's household should regret breaking off the engagement."

*

Later, the marquis's household proposes marriage again, hoping to bring the heir's bride home as soon as possible.

Lingyi leans coquettishly against Yan Che's knee. "Brother, Ah Heng says he wants to marry me."

She rests her chin on her rosy palm, her eyes and brows full of a young girl's shy charm.

The man smiles as he sets down his jade cup. The fragrance of tea seems to cloud the dark undercurrents in his phoenix eyes.

Yan Che takes a great interest in her marriage.

Before the wedding, he enters her room and signals for the instructress to leave.

His black boots step over picture books scattered across the floor.

Rain beats against the window lattice, and soft moans come from inside the room.

Lingyi's cheeks are flushed as she pushes at him with fumbling hands. "Brother, are you really teaching me my lessons...?"

The man smiles faintly. His fingertip presses against the beauty mark on her lip, gently stroking it.

"How did I just teach you, little sister?"

"If you want me to stop, how should you beg?"

*

In this life, Yan Che manipulates imperial power and people's hearts as if they were in the palm of his hand. Only two things ever take him by surprise.

First, he raises a little white rabbit, neglects to keep her in line for a moment, and nearly lets someone else spirit her away.

Second, he teaches her too well and can't bear to let go.

[Reading Guide]

1. The male lead spoils the heroine until she's like a little fairy, then can't stand the thought of another man getting his hands on his precious cabbage, so he decides to teach his little sister what romance is himself.

2. 1v1, both leads are each other's first, eight-year age gap. The heroine is eight at the start. They're fake siblings with no blood relation, and their sibling relationship ends before they fall in love.

Upcoming story: The Crown Princess Plots Against the Rules

[Flirtatious, dramatic fake innocent bunny vs. taciturn, scheming real wolf]

A single imperial decree makes Su Yun, a physician, the crown princess.

On their wedding night, Fu Tanyan looks at the woman who has disrupted his plans, his eyes cold.

"Know your place. I dislike trouble most of all."

With his lapels half open, the smooth contours of the man's chest are faintly visible in the candlelight.

Hearing his icy words, Su Yun curls her fingers.

Then, as if possessed, she reaches out and touches him.

*

Everyone in court knows the crown prince is cold and cruel. They bet the little physician won't last three months.

Until one day outside the palace, after court is dismissed, the crown prince strides to a carriage, lifts the curtain, and climbs inside.

Only a moment later, faint sobs come from the carriage.

After a long while, the crown princess stumbles out, her hair in disarray, lips glistening, and the corners of her eyes tinged red.

"I can't do this anymore... I really can't keep pretending..."

The officials: "...??"

The noblewomen crowd around Su Yun to ask for advice. "Your Highness, tell us what you did!"

Su Yun feigns coyness and pulls a little booklet from her sleeve. "Here, I learned everything from this."

*

They are affectionate in public and proper in private. That has always been their rule.

But when Su Yun slips her hand into his robes again, Fu Tanyan grabs her slender wrist.

"There is no one else here. What is the Crown Princess doing?"

Su Yun looks completely sincere. "Your Highness, I want to make our act more convincing."

With that, she lets out an "Oh!" and falls into his arms.

Her lips land squarely on his collarbone, making a soft "smack."

Fu Tanyan grabs the back of her neck, his eyes dark. "Su Yun!"

She tips up her little face, her gaze clear. "Didn't you see someone coming? Don't say a word. Hurry up and act."

*

Fu Tanyan has always valued propriety above all else and disliked anything that deviates from the rules.

Only Su Yun, audacious and full of nonsense, makes him break his own rules again and again.

He tells himself he's simply soft-hearted, and is mercifully letting her taste a little sweetness.

Until one day, he opens the little booklet she never lets out of her sight.

There, on the pages, are drawings of him from every possible angle.

# Fine, you like drawing? I'll let you draw to your heart's content. #

# Something's wrong. Why has the crown prince started taking aphrodisiacs? QAQ #

1v1, both leads are each other's first, sweet and satisfying throughout, fictional setting, don't overthink it.

Core Theme: Saving each other and facing the light