His Long, Long Night [Marriage Before Love]

The story is complete. I'll continue revising it from time to time, so please support the official version! Forthcoming: Everything About Spring, a story of a man secretly in love who steals his brother's wife. See the synopsis below. ---- This story ---- One-sided love from the hero | Marriage first, love later Gorgeous heiress x gentle, calculating Director Zhou Theater actress x doctor When Lin Youxin is twenty-six, she breaks up with her first love, and her family loses no time setting up blind dates for her. She treats the first few as a lark, until the last candidate: Zhou Bingshan, an old family friend and elder brother whom she hasn't seen since she came of age. Of all the sons and nephews of her grandfather's old friends, Zhou Bingshan is the one she least wants to marry. The Zhou family is strict and has many rules. Their eldest son is solemn and reserved, upright in his ways, and keeps people at a considerable distance. More importantly, back when she was madly in love with her first boyfriend, it was this eldest Zhou brother who delivered her confession letter. Before the wedding, Lin Youxin is candid. "I still can't forget my ex. Does that bother you?" Zhou Bingshan looks at her for a few seconds, then looks away. "It's fine. What day would you like to register our marriage?" / Lin Youxin assumes this is a marriage of convenience between two people being pressured to marry. Especially since Zhou Bingshan is so indifferent, and his work as a doctor is so demanding. He can't possibly be a good husband to share a life with. After the wedding, though, Zhou Bingshan shatters her preconceived notions. He comes home often, and keeps making requests. "Youxin, may I hug you?" "You can touch me wherever you like. Anywhere." "Bite me harder." Lin Youxin: ? / After decades of being a perfect gentleman, Zhou Bingshan is undone by secretly opening a letter. Every line of a young woman's thoughts, her ideals, her reckless ambitions, all had been shared with someone else. They were young and deeply in love, their souls had touched. And he clung to the scraps of what he had, tormented again and again through the long, endless nights. He knows she doesn't love him, but that's all right... If our souls can't touch, our bodies can. Youxin, don't you agree? ---- Synopsis for Everything About Spring ---- [Small-town exam ace x slightly deranged, brooding man] The last time Chen Yuxiu goes to pick up his younger brother's wife at his brother's request, he finally makes up his mind: He's going to make his sister-in-law his wife. / Chen Zongming has always thought Tao Yici is a good wife. She's quiet, dignified, perceptive, and dutiful. Her greatest virtue is also her most boring quality. Until he discovers she's having an affair with his older brother. / Tao Yici just wants to escape once, to try living for herself. [Reader's Notes] 1. The heroine isn't a virgin, but the hero is. A forbidden romance about a man secretly in love who steals his brother's wife. 2. The heroine gets together with the hero after divorcing her husband. She doesn't cheat. 3. The heroine's name, Tao Yici, can also be read as "escape once," meaning to escape restraints and expectations, and live for herself for once. Synopsis written October 19, 2025. Screenshots have been shared and saved on Weibo. Reader's Guide: 1. A cozy, healing winter story about eating, drinking, and making love. 2. Both leads are virgins; happy ending. 3. A pure-hearted, calculating older man whose secret love comes true, and a fiery northwestern girl in a marriage-first, love-later romance. Written October 19, 2024 / Lightly revised March 28, 2025. Screenshots have been shared and saved on Weibo. Theme: Spring mountains lie beyond the end of the grassy plain