After Proposing to a Stranger

Straightforward, bold, carefree young lady and sharp-tongued nobleman who's sweet on the outside and dark underneath

(The heroine makes a bold move from the start)

Meng Yizhi grew up on the northern frontier, where the fierce winds shaped her into someone easygoing, carefree, and unconcerned with the little things.

At eighteen, with no marriage prospects in sight, her anxious father hurried her back to the capital to find her a husband. She was just as eager.

At a birthday banquet, she ran into Shen Jin and, like a drowning person grabbing the only piece of driftwood in sight, frantically "proposed" to him.

He agreed!!!

The man is wonderful in every way. He's a little pampered, particular, and fussy, but nothing she can't overlook.

Still, she can't help taking a pessimistic view of this sudden marriage.

They're far too different: their family backgrounds, temperaments, and upbringings...

Before even getting married, Meng Yizhi is already fretting over all sorts of things. The Meng family, the Duke of Zhenguo's household, and Shen Jin himself.

He's really so pampered and picky.

He complains about her handkerchief and questions her personal affairs... After they marry, his demands only grow!

He's practically one step away from saying he can't stand her!

Shen Jin was raised by his grandfather from childhood, becoming exactly the sort of person everyone expected him to be.

But he knows perfectly well that this isn't who he really is.

Everything has value. Some things can be measured in silver, while others cannot be quantified. Whether something is precious depends on his mood.

One day, he ran into Meng Yizhi again.

She hadn't changed. Strangely enough, he agreed to her wild proposal.

She and he are different in every way, inside and out.

Their utterly different reactions let him glimpse how things would end.

He watched coldly as a bloated person thrashed about in the water, while she suddenly leapt in after them...

It would all come down to conflict and confrontation. If they wanted, they could divorce and go their separate ways. But he probably wouldn't agree, so the ending would be mutual loathing and a lifetime of entanglement.

Little scene:

The two of them were about to move out of the Duke's residence. Several house plans lay on the rosewood desk.

Meng Yizhi picked one up and checked the location carefully, then glanced at Shen Jin. "This one. It's closer, so we won't have to get up so early."

"By carriage, it would take you about half an hour and me an hour..."

"We'd be going in different directions, so we'd only see each other at night."

"Besides, this house is too small, and it's noisy next door."

Shen Jin picked out another plan. "How about this one?"

It was a huge estate. The layout alone took up more than three sheets of paper.

"It's too expensive. I don't think it's worth it." If he wanted to buy somewhere large, he could get an estate in the country. The scenery would be even better.

After spending so much time with him, Meng Yizhi sometimes found herself thinking about value the way he did.

Shen Jin rose and drew her close, whispering in her ear, "But I want to spend more time with you, my dear."

They could travel together for part of the way from this house, and Meng Yizhi would arrive first.

Meng Yizhi wrapped her arms around his lean waist and buried her face in his chest. Fine. It wasn't her money, anyway, and she wanted to spend more time with him, too.

A sweet romance about finding your footing in love before and after marriage.

The two of them stumble along, taking one step at a time into love.

1. The heroine has a career arc and a personal growth arc.

2. A little family intrigue, but the heroine is just there to watch the show.

Theme: Embrace harmony without demanding sameness. Respect others and respect yourself.