After the Capital's Most Eligible Gentleman Proposed to Me

A teacup lid fell from the sky and hit Shen Tingxu on the forehead. It promised to grant him three wishes.

Shen Tingxu counted on his fingers. "I want to pass the imperial examinations! I want a high-ranking, powerful husband! And I want to become a martial arts master!"

His first wish came true. This year, the imperial examinations added a thousand spots, and even the young master who cleaned the toilets passed.

His second wish came true, too. Ruan Yuheng, the eldest legitimate son of the all-powerful Prince Nanyang, the Consort's own nephew, and this year's top scholar, arrived at his door with a courtyard full of betrothal gifts to ask for his hand.

The day his third wish came true, Shen Tingxu grabbed a huge sword and eagerly ran to the back kitchen. He slaughtered several chickens with ease! A swordsman worthy of Dongmen Fangshui!

*

Shen Tingxu gazed at the peerlessly beautiful man who had come to propose to him. With his picturesque features and noble bearing, he held his teacup as if posing for a painting. Shen Tingxu was very pleased with the teacup lid's second wish.

When word got out, everyone in the capital wondered: Wasn't Young Master Ruan supposed to have no interest in men?

After they married, Shen Tingxu came up with all sorts of excuses to take Ruan Yuheng out in public and show him off on the sly.

Though Ruan Yuheng noticed his little scheme, he still went along with everything Shen Tingxu asked.

After they had spent some time together, Shen Tingxu gradually discovered that his husband, who seemed so dignified and noble, would secretly touch the ends of his hair, sneak a look at his back, and caress the teacup he'd used.

Shen Tingxu was happy to tease him, hooking their arms together, leaning on his shoulder, and playfully calling him "darling husband." He'd watch Ruan Yuheng's ears turn bright red, while he maintained his composure and calmly said, "It's nothing."

Shen Tingxu figured it was because of the teacup lid's power, so although he found it amusing, he didn't think much of it.

Once the novelty of marriage wore off, Shen Tingxu went back to his usual ways.

He ate and played as he pleased. Sometimes, when he stayed out late and saw his husband waiting for him under the lamplight, he'd suddenly remember, oh, I'm married now.

Ruan Yuheng never complained about Shen Tingxu. He only asked whether he'd been cold while out, or if anyone had bullied him.

Yet the hints of worry that occasionally crossed Ruan Yuheng's face might have revealed what he truly longed for.

*

Shen Tingxu caught a chill while admiring the snow and became seriously ill.

Ruan Yuheng took leave from work and stayed by his bedside for five full days, caring for him every moment and doing everything himself.

On the day Ruan Yuheng had to return to work, Shen Tingxu felt an unfamiliar emptiness in his heart.

He thought, so this is how Ruan Yuheng felt when he waited for me to come home?

Maybe he...

was starting to like Ruan Yuheng...

Oh no.

But Ruan Yuheng's affection and love for him were only because of the teacup lid.

If the teacup lid disappeared one day, would all of Ruan Yuheng's feelings disappear along with it?

Would they become strangers...?

*

A teacup appeared out of nowhere and said it was going to take back all the wishes.

"Does that include Ruan Yuheng's love and affection for me?"

The teacup looked at their tightly clasped hands, then at Ruan Yuheng, still asleep in bed and beautiful as a painting.

Then it slowly nodded.

Shen Tingxu: !!

Shen Tingxu clung to Ruan Yuheng, who was still asleep beside him, and said tearfully:

"No! I think I've really fallen for him! I can't leave him! And of course I can't leave my official position, my huge mansion, or my lightness skill that lets me walk on water..."

The teacup's mouth twitched. It wiped the cold sweat from its forehead, at a loss for words.

*Excerpt One:

The red candles burned down, leaving the room in darkness. Shen Tingxu stuck out his foot and used his toes to hook behind Ruan Yuheng's knee, slowly sliding up along his thigh. Seeing Ruan Yuheng's usual dignified manner, he teased him. "Come on, catch me. If you catch me... I'll play with you." But Ruan Yuheng only glanced up. Shen Tingxu found it boring and started to pull his foot back, when Ruan Yuheng suddenly grabbed his pale ankle. "What's... wrong?" Shen Tingxu was startled by his sudden move. Ruan Yuheng looked at him in silence, his eyes full of shifting emotions. Shen Tingxu was only joking with him, but he'd taken it seriously. He should have known. Ruan Yuheng slowly let him go, his voice even lower than before. "Stop fooling around." Shen Tingxu went back to his usual carefree self, shrugged, and laughed.

*Excerpt Two:

Ruan Yuheng stepped down from the carriage. He held an umbrella, his features seeming even more aloof in the wind and snow. Shen Tingxu didn't notice at all. His eyes lit up, and he took three quick steps before throwing himself into Ruan Yuheng's arms, making the snow on the umbrella fall in a flurry over their shoulders. "Why are you here?" Ruan Yuheng looked down at the fluffy head in his arms, loosened one side of his cloak, and wrapped it around him. "I'm here to take you home." Shen Tingxu's heart warmed. He put his arms around Ruan Yuheng's neck, nibbled his pale neck, and smiled like peach blossoms in April. "All right, let's go home."

"But how did you know I was here?" Shen Tingxu asked, tilting his head. Ruan Yuheng's gaze wandered as he tried to change the subject.

Ruan Yuheng x Shen Tingxu

A cold, noble, secretly flirtatious top x a sunny, cheerful, clever little ray of sunshine

P.S. This isn't a power-fantasy story with a golden finger. It's a lighthearted, funny, sarcastic romance. The top falls for the bottom very early on. He's a lovesick, shy, aloof guy, and he'll probably always outrank the bottom in terms of social standing. The story jumps around quite a bit, so don't mind the jokes and other asides! There won't be much serious examination content. The examinations are mostly just background, and some details are things I've made up! The story will revolve around everyday funny bits, the romance between the top and bottom, and the changing abilities granted by the teacup lid. It's expected to be around 300,000 words, a little sweet treat! (This time, I swear I'm not making it long!)

Theme: Keep working hard, and then work even harder.