My Cousin Is Always of Two Minds

[A seemingly gentle but actually deranged and possessive older male cousin x a delicate, sickly, foolish beauty of a younger female cousin]

Everyone said Xue Luo was lucky to have taken refuge with such a fine maternal family: the Pei clan of Hedong, an illustrious noble house. What an honor.

The young lord of the Pei family, Pei Yan, was every bit the gentleman, like a breeze. He entered the government at a young age and had a bright future ahead of him. He was also chaste and upright, never lingering in brothels or pleasure quarters. He only awaited a marriage to a gentle, virtuous noblewoman who could take charge of the household.

Unfortunately, Xue Luo was a disappointment. She knew nothing of the arts of the lute, chess, calligraphy, or painting. The only thing she had going for her was a passable face, and to her family, her only use was to send her into the palace and strengthen the Pei clan's position.

Then, in an unexpected turn of events, someone spotted the young lord of the Pei family and Xue Luo together in a room during the Old Madam's birthday banquet, locked in a passionate embrace. The Pei family was utterly humiliated.

The Old Madam was so furious that she planned to send Xue Luo off to an estate and hastily marry her to some country bumpkin, which would at least save the Pei family's face.

But the gentleman Pei Yan stepped in to stop her, and the Pei family had no choice but to marry Xue Luo into the family.

Everyone pitied Pei Yan, saying he had ended up with such a wife, someone who could do nothing to help his future.

But Xue Luo felt wronged. That cup of wine had never been meant for him. He was the one who insisted on drinking it.

A little scene:

Three years into their marriage, Xue Luo realized that Pei Yan's personality had grown stranger and stranger. He even tried to control where she went, what clothes and jewelry she wore, and what she ate. He was more annoying than an old schoolmaster.

She couldn't stand living under such control any longer. She shouted that she wanted a divorce, then dragged up what had happened years ago, speaking carelessly as she said she had never wanted to marry him in the first place.

At the time, Pei Yan smiled gently, giving nothing away. But that very night, he shed his gentle facade, making Xue Luo suffer unbearably.

He controlled every aspect of her life and interrogated her in a cold, frenzied voice.

"You didn't want to marry me? Who did you want to marry, Xue Luo? In this life, you can only be my wife, Pei Yan's, for all eternity. Until death, and beyond."

At first, Pei Yan thought his younger cousin was vain, spoiled, selfish, fickle, and utterly without merit. He only wanted to keep her in line so she wouldn't cause trouble. But Xue Luo was foolish enough to think he was a good person and kept throwing herself at him.

He watched coolly as she made her shallow little schemes to seek his protection. He didn't care at all. In fact, he was cruel enough to tease her with them, watching her eyes fill with tears and the corners turn red as she pitifully called him "Cousin."

He thought that if she behaved, there was no harm in protecting her.

But later, Xue Luo prepared to throw herself into someone else's arms without a moment's hesitation.

He crushed the jade hairpin he had prepared to give her. His eyes darkened, but his expression grew ever gentler.

A male cousin and a female cousin: weren't they made for each other?

P.S. The male lead only pretends to be a gentleman. He's sweet on the outside and dark within, quite deranged, and extremely controlling. He's not a perfect, wonderful person. The female lead is very weak. Please don't read if that's not your thing.

Theme: Treat the one you love well.