[Spoiled, willful young lady x aloof nobleman who falls for her on his own]
Lu Shiyi, daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an, grew up surrounded by every luxury and doted on by everyone. She became famous far and wide for her beauty.
But then tragedy struck: her father disappeared, her betrothed died in battle, and her stepmother forced her into marriage. Every path forward was closed to her.
On the night she ran away from her wedding, she met her betrothed's close friend, Cui Heng.
Cui Heng was the legitimate son of a Duke, handsome and refined, a nobleman beyond compare. He and Lu Shiyi had never gotten along particularly well.
Gazing at his cool, handsome features, Lu Shiyi had a thought:
Cui Heng might be annoying, but he was powerful and upright. If she could win his protection, she would have a way out.
In the pouring rain, the drenched young woman collapsed weakly into Cui Heng's arms, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Husband, where are we? My head hurts so much..."
*
Most of what Cui Heng knew about Lu Shiyi came from his close friend, Meng Zhao.
More than once, he had heard Meng Zhao complain that Lu Shiyi was spoiled, vain, willful, and rude, making a scene over the smallest disappointment. She was no suitable match for anyone.
He had thought he would only be taking her in for a few days. But then, during an assassination attempt, Lu Shiyi took an arrow for him.
From then on, the household servants, rouge, hairpins, and everything else had to be just right. If she was dissatisfied, she would cry, make a scene, and threaten to hang herself. "I'm homeless now, and I've lost all my memories. You're the only one I can depend on. If even you don't want me, I might as well die..."
Cui Heng's face darkened like water. He nearly snapped the jade hairpin he'd just bought for her inside his sleeve.
*
The new Lady Cui seemed to appear out of nowhere. With her harmless-looking face, she managed to make Cui Heng storm out in anger every day.
The people of the Cui household waited anxiously, expecting Lu Shiyi to be sent back to her hometown.
Half a year passed... and the young lord was accompanying his betrothed to browse a newly opened jewelry shop, still wearing his cold expression.
But eventually, word got out that she had been hiding in the Cui residence.
As it happened, her betrothed, who had been thought dead, returned to the capital. Lu Shiyi packed her bags and fled in the middle of the night.
"I was wrong before. I mistook someone for someone else and imposed on you for so long. Now that Meng Zhao has returned and my memories have come back, thank you for taking care of me all this time..."
The more she wrote, the guiltier she felt. Cui Heng had always disliked her, so he should be glad for this chance to be rid of her.
The bedroom was dim, and a shadow shifted faintly.
Cui Heng leaned against the door in a simple robe and said softly, "Shiyi, are you running away from your wedding again?"
"Where are you going this time? Don't you need your husband to come with you?"
[Extra Scene]
To thank his close friend for looking after his betrothed, Meng Zhao specially arranged a banquet.
After several rounds of drinks, he left to find his betrothed, who was sobering up. Instead, he saw Cui Heng tangled up with a woman behind the rockery, with faint sobs coming from them.
His usually cool and composed friend was disheveled, a clear handprint on his cheek.
Cui Heng shielded the woman from view and said calmly, "I've already had someone escort Miss Lu back to her room."
Only then did Meng Zhao relax. He still reminded his friend that if the woman wasn't willing, he should take things slowly.
He never imagined that just a few steps away, beneath the shadows of the rockery,
Lu Shiyi would be clamping both hands over her mouth, tears streaming down her face as she held her breath.
Her clothes were disheveled, and a red mark was faintly visible on the side of her neck.
Cui Heng had left it there while they were entangled moments earlier.
Theme: Love yourself before loving someone else.
