Romance After Marriage

The author's completed novel, A Marriage in Jinggang, is available in her column.

Next novel: The Butterfly Escapes

Marriage first, love later / age gap / sweet everyday romance / the powerful one bows his head

Gentle heiress * seemingly refined, fatherly husband

Three months into their marriage, Yan Jiu met her new husband for the third time.

It was obvious they barely knew each other.

Chen Yuchu was a favored son of heaven, a prominent figure in Juancheng. Born into an illustrious family, he was decisive and ruthless in his actions.

The question of what kind of woman he might like had been a perennial topic of gossip in their social circle.

There was no shortage of guesses, or of people grasping at rumors.

When word got out that Chen Yuchu had married Yan Jiu,

everyone was left stunned.

Some were skeptical, some looked down on the match, and hardly anyone thought the marriage would work.

Most people in their circle were waiting to see Yan Jiu make a fool of herself.

At the birthday banquet for Chen Yuchu's mother,

the newlyweds seemed distant and cold, barely exchanging a word.

Everyone understood. Arranged marriages were usually like that.

But they had no idea that later that night, Chen Yuchu kissed Yan Jiu's butterfly-shaped shoulder blade, then slowly moved upward, kissing her jade-white earlobe again and again. His voice was low and husky. "Why are you ignoring me?"

Bonus scene:

As she fumbled with difficulty, a faint fragrance and a deep voice came from behind her. "Would you like me to help?"

Yan Jiu's fair skin was flushed pink, delicate beads of sweat glimmering like scattered pearls. Her hair, pinned up that morning, had come loose, falling in a silky, tousled cascade.

Her lips parted slightly, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "Sorry to trouble you."

They had done so many intimate things, yet she was still so polite.

Chen Yuchu looked over with a faintly amused expression in his dark eyes. His black silk robe was loosely fastened with a single belt, hanging casually from his frame. He seemed less stern, yet remained composed.

He bent down, his shadow falling across the broad expanse of her bare, snow-white skin. His long fingers hooked the sash, his movements as steady as ever.

When he reached the end, he opened the sash. His fingertips brushed her trembling skin, and his deep-set eyes lifted almost imperceptibly. He pulled away at once and said quietly, "Go ahead."

Reader notice:

Both leads are sexually inexperienced.

The heroine has an ex-boyfriend.

Next novel: The Butterfly Escapes (possessive love)

Clear-headed, resilient sweetheart X gloomy, obsessive young master

01

The first time Pei Yandie saw Zhao Zhizhen, his father had just punished him. She wanted to bandage his wounds, but his vicious glare terrified her, and she fled.

As the daughter of a Zhao family servant, she settled into life at the Zhao home, constantly on edge and doing her best to avoid the gloomy, intimidating eldest young master.

But in the year she graduated from high school, she got drunk and slept with the very person she feared most.

02

They disappeared from each other's lives, as if nothing had ever happened.

Pei Yandie went to university as planned. She always felt that a shadow followed her through life, but whenever she turned around, there was nothing there.

Over time, she stopped paying it any mind.

The year she graduated, she landed a job at the company she had always wanted to work for and accepted the advances of her schoolmate, Cen Tianhang.

03

The dim, hazy lighting made Pei Yandie uncomfortable. She had no idea what important figure could make these usually arrogant rich kids wait without daring to voice a single complaint.

She tugged at Cen Tianhang's sleeve. "I want to leave."

The door opened, and her eyes met his.

It was Zhao Zhizhen.

She wanted to run.

04

Zhao Zhizhen pinned her against the table, his chin pressed to her neck.

His bloodshot eyes blazed with fury as he took her pale shoulder between his teeth. His voice was hoarse. "Pei Yandie, you can't run away again."

Theme: Loving you matters most