[Tough yet Tender Heroine x Scheming, Devoted Puppy]
● The heroine falls in love after marriage
● The hero's secret crush turns into a long-running battle for her heart
● The second male lead chases his ex-wife after losing her
Ji Qingyao had loved Shen Li for years. They were childhood friends, the golden couple everyone admired, so perfectly matched that no one could find fault with them.
Yet the person who appeared at their engagement party was Shen Li's half-brother, born to the same father:
Lin Wenli.
After a twist of fate brought them together in marriage, the two honored their agreement, each getting what they wanted and dutifully pretending in public that they barely knew each other.
In private, they shared a bed on countless nights no one knew about.
Even the scent on their skin came from the same body wash.
*
On the night he learned that Ji Qingyao really was married, the usually calm and self-controlled man dialed her with trembling hands, his eyes bloodshot.
"Qingyao, tell me who you married."
"I'll pay double whatever he put up to clear your father's debts back then. Divorce him."
After a long silence, a lazy, lingering male voice came through the receiver. "If you've got money to burn, donate it to charity. She doesn't need money, and neither does her husband."
Shen Li fell quiet for a moment, then let out an incredulous laugh. His voice carried a hint of uncertainty. "Brother?"
"..."
Bonus scene:
One day, they crossed paths in a narrow passage. Shen Li stopped Lin Wenli with a dark expression. "You think having her means anything?"
"Brother, don't say I didn't warn you. Her heart isn't yours. Don't waste your effort."
"Divorce her now, and you can still end things with some dignity."
At that, Lin Wenli calmly glanced at his watch, his relaxed tone carrying a trace of mockery.
"It's time. I have to go home and coax her to sleep."
"Sleep well at the hotel."
*Both leads are romantically inexperienced. Many original settings, with a very slow-paced, everyday feel.
*Some settings and plot points are exaggerated and illogical, so proceed with caution!
Theme: Never lose yourself for the sake of anything
