Begonias on a Spring Night

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Four-year age gap | Brothers competing for love | His secret crush comes true | Her marriage first, love later

A designer who tries hard to seem sweet and harmless, but is actually independent and has a plan × A powerful man who appears indifferent to everything, but can't live without his wife

Shu Tang had always lived by the rules, following the future her family had mapped out for her, one step at a time.

As the Shu family's adopted daughter, Shu Tang knew exactly why her adoptive parents had gone to the trouble of raising her:

She had an exceptionally beautiful face, and was destined to be married off to the Ji family, one of the capital's most prestigious clans, as a tool for an alliance. She would become the wife of Ji Yunhe, a member of a collateral branch of the family.

He was a notorious playboy in the capital, and people said he had a beloved first love living overseas.

So Shu Tang had to embody all the right qualities: well-read, courteous, gentle, considerate, elegant, and beautiful.

-

Not long before the wedding, Ji Yunhe's first love returned from overseas.

Ji Yunhe walked out of a family banquet. When he came back, he called off the engagement.

The marriage alliance between the Ji and Shu families was the Shu family's chance to climb the social ladder. Shu Tang's father berated her for being useless and insisted that she marry into the Ji family, no matter what.

The wedding had to go ahead as planned.

Shu Tang had no choice but to meet Ji Yunhe, only to receive a cold refusal.

She walked out of the Ji residence in a daze, soaked by a sudden downpour.

A blinding flash of light streaked by, and a black Bentley pulled up at an angle in front of her.

The rear window lowered halfway, revealing the man's stern profile. "Miss Shu, get in."

It was Ji Yanxiu, the Ji family's eldest son and grandson.

-

The elite who had been waiting to see Shu Tang make a fool of herself soon heard the news that she was marrying Ji Yanxiu.

The marriage alliance took everyone by surprise. Some people boldly speculated that Shu Tang had gotten hold of Ji Yanxiu's secrets or found his weakness.

That night, Ji Yanxiu pinned Shu Tang against the door and leaned close to her ear. In a low voice, he said, "Mrs. Ji, don't let the rumors become reality."

Shu Tang thought he wanted her to play the role of a perfect wife and protect the Ji family's reputation.

"Don't worry, Mr. Ji." Shu Tang's ears turned red, but her voice was clear.

Ji Yanxiu had come to her rescue, so it was only right that she agreed to his demands.

But... why were this man's demands getting stranger and stranger?

Holding hands and acting affectionate in public was one thing, but why did they have to cuddle in private, too?

-

Only after Shu Tang left him did Ji Yunhe wake from his dream.

He wanted to take Shu Tang back from Ji Yanxiu.

"You can't have the Ji family, and you can't have Shu Tang either." Ji Yanxiu stood in the doorway, staring coldly at Ji Yunhe. "Besides, you were the one who let Shu Tang go."

Behind him, Shu Tang's figure flashed into view for an instant.

Ji Yunhe went mad and tried to force his way inside.

Bang.

The door slammed shut in his face.

-

Shu Tang didn't know that fate had already entwined her with Ji Yanxiu on a London street one winter long ago.

[Reader's Notes]

1. Tangtang's identity will be revealed in the story.

2. The story is from the female lead's perspective: marriage first, love later. The male lead has been plotting for a long time.

3. Tangtang is no empty-headed beauty.

4. Tangtang is Ji Yunhe's fiancee in name, so the two of them do have a connection.

5. The brothers will fight over love, and Ji Yunhe will have to work hard to win her back.

6. Tangtang never had feelings for Ji Yunhe, but she did play along with appearances (without any intimacy). Mr. Ji is devoted to her in body and soul.

7. All characters and events serve the story. Please don't read too much into any differences from real life.

8. "Stealing three parts of the pear's white, borrowing a wisp of the plum's soul." From "Ode to the White Begonia."

9. Happy reading!

10. The blurb was written on 2025.2.7, and a screenshot has been saved as a record.

-- "Gladly and Willingly" --

Childhood sweethearts | School life | Secret crush | Extra-sweet everyday romance | Two-year age gap

A sharp-tongued rich kid who has already fallen for her × A pampered young lady

From before she had ever dated, Fu Jingyang had always stuck to two rules for romance.

1. Her boyfriend had to indulge her without limits, the way her dad indulged her mom.

2. Her boyfriend couldn't be the kind of person Pei Xianting was.

Later, her boyfriend did a great job with the first rule, but failed the second.

Her boyfriend wasn't just the kind of person Pei Xianting was.

He was Pei Xianting himself.

-

Fu Jingyang could never understand why, despite having so many great qualities, she had received so few love letters growing up. In fact, she could count them on one hand.

Frowning, she asked Pei Xianting what was going on and whether something had gone wrong.

Pei Xianting crunched a piece of hard candy and said nonchalantly, "You're so spoiled. How could an ordinary guy handle you?"

Fu Jingyang threw the pillow in her hand at him. Pei Xianting caught it smoothly, as if he'd done it a hundred times before.

He went on, "Besides, Yangyang, you're too exceptional. An ordinary guy wouldn't be good enough for you."

Fu Jingyang decided that was just about the most sensible thing he'd ever said. She moved closer to Pei Xianting and asked, "Then tell me, who could handle me and still be good enough for me?"

"Me," Pei Xianting said, as if it were obvious.

An answer she hadn't seen coming.

An answer she never would have expected.

Fu Jingyang blinked and thought it over. Only belatedly did she realize Pei Xianting had a point.

-

It took Fu Jingyang a long time to understand that the companionship she'd always taken for granted, and the way she'd instinctively acted spoiled around him, were all forms of love.

But years of familiarity had blurred the line between them, leaving her too slow to recognize her own feelings until Pei Xianting spelled them out for her.

And all the things other people said you needed love to do, Pei Xianting had already done for her countless times, again and again, gladly and willingly.

Theme: Everyone deserves to be loved.