Listening to the Night in the Damp

My new novel in the same genre, "Today Is an Auspicious Day to Marry," is now available. Please add it to your collections!

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A proud, bright catlike woman who gets prickly easily VS a rebellious, black-hearted romantic

Marriage first, love later / sweet married life / mature adults / two wealthy Beijing families / rivals

1. Everyone in Beijing's elite circles envies Gu Zhiyu for her good fortune and the family she was born into. She's also excellent at choosing a man.

She has two wonderful older brothers who dote on her, as well as a childhood sweetheart and fiancé from an equally powerful family. She was born to be a princess.

Until she sees her fiancé and childhood friend meeting a popular young actress late at night on the entertainment trending page, acting intimately.

That very night, she ends the relationship without a second thought.

On the night they break up, she gets so drunk at her best friend's celebration party that she passes out.

In her hazy consciousness, someone seems to gently wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes and sigh softly, "Do you really like him that much?"

She nods, then shakes her head, and as sleep overtakes her, she muddles into the warm embrace of a stranger.

The next morning, she wakes up in her own bed and turns to find Chen Siheng looking at her with lazy, smiling eyes.

The very childhood rival she had always clashed with, the one who was "at each other's throats every time they met."

Chen Siheng is one of the most eligible bachelors among Beijing's upper crust, a dazzling, privileged young man with a carefree and flirtatious nature. Wherever he goes, he is the center of attention. With a face that turns heads, he has countless socialites swooning over him.

Gu Zhiyu saw through his act long ago. He's sharp-tongued and loves to provoke people. Whenever he's around, she always keeps her distance.

2. After that reckless night, the nature of their relationship shifts.

Gu Zhiyu feigns composure and decides to strike first. "I thought your service that night was pretty good. Want to consider making it a long-term arrangement?"

Chen Siheng calmly buttons his shirt. At her words, he raises his eyes and smiles nonchalantly. "Sure, but a short-term arrangement is no fun. I've got a better suggestion."

"Let's get married."

Gu Zhiyu freezes, unable to believe he'd say something so absurd.

Chen Siheng leisurely takes in her look of doubt and explains with complete seriousness, "Our families are both pressuring us, aren't they? Instead of being set up on blind dates, we could each get what we want. It'd be much simpler."

Since the breakup, she's become the butt of jokes in their social circle.

Gu Zhiyu desperately needs a more impressive husband to win back her pride.

This deal doesn't seem like a loss to her.

3. So they reach an agreement and quickly get their marriage certificate.

Their announcement sends shockwaves through their circle of friends. No one could have imagined these rivals, who seemed to have nothing in common, ending up together.

On their wedding night, the childhood sweetheart, now a thing of the past, comes to their door in a fury.

Chen Siheng pulls his wife into his arms and kisses her passionately. Twining his fingers in her damp hair, he sneers toward the door. "Hear that? There's a stray dog barking outside."

"Too bad." He leans down to kiss her earlobe, his hoarse voice full of roguish triumph. "Now I'm the only one who can rightly sleep beside you."

[Bonus Scene]

After they marry, Gu Zhiyu accidentally finds a faded photograph in her husband's private safe. It was taken at her eighteenth birthday party.

The girl in a dazzling, elaborate gown is surrounded onstage. Someone gives her a push, and she stumbles straight into the arms of young Chen Siheng.

The banquet lights spill over them, freezing the moment in time. In the photo, Chen Siheng's eyes hold a loneliness and gloom she has never seen before.

A line of flamboyant handwriting is left in the corner of the photo: "If you can be happy, I'm willing to step aside."

What she thought was a mutually beneficial arrangement had actually been his long-planned scheme all along.

Luckily, we never missed our chance.

From now on, I'll always be there in your world.

!! (A preview of my upcoming novel, a marriage-first, love-later story like this one, "Today Is an Auspicious Day to Marry." Please add it to your collections and show it some support, my dears!)

Reading Guide:

1. One-on-one / both inexperienced in love / happy ending / marriage first, love later / his secret crush comes true

2. Rivals-to-lovers / the man is two years older than the woman

3. The second male lead, her childhood sweetheart, will have a role and his story will be explained clearly

4. The focus is on romance. The professional aspects aren't meant to be expert-level, so please be understanding

5. Please don't skip chapters when subscribing

6. The blurb has been screenshotted. Plagiarism will be pursued

Blurb written on October 5, 2025

Core theme: Small, steady gains are better than seeking perfection