Marriage Alliance: The Next Step

Arranged marriage, then falling in love | A daddy-type top who takes the lead | 13-year age gap | A devoted husband Steady, old-school Alpha family patriarch X perceptive, well-behaved Omega The intended groom refused an arranged marriage and rejected his family's control over his life. He wanted to chase his dreams and live freely. So Shen Nian's family arranged for him to marry the head of the other family: his intended groom's eldest brother. A man Shen Nian found unfathomable. At home, Shen Nian was a lonely, unloved boy. He had been raised as a tool for making an advantageous marriage, and even his extracurricular lessons taught him how to please Alphas. He had never been loved and didn't know how to love anyone. All he knew was how to please others. At first, he was afraid of Li Jianxing, finding him too serious and stern, with a face that rarely smiled. But gradually, warmed by the older man's patience, guidance, and boundless affection, Shen Nian began to find himself and pursue what he wanted. The Omega raised his fair little face and shyly asked the Alpha for a kiss. Li Jianxing turned his head slightly and refused. His large hand stroked Shen Nian's cheeks, flushed with embarrassment, as he met those tearful eyes, hurt by his rejection. He asked gently, “Niannian, I've told you that two people should only kiss if they like each other. Do you like me?” Shen Nian gazed at him in confusion. He didn't understand what it meant to like someone; all he knew was that he had to make the Alpha happy. But Mr. Li had told him not to lie, so he didn't know how to answer. His husband had refused his kiss, and Shen Nian was so sad he was on the verge of tears. “You don't have to do anything you don't want to do just to please me. Do you understand?” The man's voice was warm and captivating, making Shen Nian's heart race. He didn't know how to explain to his husband, or convince him, that he wasn't trying to please him by wanting to sleep with him. Li Jianxing had always thought his new husband liked his younger brother. After all, the two boys had been engaged since birth and had grown up together, so he felt rather guilty toward Shen Nian. Later, the older man secretly grew jealous, mistakenly believing he was only a stand-in for his brother. Then, during his heat, the Omega curled up in a pile of Alpha's clothes. Unable to get through to his husband, he called the Li Group's internal line, sobbing helplessly. “Hello... I'd like to speak to Mr. Li...” The executive assistant politely tried to clarify: “I'm sorry, sir, but there are two Mr. Lis here. Which one would you like to speak to?” “Li Jianxing...” Shen Nian was almost at his breaking point from the emptiness of his heat. “I want my husband, Li Jianxing...” The chairman of the Li family happened to be walking alongside his younger brother and heard every word. His heart melted. People always said the two young masters of the Li family looked alike and had similar pheromones, though their personalities were different. Later, Shen Nian really wanted to correct them. How were they alike? They were worlds apart. One was an unrestrained, carefree iced Americano. The other, his husband, was a rich, smooth espresso, full-bodied and more delicious with every sip. Reading guide: 1. A short, sweet story; pregnancy and childbirth; one-on-one romance. 2. A bittersweet-sweet flavor, with no angst, focused on healing everyday life. Theme: Learning to love and learning to be loved