Liu Jingzhen made two mistakes.
First, she fell for Gu Mingshi when she was young, exhausting herself in both body and mind and gaining nothing.
Second, when Gu Mingshi asked for a divorce, she didn't agree right away, bringing herself plenty more trouble.
Gu Mingshi honored his betrothal and married Liu Jingzhen, but his heart belonged to someone else.
He patiently treated her with courtesy and respect, but she was never satisfied. She was single-mindedly determined to make him love her, and Gu Mingshi simply couldn't.
Later, she grew suspicious and insecure, even wanting to lock him in a room so he couldn't look at anyone else. Gu Mingshi thought she must have gone mad, and turned around and asked for a divorce.
She refused, instead requesting permission to return to her family's home in Qingzhou to clear her mind. Less than a year later, a letter arrived from Qingzhou, urging him to come quickly and divorce her.
That very evening, upon arriving in Qingzhou, he saw with his own eyes a handsome young man with a face like fine jade leaning against Liu Jingzhen's knees, coaxing her gently, "Sister, I can't wait another day. Will you divorce him tomorrow?"
Certain she would push him away, Gu Mingshi never expected her to stroke the man's hair helplessly and answer with indulgent affection, "All right."
At that moment, Gu Mingshi, who had always been unmoved by anything, felt a jealousy and insecurity he had never known before. Only then did he realize that he was more possessive than anyone.
Kindhearted, lovesick yandere (growth arc) * aloof, slow-to-warm, lovesick man (downfall arc)
[You're all hopeless romantics. Who are you to look down on anyone?]
Reader's Guide:
1. The heroine is lovesick at first and will be selfish, resentful, and foolish. She gradually matures later on and finds meaning in life.
2. The hero becomes lovesick in the middle and later parts. He's not a scumbag, just infuriating. He gradually loses his way later on, then finds meaning in life.
3. One-on-one romance, both leads are each other's first.
Theme: Leave some room for others, and you'll meet again someday
