A Spoiled Young Master's Care Manual

[A sweet-talking, "well-behaved" maid * a sickly young master who is sharp-tongued and impossible to please] The maid Ye Lian had thought she would spend her whole life as a servant, living in darkness where no one would ever see her. She never expected the capricious young master, notorious for his bad reputation, to latch onto her and openly declare that he would have no one but her. The more frightened she was, the further he pushed. When the young master was in a good mood, he taught her to read and paint, watched lanterns and snow with her, and even cleared away his beloved flowers so she could grow vegetables there. When he was in a bad mood, putting the vase in the southeast corner was wrong, the steam from the tea obscuring her view was wrong, and Ye Lian's short replies were wrong on top of everything else... Before she knew it, she had boarded his pirate ship and become the unspoken "bed-warming maid" of the South Garden. Ye Lian dreamed of being an ordinary person. She didn't want to be San Niang, summoned and dismissed at will, or Lian'er, a plaything for others, much less Lady Ye, a concubine who relied on her child for status. So when Li Lanjun proudly announced that he would take her as his high-ranking concubine and give her the life everyone envied, Ye Lian turned on her heel and ran. · Li Lanjun had been spoiled since childhood. The only hardship he'd ever faced was taking bitter medicine. Now, he'd somehow been bested by a little maid. He doted on her and loved her, and would give her anything she wanted. He had even set aside his dignity and status to secure her the position of a high-ranking concubine. He was willing to take her as a concubine before marrying a wife, even if the world looked down on him and laughed, all to give her a proper title. But Ye Lian wasn't grateful. When he told her the good news, she cast off her usual meekness and refused the honor. "You only treat me as a plaything, young master. Why go to all this trouble?" Seeing her indifferent expression, Li Lanjun flew into a rage and blurted out in anger, "Get out. I never want to see you again!" Ye Lian did as he asked, packed her things, and left. By the time Li Lanjun had calmed down and went looking for her, she had already left the estate. She had set up a little stall in the city and was living happily with her new sweetheart, their days getting better and better... * One-on-one romance, both leads are each other's only partners, and they are five years apart in age * Fictional setting, so please don't nitpick the historical details * A young master who doesn't know how to love has a long road ahead as he tries to win his wife back. Both leads have flaws: the heroine is a people-pleaser who struggles to say no at first, but grows over time. * A light, everyday romance focused purely on the relationship, with a gentle, gradual pace Theme: Women's independence and growth, breaking free of traditional constraints.