First Love, This Moment

Fresh out of college with a degree in Food and Nutrition after being assigned to the major, Xu Siren has spent a month scrolling through job listings online.

There are countless ridiculous job ads, but the most outrageous one demands:

Twenty years of cooking experience, a nutritionist certificate, knowledge of ingredients, and expertise in traditional Chinese food therapy...

???

Those requirements are so demanding! Are you an emperor?

Xu Siren scoffed, then glanced at the salary.

What? A salary of 30,000? And all I have to do is make three meals a day?

Actually, I'm Dae Jang Geum!

Xu Siren straightened her back and sat up primly. She immediately bought a wig, reading glasses, and middle-aged clothes. She could pass for forty-five, no problem!

With a guilty conscience, she fudged her resume and sent it off, having prayed to just about every Buddha in every direction.

She got a home address!

That night, Xu Siren was so excited she couldn't sleep a wink.

**

Fang Zhiyou had barely posted his job listing when applications flooded in.

Among the many colorful resumes, one stood out for how bare it was:

“Auntie doesn't know how to write a resume, but Auntie thinks: I can do it!”

A kindly, hardworking, down-to-earth auntie came to mind, and Fang Zhiyou's heart softened. He sent her the address.

The next day, “Auntie” arrived.

Looking at the nimble figure bustling around the kitchen, Fang Zhiyou found himself with plenty of questions.

For instance, Auntie's hair was a wig, her reading glasses had no lenses, and her skin was smooth and delicate...

Auntie didn't just look younger than forty-five. She might not even be twenty-five.

Fang Zhiyou hesitated to say anything, until he had finished Xu Siren's cooking.

Sweet, savory pork rib soup with Chinese yam; tender, springy crucian carp stewed with tofu; soft, flavorful beef stewed with potatoes...

Forget it.

Let's give the young woman a chance.

**

After two months of spending every day together, Xu Siren realized that her boss, who was only twenty-eight, wasn't just a textbook tall, rich, and handsome man. He was also remarkably easy to “fool.”

She deliberately took his hand, and he believed she was checking his pulse.

She told him to stick out his tongue, and he believed she was examining it.

She couldn't help putting her arms around him and touching him, and he believed she was just making sure he wasn't cold.

He never refused her physical affection, and always looked at her with innocent, guileless eyes. As they spent more time together, Xu Siren's thoughts strayed further and further off course.

After Fang Zhiyou changed the safe's combination to her birthday, Xu Siren thought: Working nights would be fine, too. It's not about the money. I just want to give my boss a home.

Then one morning, Xu Siren discovered Fang Zhiyou's secret...

Xu Siren, who had just slipped on her lace lingerie: ???

-------------------Break-------------------

My next book is Don't Marry You. Please add it to your reading lists, everyone!

Straightforward, devoted mama's girl x scheming heir to an old-money family

Five-year age gap | Marriage before love | An alliance between wealthy families

Fang Youning looked at the wealthy husband her mother had painstakingly chosen for her and nodded obediently.

He was the younger son of the Fu family, the most prominent family in Hong Kong's social scene. He was around her age, handsome and refined, and knew how to enjoy life.

Fang Youning thought her mother was right: Marrying someone who knows how to live makes life much more enjoyable.

Their first meeting came after Fang Youning spent every spare moment waiting outside Fu Qingru's villa. After three months, she finally caught him in person.

Handing over her resume, Fang Youning invited him earnestly: “Fu Qingru, the last time we met, you were only eleven. Now look at you, all grown up. You're getting on in years, too. Want to get married?”

A faint, bemused smile appeared in Fu Yan'an's eyes. He took the resume and glanced over it, finally figuring out who she was.

Fang Youning was looking for his younger brother, Fu Qingru.

But looking at her bright, guileless smile, Fu Yan'an decided to play along.

He took over his younger brother's villa, and they went from living together to sharing a bed.

He let Fang Youning fall into his heart, sit on top of him, and leave her mark all over him.

Fang Youning's radiant smile kept flashing through Fu Yan'an's mind. He began hoping he could marry her soon.

**

The night before they were due to register their marriage, Fang Youning pulled out a premarital asset statement and a prenuptial agreement, then solemnly offered Fu Yan'an a pen.

Fu Yan'an didn't take it. His sharp features softened with an unusual tenderness as he said calmly, “Youning, I don't mind sharing my assets with you.”

Fang Youning gave Fu Yan'an a surprised look and sighed.

She said bluntly, “We should still sign one. I'm not worried about a rich playboy enjoying himself. I'm worried about a rich playboy starting a business. Look how hard you're working at it... Here, sign this. If you go bankrupt, we'll get divorced, and at least I'll know where I stand.”

Fu Yan'an's lips curved slightly. Under Fang Youning's insistent gaze, he had no choice but to sign.

Fang Youning took back the agreement, only to furrow her brows and feel the world go dark.

Fang Youning: “Why did you sign your older brother's name?”

Fu Yan'an took Fang Youning's hand and corrected her for the first time. “Fang Youning, let me introduce myself. I'm Fu Yan'an.”

Fu Yan'an thought that after all this time together, Fang Youning liked him too, and that they could get married.

But when dawn came the next day, all that remained beside him on the pillow was a farewell note.

Fang Youning had run away.

Because the husband her mother had picked for her was Fu Qingru, not Fu Yan'an.

The Cohabitation Trilogy:

Spring Pillow: Xu Siren & Fang Zhiyou (The Nanny's Promotion)

Don't Marry You: Fang Youning & Fu Yan'an (Marriage Before Love)

Tempting Childhood Sweetheart: Yu Wen & Feng Xi (Childhood Sweethearts)

Theme: Live optimistically and refuse to wear yourself down with overthinking