The Scent of Cake Invites Trouble, but He Offers Me Candy

A resilient businesswoman and a seemingly gentle, secretly ruthless official | Ensemble cast | Light political intrigue

Shen Zhiyi and Xu Shizhi share a childhood bond, and in the homes of Bianjing, their literary romance becomes the talk of half the capital.

The year snow settled on the plum branches, they stood together in the snow. "Second Miss Shen, may I ask for your hand next year?" The snow fell silently, but his vow was etched deep in the quiet white landscape.

Xu Shizhi pursues academic honors, while Shen Zhiyi devotes herself to running her pastry shop until its fame spreads far and wide.

But fate has other plans. Fourth Prince Song Muran appears and makes things difficult for Shen Zhiyi under the pretext of ordering pastries. Though his manner is frivolous, he gradually falls for her, and at some point, the gloomy look in his eyes softens...

The Minister of Justice's legitimate daughter admires Song Muran and grows jealous of Shen Zhiyi, plotting against her until her family is torn apart. Once as gentle as water, Shen Zhiyi is now as sharp as a blade. She enters the fray to exact her revenge, pushing Xu Shizhi away again and again, unwilling to ruin his future because of her.

Rain slants past the eaves, dampening their sleeves.

Xu Shizhi clutches Shen Zhiyi's sleeve, his fingers turning white. He lowers his eyes and speaks softly. "I've feared nothing in my life. I only fear seeing you frown and grow distant... No matter what happens or when, you can trust me. I can always be someone you rely on. Even if the sky falls, I'll bear it with you."

Shen Zhiyi pries his pale fingers loose, then removes the orchid hairpin from her hair. The rain and hairpin slip from her lowered hand and fall to the ground.

She looks up at him, her gaze as cold and shallow as a wintry pool. "You said you would ask for my hand, but I never said I would accept. You never even asked whether I loved you."

Rain patters, and the wind lashes the branches nearby, making them crash and groan beside them.

"I'm grateful to you. I respect you." She pauses. "Love?"

Shen Zhiyi's bright, icy gaze settles on the sachet at his waist. She suddenly turns away, and a few drops of rain and tears slide down her face.

She speaks one word at a time. "I have never loved you in my life. Lord Xu, throw away the sachet at your waist, lest it damage my good name."

*

At a banquet, Shen Zhiyi pours Song Muran wine three times. In the end, Xu Shizhi can no longer restrain himself and breaks into Shen Zhiyi's boudoir at night.

His jade-like, gentle facade cracks apart, revealing the obsessive nature beneath. Startled, Shen Zhiyi tries to speak, but Xu Shizhi covers her mouth. She looks into his eyes, as deep as an ancient well, pries his hand away, and says in a frightened whisper, "Have you gone mad?"

Xu Shizhi doesn't answer. He advances step by step. With every step Shen Zhiyi retreats, his eyes grow darker. His smile doesn't reach them; all that remains is a veiled possessiveness that follows her like a shadow, clinging like a festering wound...

[Synopsis] (The first two chapters may be a little slow. Feel free to skip around if you don't like them.)

1. Fictional historical setting, so please don't nitpick the details. The background takes inspiration from the history of the Song Dynasty.

2. The secondary couple is great too: Shen Zhixuan and Song Yanxuan.

3. The early slice-of-life pacing is slow, but things get more angsty later T^T (If you don't like angst, read with caution.)

4. The heroine is cool and distant, seemingly gentle but actually calculating at every step. The hero is refined and courteous early on, then becomes scheming later (though he doesn't change much toward the heroine).

5. Light political intrigue.

6. The main plot begins in Chapter 15. The earlier chapters introduce the main cast. Expected length: 500,000 words.

Theme: Stay true to yourself.