After Being Bound by a Life-Linked Curse with My Archrival

Good news: My sworn enemy was poisoned by a love bug.

Bad news: While I was gloating, my sworn enemy transferred another love bug to me.

[One]

Zhang Heng, the younger sister of the Duke of Dingguo, and Gongsun Shuo had been enemies since childhood. At the academy, they competed for rankings; on hunting trips, they competed over the number of animals they caught. They'd argue at the drop of a hat. Even when the emperor and empress personally stepped in to break up their fights, they could barely manage to make peace for a day or two.

They'd assumed that until their betrothal was fulfilled, they'd remain a married couple who couldn't stand each other, living separate lives.

They never imagined that on the night of the Northern Wan Kingdom's surrender banquet, they'd both go to watch the excitement and accidentally swallow love bugs, binding themselves to each other in one wild night!

Even then, they still competed over who was stronger and who had the sharper tongue.

[Two]

People had extremely polarized opinions of Junior General Gongsun. Those who liked him said he was handsome, quick to laugh and talk, heroic, fierce, and the bravest general in the army. Those who disliked him said he was like a tiger or a wolf: domineering, overbearing, and suffocating.

He had always acted like the latter around her, and after being poisoned by the love bug, he became even more extreme in that direction.

Zhang Heng was a little nervous and uncomfortable. "Don't you dare fall for me. I would never like a rough military man like you."

Gongsun Shuo felt a pang in his heart, but put on a brave face. "Likewise."

[Three]

Their classmates were often exasperated by having to break up their fights, never knowing that the two of them had shared such intimate moments in private.

Until one day...

Two classmates with stomachaches were clutching their bellies and slowly making their way through the flowers toward the dorms when they saw their domineering Junior General Gongsun get a slap on the head, then sidle back over with a wounded look.

"Am I not good enough? Isn't having me all to yourself enough? Are those entertainers and foreign guests even half as handsome or heroic as me?"

In the sunlight, his bright, tiger-like eyes had somehow been squeezed into puppy-dog eyes, watery and tinged red, making him look especially pitiful, innocent, and lovable.

Classmates: "..."

Now that they knew this was the kind of "fight" they had, what had all their earlier attempts at breaking it up been for?

Were they just making fools of themselves? (Deathly smile)

[Reading Guide]

Both leads are each other's first love, happy ending, no major twists, pure sweet romance. But both the hero and heroine are pretty lively, and they bicker a lot. The hero is a loyal, love-struck puppy who acts tough, then turns around and pouts and begs for affection. If that's not your thing, don't force yourself. Hope you find a story you love. Thank you. (An earlier version of this blurb was saved in a notarizable draft box on Jinjiang.)

Theme: People should learn to communicate properly. Love that isn't spoken aloud isn't the most sincere kind.