Fishing for Immortals

[The story is complete. I may polish it from time to time. Pirated versions vary in quality, and I only take responsibility for the official version. Please support it (^_-)]

[New story, Why Does My Adoptive Brother Keep Making That Sound?, is now online]

[Before marriage, after love from the heroine's perspective; secret love turning real from the hero's perspective]

[Carefree, flirtatious, and wicked beauty × reserved, taciturn, but pure-hearted prince]

Marrying Shen Qingchen was the best bargain Jiang Hexue ever made.

As a husband of convenience, he had plenty of advantages:

First, his status was exalted. He was Prince Hengan, second only to The Outcast.

Second, his estate was quiet, and he kept himself pure. Before she moved in, there wasn't a single woman in the entire prince's residence.

Third, he was breathtakingly handsome, noble and aloof as an immortal descended to earth, elegant and pristine as fresh snow on a plum branch. A pleasure to behold, and a feast for the eyes.

But her husband had one flaw, and one alone:

He was far too chaste!

Jiang Hexue had spun so many sweet words that her lips were practically callused. She had used every trick in her considerable arsenal of seduction, but still hadn't managed to have her way with him even once.

All she got in return was, "How can we consummate our marriage if we don't love each other?"

Jiang Hexue understood.

He didn't love her.

-

For Shen Qingchen, falling in love with Jiang Hexue was as easy as could be.

But she only wanted to play with him, treating him like a pretty companion kept for his looks.

Proud and self-possessed, he couldn't accept such frivolous affection.

But at the year-end banquet, he saw the love token Jiang Hexue had given someone else.

Then she fell into a villain's trap and threw herself into his arms, tears clouding her eyes. "If you won't help me, husband, I'll go find him..."

His pride shattered. He gripped her waist, realizing for the first time how vile his possessiveness was.

Husband or pretty companion, he would accept it all.

-

Little Scene 1:

A new Western Regions tavern had opened in the capital. Jiang Hexue eagerly went to hear its new musician play the zither, but the moment she stepped inside, Shen Qingchen caught her and dragged her back to the estate.

"I've seen and learned all the new musician's tricks."

"If that's what you like, I can do the same."

Jiang Hexue saw a tangle of gold chains and glittering jewels across his pale chest. In his hands was the Jiaowei zither, which she had never heard him play.

Under her astonished gaze, Shen Qingchen pleaded hoarsely,

"Please, let me pleasure you."

-

Little Scene 2:

Her childhood sweetheart and former fiance was leaving the capital, and Jiang Hexue went to see him off.

As an arrow cut through the air, she turned in astonishment and saw Shen Qingchen.

The rain poured down. He was soaked through, his cold eyes bloodshot. He had never looked so wretched and defeated.

That night, in the dim lamplight, the young man tilted the wine cup in his hand, letting dark red wine trickle slowly over his bare chest and stomach.

His pride in tatters, he pleaded hoarsely, "Try it, Master."

Reader's Guide:

1. One-on-one, both leads are pure and each other's first love. The hero is chaste, with a neck-ring kink. The heroine has a former fiance, but she has no feelings for him and never behaved intimately with him. Readers with high standards for this should take note. The love token was a misunderstanding.

2. A sweet-and-sour story, with lots and lots of sweetness.

3. [Important] The female supporting character, Princess Shen Chuling, was originally named Princess Shen Chuning. Due to review issues, I don't dare change the text for now. Both names refer to the same person. Sorry if this affects your reading experience, everyone! Please don't flag it as a mistake! (The text may come out looking completely different after review again.) Please don't flag any typos either. Yeye will proofread it after the settlement is complete. Thanks ovo

The upcoming companion story, Why Does My Adoptive Brother Keep Making That Sound?, has the following premise. As before, it's a pure romance with both leads being each other's first love.

[Not related by blood] [Sweet, naive cook × scheming prince]

Zhu Yuan's adoptive brother died when she was thirteen, leaving no remains.

But when she came of age, Zhu Yuan went with her father to the capital and happened upon a princess's carriage.

The wind lifted the carriage curtain, and she saw a noble, refined young man sitting beside the princess.

His eyes were dark as ink, his smile gentle and faint, and he looked exactly like her deceased adoptive brother.

But before she could call out, "Brother," she heard the princess address him as...

Eldest Imperial Brother.

Only then did Zhu Yuan learn that he was the Emperor's eldest legitimate son, Shen Zeqian.

He had never been her adoptive brother.

From beginning to end, she had been taking someone else's brother away from them.

-

When he was young, Shen Zeqian went to Yangzhou in secret to investigate a case, living as the adopted son of Governor Zhu.

The biggest change in his peaceful life was the governor's youngest daughter, Zhu Yuan.

Playful and spoiled, she stuck to him all day like malt candy.

Dealing with a little girl like her should have been an easy, trivial matter for Shen Zeqian.

Yet, somehow, the more time they spent together, the less he dared look her in the eye.

Until one day, Zhu Yuan came down with a high fever and kissed him while half-asleep.

From then on, her bright almond eyes, round dimples, and sweet, clingy voice kept appearing in his dreams.

Only then did Shen Zeqian realize he had never thought of her as a younger sister.

If she wasn't his sister... then he could let her kiss him as many times as she liked.

-

Little Scene 1:

Shen Zeqian came down with a high fever. Unable to stop worrying, Zhu Yuan went to visit him.

Her usually composed and upright adoptive brother leaned weakly against her shoulder. His face was colorless, and low, hoarse breaths kept escaping his throat, making the back of her neck tingle.

Confused, she asked, "Brother, why do you keep making that sound?"

Shen Zeqian, who was deliberately trying to tease her: ...

-

Little Scene 2:

Perhaps the capital was too cold. Shen Zeqian fell ill again.

Zhu Yuan made him ginger and black-bone chicken soup to ward off the chill, and fed it to him herself.

But when he'd finished the bowl, he still held her without letting go, rubbing his head against her shoulder. It tickled even more than last time, making her ears burn.

Shen Zeqian sneaked a glance at her reaction, thinking he had made some progress.

But all he heard Zhu Yuan ask seriously was, "Brother, is your head itchy?"

-

Little Scene 3:

Shen Zeqian finally recovered, and Zhu Yuan happily pulled him along to see a play.

The handsome young actor onstage winked at her with one eye, then the other. His antics were so funny and delightful that Zhu Yuan laughed until her stomach hurt.

A few days later, Shen Zeqian started making the same expression at her.

Unable to make sense of it, Zhu Yuan thought: He isn't acting in a play, so the only explanation must be...

"Brother," she asked with concern. "Would you like me to put eye drops in for you?"

Theme: Love should be spoken bravely.