How Could a Young Lady Not Love Me?

Coming soon next door: My Husband Flirted with Me, and I Don't Remember. The blurb is below. If you like it, please add it to your favorites!

There's also a new upcoming story: After Being Reborn, I Keep Trying to Get Myself Killed. A brazen, free-spirited, doted-on princess × a cold, aloof, rigid hostage prince. If you like it, please take a moment to add it to your favorites!

The Jiang family received a promotion. As soon as they arrived in the capital, they heard that the missing Eighth Prince had returned and had earned the emperor's trust. He had instantly become a powerful rival among the princes.

Jiang Zenian was curious about the Eighth Prince, too, until a banquet at the marquis's residence, where she was pinned down in a bamboo grove.

Jiang Zenian looked at the man before her, someone more familiar than anyone. Her gaze was full of defiance, and anger turned her face scarlet. She wanted nothing more than to bite him. "You liar! Let go of me!"

The little guard who once did whatever he was told had become a prince whom everyone revered. No one could accept such a reversal.

"Your Highness, surely you know that men and women should keep their distance!"

Jiang Zenian struggled with all her might, but the man before her had tears in his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he asked, "Do you still miss that person, my lady?"

His expression slowly turned feverish. "Too bad that you're now a thousand miles apart. No matter how much you miss him, you won't see him again."

Pei Yanqi sighed and brushed her lips with his fingertips. "Why not love me instead, my lady? I won't betray you. I'll be loyal to you forever. We're the ones who truly suit each other."

How could she not love me?

How can I make her look at me, too?

Jiang Zenian was the daughter of the Assistant Prefect of Mingzhou. Since childhood, she had been betrothed to Zheng Changyu of the Zheng family. Their grandmothers had arranged the match while they were still alive.

Jiang Zenian loved Zheng Changyu and used to chase after him. She once thought she would certainly marry him one day. But life is unpredictable. Who could have guessed she would end up being pursued by a guard?

Beneath an apricot tree, Jiang Zenian met Pei Yanqi for the first time.

Later, he told her his name was Yu Qi.

Jiang Zenian saved him and made him her personal guard.

They spent every day together, but Jiang Zenian never noticed Yu Qi's gaze growing more and more intense. Only after the betrothal between the two families was called off did she realize that the obedient little guard had such shameful thoughts.

Jiang Zenian instinctively avoided him, even driving him away.

Her father was promoted, and the family moved to the capital. Jiang Zenian breathed a sigh of relief. Their stations were so different that they could never have made a good match.

At least now, everything could go back to normal.

Pei Yanqi was badly wounded and happened to be rescued by a minister's daughter. At first, he was very wary and only wanted to stay there while he recovered.

But in less than a day, he realized the young lady had someone she loved. They were mutually devoted, and anyone who saw them would call them a perfect match.

He scoffed. They were all ordinary people. What could fleeting love offer that power could not?

But later, when he experienced a rare warmth himself, for the first time he wanted to take something for himself.

That fickle man couldn't give the young lady happiness. Only he could understand her. They were the ones who truly belonged together.

A few things to know before reading: The male lead humbly begs for love, then forcibly takes the female lead partway through.

The female lead likes the second male lead at first, but later falls in love with the male lead.

The male lead desperately longs for the female lead's love.

The second male lead pursues his wife after losing her.

Both leads are sexually inexperienced. Happy ending.

Coming soon: My Husband Flirted with Me, and I Don't Remember

Ruan Yurong: At night, she goes wild and does whatever she wants. By day, she maintains her aloof princess-consort persona.

Xie Ling: At night, he holds his soft, fragrant wife in his arms. By day, she acts like nothing happened and leaves him alone in bed.

Blurb

Ruan Yurong was the beloved daughter of the Duke of Wei. An imperial decree arranged her marriage to Prince Xin.

They said Prince Xin was a cripple, unable to see and unable to walk on one leg.

Even the servants who swept the residence felt sorry for the princess-consort. Why would a perfectly good woman marry into the prince's residence, only to suffer?

Prince Xin was cold and unpredictable. Ever since he lost his sight, he had always hidden away in his room and forbidden anyone to approach. Anyone who barged in risked losing their life.

The people in the residence wanted to stay as far away from him as possible.

When Ruan Yurong heard all this, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Not going out and not having to talk to people? That sounded wonderful.

Nobody knew she had suffered from a strange affliction since childhood. Every night, based on something she had seen during the day, she would randomly choose an object and believe she was that object.

The first time it happened, she thought she was a fish and made a beeline for the pond, ready to dive in.

At first, her family thought she was drunk and talking nonsense. Later, they realized it happened every single night.

Sometimes she thought she was a little bird perched on a branch, a teapot in the room, or the quilt she slept under.

She climbed a tall tree and fell out of it.

She guzzled water, insisting she wasn't full yet.

She thought she was a quilt and went around looking for someone to snuggle with so she could keep them warm.

Night after night, her antics kept everyone from getting any rest. But during the day, she never remembered a thing.

To keep herself from doing anything strange at night, Ruan Yurong kept to a very small area and hardly ever went out.

She breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it would be enough for the two of them to treat each other with mutual respect.

She never imagined that things could go awry.

Late at night, Xie Ling watched as Ruan Yurong stumbled into his room, mumbling to herself.

Frowning, he was about to ask her what she was doing.

But the next moment, she was in his arms, soft and warm, hugging him tightly.

Xie Ling trembled, his eyes full of disbelief.

His broken body couldn't fight her off, and she held him all night long.

The next day, after hesitating for a long time, Xie Ling went to see his princess-consort. He wanted to ask her what she had meant by what she did the night before.

But when he brought it up, his princess-consort looked completely baffled and innocent, as if she didn't remember it at all.

Xie Ling felt as if the sky had fallen. Had he just been taken advantage of?

And now she was denying it?

With no proof, Xie Ling could only let it go. But that very night, his princess-consort came again.

She pulled the same trick, hugging him again. Then she smacked the back of his hand until it turned red, dissatisfied with how loosely he was holding her. She told him to hold her tighter.

Xie Ling could hardly believe it, but still wrapped an arm around her soft waist.

At the same time, Xie Ling heard a voice in his mind.

"I'm a vase. I'm a vase. I'm a vase."

Xie Ling chuckled and pinched her cheek. Sure enough, the little princess-consort covered her face and said indignantly, "I'm going to break!"

From then on, Xie Ling looked forward to nighttime most of all, because his little princess-consort would find her way to him and play a different role each time.

"Snuggle, snuggle, snuggle."

Ruan Yurong wrapped herself around Xie Ling, trying to cover him completely.

Xie Ling: It's hot. He doesn't need to be covered by a quilt.

"Kiss, kiss, kiss."

In the darkness, Ruan Yurong felt her way to the corner of Xie Ling's mouth and kissed him.

Xie Ling: His heart was racing so fast he was about to faint from excitement.

What should I do if my new bride comes to play pretend with me every night?

What should I do if my wife is cold by day and burning hot by night?

What should I do when Rongrong flirts with me and won't take responsibility?

Note: Alternate universe, happy ending, both leads are sexually inexperienced.

Theme: Work hard to reach the one you love, and keep a positive attitude.