Bound by Longing

Living Under One Roof / Long-Standing Schemes / Older Man Bows His Head / He

Chen Tingyun moved into the Jiang family home when she was young. In their vast villa atop the mountain, the elders were away most of the year, and only Jiang Yu was there by her side.

Jiang Yu was refined and courteous, and especially gentle and considerate toward her. The girl’s reliance on him gradually became something else.

One day, when she was nineteen, Chen Tingyun worked up the courage to steal a kiss from Jiang Yu, a fleeting touch of her lips.

That night, standing behind the door, she heard him let out a soft laugh during a phone call. “Her? She’s just my little sister. My dad only asked me to look after her a bit.”

In that moment, the girl’s heart shattered. All those times she had called him “Brother” had been nothing but wishful thinking.

-

Years later, Jiang Yu inherited the Jiang family’s business empire, just as expected. She, meanwhile, went to work as usual and occasionally followed her family’s arrangements, having coffee with a man before politely parting ways.

Then, during a torrential downpour, her blind date got soaked and stopped by her place to change into dry clothes.

She pushed open the door and saw Jiang Yu sitting on the living room sofa, his gaze dark as he watched them head upstairs. He merely curved his lips, as if he hadn’t seen a thing.

But that night, Chen Tingyun returned to look for something she had left behind. When she absentmindedly opened the lower cabinet of his bookcase, she discovered that every relationship she had ever had that came to nothing had, in fact, been his doing.

Jiang Yu was an utterly unscrupulous bastard.

Chen Tingyun clutched the evidence until her fingertips turned white and turned to leave, only for him to trap her between his arms. His low voice carried a cold laugh as he leaned down and demanded, “How can you bring outsiders into our home?”

-

Once exposed, Jiang Yu stopped hiding his intentions and took the opportunity to offer her a relationship.

Chen Tingyun had no desire to get entangled with him. To make him give up for good, she agreed to try dating for a week.

When the week was up, she promptly suggested they break up. The man simply smiled. “Sure. Let’s break up.”

But the next moment, he leaned close, his fingertips slowly stroking her lips inch by inch. Then he lowered his head and kissed her, his breath burning hot, almost making it impossible for her to breathe.

Chen Tingyun turned her head to dodge him, but he gripped her chin and gently turned her back.

“If A-Yun doesn’t want us to be boyfriend and girlfriend, then how about we just be husband and wife from now on?”

[Reading Guide]

The male lead has never been in a relationship, but the female lead has dated before (they only ever held hands).

Theme: Take a step forward