False Blossoms

A pampered heiress from an elite family x a cold, desireless tycoon

In the late spring of that year, in the old Yuan family home in Huizhou Prefecture, a young woman lowered her eyes and played with the fish beneath an old tree.

Her delighted laughter caught the attention of a handsome figure leaning idly against a hexagonal pavilion.

Through the layers of flowers, he glanced up at her.

His imposing presence made even the green bamboo behind him seem like mere decoration.

An old servant beside him answered, “That's the youngest Yuan girl. Her childhood name is Ruofu.”

The man looked at her, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he said:

“Such a soft name, and she's been raised so delicately...”

“She won't be able to handle anything.”

On the day he was leaving, a rainstorm swept through Huizhou Prefecture. Yuan Ruofu ran after him to ask him to stay.

“The double-petaled crabapples in the garden are in full bloom...”

She was probably trying to ask if he would ever come back to see her.

A young girl's feelings were an open book to him.

She was indeed beautiful, and indeed innocent. It was just a shame she was too young.

So young that his nephew, who was the same age as her, was blushing as he asked his family to arrange a match with her.

“What a shame...”

Beneath the rain curtain of the courtyard, Mu Huaizhen didn't turn around.

“No matter how beautifully a false flower blooms, it will never bear fruit.”

With those words, he crushed her budding affection completely.

Heartbroken, Yuan Ruofu chose to study abroad.

Years later, they met again at a banquet. Right in front of him, she smiled radiantly and with carefree arrogance at his nephew, ignoring the man in the seat of honor, whose gaze was dark enough to devour her.

Before the evening was over, though, a large hand grabbed her by the waist and dragged her into an empty private room.

In the darkness, the usually cold and restrained tycoon loosened his tie and pinned her against him, gritting his teeth.

“You'd rather smile at some brat than look at me?”

Yuan Ruofu remained unmoved. “A false flower bears no fruit. Don't waste time on something pointless. Wasn't that what you taught me, sir?”

The man laughed in anger, seized her wrist, and held it above her head.

“That night we were alone in the library, I also taught you that I'm a normal man... Don't provoke me.”

“Mu Huaizhen, have you no shame?”

“That's right. I only want you.”

Only later did he realize just how soft she was, and not just her name...

[Bonus Scene]

On a warm, rainy night, she trembled softly with her shoulder against his. Red marks dotted her snowy skin. Blushing with frustration, she tried to escape, but he grabbed her ankle and pulled her back.

“Who was it that said... a false flower bears no fruit? You're a liar!”

He smiled. “Serves me right to toil night after night, making it up to you through actions...”

Reading Guide:

1. Love at first sight from the heroine's perspective, a carefully laid plan from the hero's.

2. Lots of romantic tension and push-and-pull; the aloof beauty gets tamed.

3. Age gap / intense chemistry / one-on-one romance / both leads' first time / happy ending

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Theme: Understanding and acceptance