* Marriage first, love later, a slow and steady romance, feelings that grow over time
* 1v1, SC, HE
* Clearheaded and gentle X abstinent and finally losing control
In the third month of their marriage, he came home late.
A cold wind swept fine snow into the entryway.
“Mr. Luo.”
She gave him a polite nod and lowered her eyes, ready to leave as usual.
The next second, his hand closed firmly around her wrist.
She crashed into his arms, which carried the chill of snow and the warmth of his breath.
His eyes were darker than the winter night outside the window. “In your heart, are we nothing but a contract?”
*
Ye Shutong had been a well-behaved girl for more than twenty years. She never imagined she would do something so wildly unconventional:
marry a man she had met only once.
They agreed on three rules: separate bedrooms, no interference, and no crossing the line.
Once their one-year contract was up, they would each go their own way.
After the wedding, he was busy with his business empire, leaving early and returning late.
She stayed quietly at home with her thesis and her desk.
They got along like the most textbook pair of roommates.
Only, at some point, things began to change.
Whenever she worked on her thesis until the early hours, a cup of warm milk would be waiting in the kitchen.
She casually mentioned liking a certain dessert shop, and the next day an entire shelf of the refrigerator was filled with its treats.
At family dinners, he silently shielded her from every scrutinizing gaze.
“My wife needs none of your concern.”
Ye Shutong felt her heart give a small flutter.
Five seconds later, she calmly concluded: Mr. Luo was well-mannered, and the model of a contract partner.
She even reminded herself earnestly:
She absolutely must not fall for someone just because her business partner was outrageously handsome.
*
At first, Luo Zhiheng was quite satisfied with this marriage.
As the head of the Luo Group, he was calm and self-possessed. To him, romance had always been an unnecessary distraction.
Ye Shutong was composed and considerate, never overstepping. Even when handing him a glass of water, she kept exactly the right distance.
What he had never expected was that the very sense of “propriety” he once valued most
would one day become a tiny thorn, pricking his heart day after day.
Whenever she called him “Mr. Luo,” her tone was always distant and polite.
With other people, she could chat and laugh with ease, a little dimple appearing in her cheek.
He often found himself staring, lost in thought.
He refused to admit it was jealousy.
How could he be jealous? That word had no place in his life's dictionary.
Then why did that faint bitterness keep surging up stronger each time?
And she still wore that earnest expression, as if to say, “I take our contract very seriously. I would never cross the line.”
He was itching with frustration, yet utterly helpless.
He wanted to make her lose her composure.
He wanted her to panic for him, just once.
He wanted to hear her say his name in his arms, instead of calling him “Mr. Luo.”
*
Until that snowy night, when he could no longer hold back.
His kiss came hard and fast, all the emotions he had suppressed for so long surging to the surface.
“In your heart, is our relationship really nothing but a contract?”
Still catching her breath, she felt the corners of her eyes grow damp.
“...What else would it be?”
Snow that had yet to melt still dusted his shoulders, and his eyes were deeper than the winter night.
“Fine.”
He gave a sudden, low laugh and swept her up into his arms.
“Tonight, you'll find out what else it can be.”
❤️ Coming soon! If you're interested, feel free to add it to your library! ❤️
÷÷÷÷÷ ÷÷÷÷ ÷÷÷÷ ÷÷÷÷ ÷÷÷÷ ÷÷÷÷ ÷÷÷÷ ÷÷÷÷
The author's profile also has these completed novels:
A Life of Xiaoman: Cafe owner X son of a traditional medicine family
Kissing You as Snow Falls: Gentle university lecturer X devoted and persistent younger man
Summer Diary of the Heart: Aloof kitty X gentle, loyal puppy
Theme: Starting with a contract and ending with falling in love.
