My Cold-Hearted Brother Became an Obsessive Husband

Xie Tangxi had snow-white skin and a delicate face. Treasured and indulged since birth, she'd grown up in a world of sweetness. The greatest upheaval in her life came when she was six, when she was kidnapped and sold to Jiangnan to become a child bride for a sickly young master, supposedly to bring him good luck.

Xie Tangxi was terrified and full of resentment, but she had no choice except to soften her voice, take the sick boy's hand, and ingratiate herself by calling him "big brother."

Until she managed to placate everyone in the household and escape.

Wen Jixue was a man trapped in a sickly body and unable to live freely. He hated studying and the world, and his moods shifted constantly. He thought love and affection were nothing but burdens.

The first time he saw Xie Tangxi, the little girl was trembling with fear, yet she pretended to like him and called him "big brother" in a soft voice. Wen Jixue frowned at that.

But to appease his elders, he still took her into the small courtyard. After that, though, he paid her no attention.

The next time he saw Xie Tangxi, she had fallen into the water. The tiny girl lay curled up on the bed with a fever, clutching his hand and crying as she called him "Mama."

Wen Jixue was furious and disgusted. He clenched his fists, but couldn't pry her away.

From that night on, he had a little tagalong who needed looking after.

Wen Jixue couldn't understand why a little girl kept asking him such strange questions. He found her annoying, yet somehow he ended up picking up his books and studying again.

At first, Wen Jixue just wanted the little girl to quiet down and stop talking, and he did manage that.

But one day, she stood on a little stool, leaned against his window, and softly asked, "Big brother, what is love?"

Wen Jixue spent the whole night reading, but couldn't find a definitive answer to that question.

Until years later, when he sent the little girl away from Jiangnan.

Until he rode through the streets on horseback and saw her lovely face flushed pink as she smiled like a flower at another young man.

Until he wanted to use power, schemes, any means at all, to take her back by force, yet feared he might die young and be unable to protect her.

At last, Wen Jixue learned the answer to that question.

*Blurb dated June 21, 2025, subject to change. Happy ending, bittersweet sweetness, probably a short story. (?)

*We oppose human trafficking. The Wen family dealt with the kidnappers, but didn't tell the heroine.

*A story about a frail, cold-hearted top scorer who chases his wife.

*The heroine marries the hero for the second time (tentative for now; might change after the story begins). She initially sees him only as an older brother, then falls for him over time.

Theme: Love is restraint