[Widower romance | Stealing someone's wife | Rivalry between men | Coercive romance | Over-the-top melodrama | Amnesia trope]
[Brooding, gloomy male lead who is a ghost in human form x timid, silly beauty x fake noble and gracious second male lead]
*
Chi Wanwan was sixteen when the Chi family brought her back from the countryside to Jiankang.
Less than a month later, they married her off to the Xiao family like a piece of merchandise, making her Xiao Qingchen's wife.
*
After they married,
Chi Wanwan awkwardly tried to please her husband.
But she had grown up in the countryside and knew nothing of refinement. Whenever she was with Xiao Qingchen, she felt constrained and ill at ease.
Especially when his pitch-black eyes fell on her. She couldn't help shrinking away and avoiding his gaze.
So even when they shared a bed at night, Chi Wanwan would always end up crying and begging him.
Her slender fingertips dug into his arm, and her almond-shaped eyes were already soaked with tears.
Though she could hardly take any more, she only dared to speak in a timid voice.
"Could you go a little faster...?"
*
Chi Wanwan felt she had less freedom in the Xiao residence than she had back in the countryside.
It wasn't until later, when she overheard her mother-in-law talking with someone, that she learned Xiao Qingchen had married her only because of a promise made by the previous generation.
One spring day, a servant said Xiao Qingchen had invited her out.
In the carriage, Chi Wanwan went over the divorce agreement she had spent so long preparing, again and again. She worked up her courage, intending to have a proper talk with Xiao Qingchen about ending their marriage.
But the carriage suddenly went out of control halfway there and plunged off a cliff.
*
One year later,
Chi Wanwan woke again. She only remembered that she had been going to find her husband, but had forgotten his surname and what he looked like...
Just then, the tightly shut door was gently pushed open. In the dim light, a tall, slender figure appeared.
"Yangyang is awake."
Chi Wanwan blinked. Yangyang was her childhood nickname, known only to those close to her.
He must be her husband.
Xiao Wuming sat down by the bed. His cool, pale fingertips rested familiarly on her delicate white wrist.
Just as he was about to speak, Chi Wanwan asked in a timid, soft voice, "Husband, where are we?"
Xiao Wuming's refined brows lifted slightly. His cool, pale fingertips slid down and clasped her soft hand in his palm, his deep, shadowed gaze settling on her.
He chuckled and said, "Yangyang, you've forgotten. We've been married for a long time, but still have no children. We came out this time to pray for a child."
*
Xiao Qingchen knew Xiao Wuming. He was the only child of his second brother, and by seniority, Xiao Qingchen should have called him Third Uncle.
Another spring, the Xiao residence sent someone to invite Xiao Qingchen back to celebrate Xiao Wuming's return.
Everyone assumed he wouldn't come, but halfway through the banquet,
Xiao Qingchen strode in wearing a black robe. His cold, thin-lidded eyes swept over the joyful crowd gathered in the residence.
But the moment his cold, sharp gaze caught sight of the timid figure at the table, his expression changed completely.
Xiao Qingchen thought he must have gone mad. Why else would he think his wife had come back?
But little by little, Xiao Qingchen realized that the woman really was his wife!
If his wife had come back, then why hadn't she come looking for him?
And why had she married someone else?
Xiao Qingchen stared at Xiao Wuming with icy eyes.
His wife had always been timid. Someone must have put ideas in her head and led her astray!
*
1. The setting is an imaginary dynasty, with plenty of authorial liberties. No need to overthink it~
2. The ending will probably be one woman with two men.
3. This is purely the author's personal preference. Apologies in advance to anyone who doesn't like it. "Bows"
4. Apologies for changing the premise. The previous blurb differed somewhat from what I want to write now. Sorry to everyone who saved the previous version.
Theme: Love too deep to contain
