After the Little Fool Finally Gave Up

Blurb:

1.

When Jiang Wanbai was seven, a high fever damaged his mind.

The Jiang family was a well-known local merchant family. To ensure Jiang Wanbai would be safe for the rest of his life, his father weathered public criticism and took in a live-in son-in-law for him.

On his deathbed, his father repeatedly warned him never to hand the Jiang family fortune over to outsiders, especially Xie Yuze.

But Jiang Wanbai loved Xie Yuze too much. He spent the family fortune to support Xie Yuze's pursuit of official honors.

Xie Yuze passed the imperial exam in first place. Jiang Wanbai sat motionless outside his home for a day and a night, only to receive a letter from Xie Yuze ending their relationship, along with a few lumps of silver.

Jiang Wanbai stumbled off to find Xie Yuze. From a distance, he saw Xie Yuze holding an elegant, noble young woman in his arms, his eyes tender.

Before Jiang Wanbai could get close, the guards stopped him and beat him up.

As he lost consciousness, he heard the young woman ask Xie Yuze, "Do you know him, Xie?"

Xie Yuze glanced over at him, his gaze feather-light, and coldly replied, "I don't know him."

2.

When Jiang Wanbai's injuries healed, public opinion had completely turned against him. The Jiang family was now a gang of bullies who expected repayment for their favors, and he was a shameless, disgusting man who had forced himself on the top scholar.

People threw stones at him and spat on him.

Terrified and uneasy, Jiang Wanbai begged Xie Yuze to come forward and tell the truth.

Xie Yuze dragged him to Jiang Father's grave and made him watch as they dug it open.

Even Jiang Wanbai, dim-witted as he was, understood: Xie Yuze hated him. He had only ever been using him.

3.

Jiang Wanbai gave up on him.

The top scholar's wedding to the young lady of the Minister's household caused a sensation in the capital. The line of wedding gifts stretched for miles.

Jiang Wanbai stood in front of Xie Yuze's horse, returning every last bit of the broken silver. "I don't want your things."

Jiang Wanbai took a deep breath and spoke slowly, but with complete resolve: "From now on, I won't love you anymore."

4.

Xie Yuze didn't take Jiang Wanbai's words seriously. How could a helpless fool with no family survive without him?

Sooner or later, Jiang Wanbai would come back to him, just like before, impossible to drive away.

He waited and waited, only to see Jiang Wanbai at a palace banquet, held tenderly in the arms of the all-powerful regent. Jiang Wanbai's small face was flushed, his beauty dazzling.

Xie Yuze was consumed with jealousy.

Content warnings and guide

One couple, both virgins. The gong is a controlling, parental type.

The shou has brain damage in the beginning and is somewhat slow and easily deceived. The gong will cure him later.

The live-in son-in-law gets a crematorium's worth of ashes. Nothing of him remains.

Theme: No matter how long the road ahead, never give up