Yearning Day After Day

The story is complete. Creating a novel is hard work. Stolen versions are often incomplete, so please support the original.

"Upcoming novel in my column: Reborn to Win the Favor of a Powerful Man, opening in November. A sweet rebirth story about a spoiled princess x a loyal, ruthless hero. Please add it to your library!" Blurb below.

Six years ago, Old Master Ning retired from office and returned to his hometown with his entire family.

His second granddaughter, Ning Chaojin, returned with them. With her fair skin, striking beauty, and curvaceous figure, she became famous as the most beautiful woman for miles around.

But with her parents away for most of the year, there was no one to rein her in. She grew spirited and mischievous, and even after turning eighteen, no one dared come forward to ask for her hand.

One day, the young master of a neighboring estate, who had admired her for a long time, declared confidently, "My uncle is an official at court. He's coming home today to pay respects to our ancestors, so I'll bring him to propose to you on my behalf."

The young woman scoffed.

Then the elegant, distinguished man came closer, and her mind went blank. The word slipped out before she could stop herself: "Teacher!"

*

Shi Yuheng, an Exam Graduate from a humble family, had struggled for eight years in the treacherous world of officialdom. At last, his talent and ability won the emperor's favor, and he rose overnight to become a powerful new court official, unrivaled in prestige.

Learning that he had not returned to his hometown in years, the emperor graciously granted him two months' leave to pay respects to his ancestors.

Who could have guessed that Lord Shi, a confirmed bachelor, would fall into a trap and be forced to return to the capital from the countryside with a beautiful wife?

*

Ning Chaojin kept her elders' teachings in mind. Determined to win over her "handsome and talented" husband, she used every trick in her arsenal on their wedding night and finally got him to consummate the marriage.

But her husband was stiff and dull in bed, nothing like the scenes in the illustrated books. It was agonizing.

She swallowed her frustration, and only dared call him an "old fossil" in her heart.

*

To preserve his reputation at court, Shi Yuheng always acted with restraint and propriety.

He believed that treating his wife with mutual respect and honoring her status in public were all he could manage.

Even when it came to marital intimacy, he believed he must keep to his place and never overstep.

Then, some time later, on the day the capital's tabloids sold more copies than ever, the headline was: Lord Shi Is Afraid of His Wife...

Even more shocking, the popular erotic romance that even the crown prince secretly read, The Coldhearted Minister Lies Flat with Tearful Eyes and Begs Me, had been written by his wife.

Shi Yuheng's brow began to twitch. He had a feeling that if he didn't give her a stern talking-to soon, his good name would be ruined sooner or later.

*

To spare her embarrassment, Shi Yuheng took Ning Chaojin alone to the hot spring villa at their newly acquired estate, with a long lecture prepared in his mind.

But that night, Ning Chaojin wore a crimson gauze gown, with a fiery red fox tail trailing behind her. In a sweet voice, she said, "Where did such a handsome young man come from? Would you like to make this little fox happy?"

When passion reached its peak, their cheeks and temples brushed together, and he whispered in her ear, "Chaochao, what should you call me? Have you learned your lesson now?"

"Hus... Aheng..."

*

Much later, Shi Yuheng came to understand that a gentleman's virtue meant keeping his composure in public. At home... ahem... there was no need.

[Reading Guide: Pay special attention to item six.]

1. One-on-one, one true pairing, marriage before love, eight-year age gap.

2. Neither lead is perfect. The heroine is a silly beauty. If that's not for you, please don't read.

3. The hero is proper and restrained at first, but gradually loses control and becomes utterly devoted to his wife.

4. The blurb covers only a tiny part of the story and may be affected by POV bias. Please don't judge the whole story by it.

5. Romance first, plot second. The hero comes from a humble family and once worked as a tutor at a school. The leads did not have a real teacher-student relationship.

6. The dynasty is fictional, and this isn't a serious historical drama. If you judge the leads by very high standards, this isn't for you. The heroine isn't strong, and her growth is slow. If you don't like the story, please don't argue about it. Feel free to move on. Thank you!

Screenshot taken on 2025.8.7

End of separator. Below is the blurb for the upcoming novel, Reborn to Win the Favor of a Powerful Man. I have a good stock of chapters saved up, and it opens in November.

"Radiant, bold princess x cold outside, warm inside heir"

Princess Qingyang, Shen Qingwu, was a vision of celestial beauty and the brightest jewel in the Great Qi royal family.

But apart from her beauty, her reputation was far from good.

She was arrogant, domineering, and brazen, acting solely according to the principle, "I do as I please."

No one knew that she'd dreamed of her tragic fate in a previous life, dying by suicide in despair, and had cried for days afterward.

After much thought, she refused to accept her fate and resolved to find a powerful patron she could rely on.

Fortunately, she met the very person she'd seen in her dream, the one who would eventually storm the imperial city.

She immediately used every trick in the book to persuade him to come back to the palace with her.

Shen Qingwu figured that if she treated him well enough, then once he rose to power, he would willingly protect her life.

*

When Ye Huichen, heir to the Marquis of Zhennan, was far away on the southern frontier, he had heard rumors about Princess Qingyang.

He never expected to disguise himself and sneak into the palace for the first time, only to catch her eye at once...

Since he did need to stay in the inner palace for a while, he had no choice but to patiently handle the situation.

But the princess's enthusiasm grew day by day, and he could barely keep up with it...

*

Shen Qingwu accidentally discovered that the powerful patron she'd brought back had secretly fallen for her.

Even better!

When she hugged him, his whole body stiffened.

When she kissed him, his ears turned red as fire.

After that, even a smile from her made his gaze dart away.

Shen Qingwu's eyes lit up. This patron was a sure thing!

But just a few days later, he suddenly disappeared.

Before Shen Qingwu could even feel sad, more people she could use for support somehow appeared at her side.

Hmph... It's not as though I need him in particular!

*

Ye Huichen touched his lips, as though a trace of sweetness still lingered there.

His ears burned, and his heart brimmed with heat he could barely endure.

He'd thought he only decided to protect her before leaving because he didn't want to owe her anything.

He couldn't say when it began, but he had grown addicted to the spring waters reflected in her eyes and the warmth of her soft fingertips.

Longing entered his dreams, and he couldn't say when love began.

When he finally had to leave, he planned to return as quickly as possible.

But he never expected that the moment he left, she would start looking for a new patron.

Your Highness wants to trade me in? Too late.

[Bonus Scene]

Shen Qingwu never expected him to return not only in blood-soaked armor, but also to drive away everyone around her with ruthless efficiency.

Her lashes fluttered as he backed her step by step behind the red curtains.

"Your Highness, didn't you say that for the rest of your life, you'd climb only this one powerful branch?"

Theme: Live your own life and let others talk!