Small-town fiction
Dark, damp, fake-iceberg hero VS clear-headed, independent, adorable heroine
Blurb:
*
When they were young, Zhao Jinnan was a flower in Jiang Chi’s heart. Later, he became a scar.
Jiang Chi had never met anyone so pitiful. Every terrible thing imaginable, and unimaginable, had happened to the same person. Despite everyone trying to stop her, she still did everything she could to help Zhao Jinnan, hoping he might feel a little warmth.
Just as she thought she’d found a truly important friend, she realized he’d gone to great lengths to get close to her only so he could secure a scholarship.
After a family upheaval, she went from being the heiress to the richest family to having a ruined reputation. The person responsible was still the one she’d once confided in.
When they met again, the impoverished, upright boy from years ago had become a celebrated new tech magnate. In a crisp suit, he spoke with ease at a product launch, looking so refined and dignified that you’d think he’d never been mired in misery.
Jiang Chi was heartbroken and resolved to stay away, but he clung to her relentlessly, leaving her nowhere to run.
She had a long, long nightmare. In it, a large hand held her shoulders firmly in place. The panting beside her ear sounded like a venomous snake exhaling hot breath, scorching enough to melt her. A hoarse voice like a vengeful ghost kept demanding, “Didn’t you say you’d stay with me for the rest of your life?”
Then he gripped her cheek and lifted her face. Zhao Jinnan’s usually cool, composed expression seemed to split apart, his features twisting, a strange smile tugging at his lips.
He sighed softly:
“Chi, since you broke your promise,
I’ll punish you by making you
come to hell with me.”
*
Zhao Jinnan thought Jiang Chi was pretty, just a little stupid. Whenever her bleeding-heart side kicked in, she practically wanted to tear her own heart out and give it to him. He could only humor her while making fun of her. After all, there was nothing wrong with her being a little stupid. She had no idea she was being led around in circles.
Gradually, he realized she smiled at everyone else and was just as kind to them. She was like a sweet, irresistibly attractive flower, surrounded by a swarm of flies. Those disgusting things stole his attention and kept buzzing endlessly.
It made him a little uncomfortable.
He thought of those fanatical, devoted, clingy believers, unwavering in their faith and obedient in everything, even willing to die for it.
That’s right, he thought.
He would make Jiang Chi his own personal believer.
*
Zhao Jinnan had no fondness for the days before he came of age. In those miserable, desperate days, when he had to hide from the world just to survive, he lived worse than a dog.
Later, he gained money and power, and everything he’d wanted as a boy. So he tried to forget who he’d been, cut off every tie to his past, and basked day and night in the glory of being admired by everyone.
But one figure kept wandering through his memories, constantly reminding him of his past.
He meant to kill her, but ended up killing himself instead.
*I was once a south wind, wild and free, but for you I headed north, against my own course.
“When I grow tired of this world, I think of you. Knowing you’re alive somewhere in it makes me willing to accept everything.”, Once Upon a Time in America
Content warnings:
* The male lead is a dark, obsessive psycho and a criminal.
* Coercion
* Happy ending
Theme: Love is an instinct of humanity
