Enticing Jasmine

[Eight-year age gap + both leads are inexperienced + the hero suffers through a hard-won pursuit of his wife] For the past ten years, a saying has circulated in the capital: “You’d be better off provoking the King of Hell than Molly.” Mo Dingshen was born without the seven emotions and six desires that ordinary people possess. For twenty-seven years, he lived a quiet, passionless life, and no one could get close to him. The only exception was an orphan girl by his side, whom he cherished above all else, indulging her without restraint and letting her do as she pleased. Molly innocently thought things would always be that way. He held her in the palm of his hand, cherished and protected her, giving her boundless shelter. She thought what they shared was more than a simple bond of salvation, until she heard from a stranger that he was getting engaged… Molly had always been a princess perched high above everyone else. But on the eve of his engagement, she trembled as she pushed a glass of wine toward Mo Dingshen, and he drank it without hesitation. Just once: the proud Molly would lower her head only once. “Let me hold you one last time.” After that, they would have nothing more to do with each other. After a chaotic night, Molly woke to find the house empty, with no one but herself inside. She had seen it coming, so why had she let herself hope? Heartbroken, Molly set off for that sun-drenched ocean shore. - When Molly returned, she was no longer alone. The mixed-race young man beside her took her hand with deliberate confidence. In halting Chinese, he said, “Brother, we’ve set our wedding for May. Molly hopes you’ll be sure to come.” Mo Dingshen said nothing, merely staring at her in silence. When she opened her eyes again, it was already deep into the night. She was trapped in a feverish embrace, her hands held fast. “You can’t escape…”