Passionate Love After Marriage

On the day she marries Lu Yan, he hands her two documents: a marriage certificate and a separation agreement.

"We'll live separately and stay out of each other's business."

Shen Qianqian nods. "All right, Mr. Lu."

She really does cooperate. She moves into the apartment next door, never calls or checks up on him, and smiles as she links her arm through his in front of the media. Then they each go home separately. For three whole months, they get along without a hitch.

One stormy night, a power outage hits her apartment. She's crouched in the entryway, looking for a food delivery number, when the doorbell rings.

Lu Yan is standing outside, half his suit soaked through, holding a box of hot wontons.

"Your assistant said you haven't eaten all day."

Shen Qianqian looks up at him. "Clause Seven of the agreement: we stay out of each other's private lives."

He falls silent for two seconds, then slips past her and puts the wontons in the refrigerator.

"I've changed my mind."

Later, at a company outing, an intern comes over and asks, "Sister Shen, Mr. Lu is so cold. How do you put up with him?"

Shen Qianqian smiles over her glass of juice.

Cold?

She thinks of every night when he takes the long way home, passes by her building, and checks whether the light in her window is on. Only then does he leave.

"He says we'll live separately, but the storm in his heart is worse than the one outside."