The bathing tub had been filled more than halfway with hot water, steam billowing up in thick clouds. The medicinal herbs had already been steeped inside, and the sharp scent of ginger rose with the vapor, making Jian Ru cough twice. The room was swelteringly warm. Even dressed in nothing more than a light short… Continue reading

Madam Li’s maiden surname was Han, and her given name in youth was Han Xiuxiang. Her family ran a bodyguard escort business. She was short and slight in build, but had practiced martial arts since childhood and had a strong, sturdy physique. In her teens, she had already followed her father across the country escorting… Continue reading

“Xiao Ru.” The slightly hoarse voice of a young man called from inside the room. “Coming!” Jian Ru answered immediately. He hurriedly wiped his hands and pushed the door open. The room was warm from the charcoal brazier. Li Jintong was propped up against the headboard, and when he saw Jian Ru enter, he set… Continue reading

Li Jintong woke up after lunch the next day. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw his newlywed husband sitting on a low stool by the bedside, elbows resting on the edge of the bed, eyes closed. His head was slowly bobbing forward, as if he was about to fall face-first into the quilt.… Continue reading

The room was filled with candlelight, as every flame had been lit, illuminating everything brightly. Jian Ru was squeezed to the side of the bed, anxiously rising onto his tiptoes to look over. A man in his late twenties sat at the bedside, concentrating as he took the patient’s pulse. He was handsome, with sharp,… Continue reading

On the wedding bed, Jian Ru quietly grabbed a small handful of dried fruits scattered by the bedside: red dates, peanuts, and the like. The bed curtains had been drawn low, but the red candles were still burning, and through the dim light he could vaguely see the two wedding robes hanging on the clothes… Continue reading

On the day of the wedding, Jian Ru got up at dawn. Aunt Jin, together with two other older women, spent the entire morning grooming him from head to toe, inside and out. By the time the roosters crowed and wisps of cooking smoke rose from the rooftops, Jian Ru found himself sitting before a… Continue reading

Jian Ru’s house started leaking again. The house had once caught fire; a wall had collapsed and been rebuilt, and the roof had been repaired as well. The money for repairs had all been borrowed from relatives, and over the years, he had slowly paid it back. At the time, there wasn’t much money to begin with. The repairs only… Continue reading

It was one thing to decide not to marry anyone, but if there was truly someone suitable, someone who could share both warmth and cold with you, who would willingly choose to live a lonely life instead? Jian Ru admitted to himself that what he called living alone for the rest of his life might… Continue reading

Jian Ru hesitated for a moment and instinctively wanted to refuse. His pride made him unwilling to have any connection with the Second Young Master, unwilling to take even the slightest benefit that did not belong to him. Aunt Jin was already watching his expression closely. Before he could even speak, she quickly persuaded him… Continue reading