Lily Lin leaned weakly against Chris Chus chest, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat, feeling the lingering warmth he left in her body. Her emotions surged, and it took a while before she calmed down.
He was smoking after their intimate moment, exhaling smoke as if savoring the experience.
"Im twenty-six this year," Lily said, her hand on his chest, her voice soft and tender. "My family is pressuring me to get married."
Ash fell from his cigarette onto the bedsheet.
Lily felt his heartbeat skip a beat.
Chris casually brushed the ash off the bedsheet and casually asked, "Do you have a suitable marriage prospect?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Do you like him?"
"He says hes willing to give me a home."
After taking a drag on his cigarette, Chris stubbed it out in the ashtray.
"Thats good. Ill move out in a bit," he said, gently pushing her away, getting out of bed, and heading to the bathroom.
Listening to the sound of water in the bathroom, Lily felt upset. She got out of bed, opened the bathroom door, and saw a mist of steam inside. His tall and strong body, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs had brought joy to her otherwise dull life.
Chris turned around, and through the white mist, he shut off the water and asked her, "What? Want to experience it again?"
For three years, Lily and he had been open with each other, but every time, she still felt a bit shy.
However, shyness didnt mean she was afraid to act.
She walked towards him, her hands caressing his chest, moving downwards until he let out a muffled groan. She kissed the water on his chest, her eyes misty, her lips slightly parted, "Are you really not going to marry me?"
Chris tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and looked pleased, "We agreed from the start."
"But, can you bear it?" Lily knew his sensitive spots all too well; with just a little touch, he would give himself to her completely.
Chriss throat went dry, and he swallowed hard as Lily bit his Adams apple.
Chris opened his eyes, his large hand gripping her waist, lifting her up, his voice hoarse, "Then dont get married."
"I cant afford to wait," Lily said, looking up as the white mist swayed before her eyes, the light above her head doing the same.
"Then go get married," Chris said hoarsely, imagining her doing such things with another man, his movements becoming more intense, venting his emotions, wishing he could just kill her and be done with it.
That way, she wouldnt get married.
Lily tried every trick in the book to drive him crazy, thinking that this would make Chris miss her, even if it meant lying to her about marrying her, but he left without hesitation.
She touched the pillow he had slept on, thinking back to three years ago.
Three years ago, he had passed out drunk on the side of the road, and she had taken advantage of the situation, bringing him home.
That night, under the influence of alcohol, she had passionately entwined with him all night.
When he sobered up, he said that they were well-suited, and if she was willing to be companions, they could make do. Whenever she wanted to get married, she just had to tell him, and he would move out.
Indeed, he had kept his word.
...
Lily Lin and Joe Zhou were having their first private dinner together, and there was a bit of awkwardness at first.
Joe was refined and very talkative, good at making conversation, and chatting with him wasnt unpleasant or stressful; it felt like a reunion with an old friend.
Suddenly, Joe said to Lily, "Does that person know you? Hes been staring at us the whole time."
Lily turned her head in confusion and met Chriss gaze, her heart skipping a beat.
What a coincidence, he was there too.
He had left so decisively; it couldnt be that he was following her on purpose.
Soon, this suspicion was completely dispelled.
A gorgeous woman sashayed towards him, and as she sat across from him, Chriss gaze never left her again.
So quickly, he had found a new bedmate.
His needs in that regard were quite substantial; aside from her menstrual period, he wanted it every night.
Feeling choked up, she collected her emotions and faced Joe again, smiling at him, "I dont recognize him."
After dinner, Joe escorted Lily home.
As they left the restaurant, Chris and that woman were still there. Lily inadvertently saw the womans foot ( means in English) Chriss leg under the table.
...
Just as she entered the elevator at home, Lilys mother called to ask about the situation.
Lily knew what her parents were thinking; at twenty-six and still unmarried, it didnt bother her being far away, but her parents would face the neighbors judgment.
Her peers were having second children, and she didnt even have a partner; the neighbors gossip could drown her.
Lily honestly conveyed her feelings about Joe, lowering her head as she stepped out of the elevator, "He gives me a good feeling. He should be a decent marriage prospect..."
She caught a whiff of a familiar cigarette scent and looked up to see Chris leaning against the wall by her door, his coat draped over his wrist, one leg propped up, his thin lips holding a cigarette, his cold eyes peering at her through the smoke.
Why was he here?
Shouldnt he be with his new love, rolling around in bed?
Lily hung up the phone, took out her keys from her bag, and walked over expressionlessly.
Chriss long fingers held the cigarette, and as she approached, he slightly opened his mouth, the smoke enveloping Lilys face.
Lily was used to it.
She opened the door.
Turning back, she saw Chriss inscrutable gaze on her, those eyes the most captivating, filled with such deep affection that they made one blush.
She liked... no, loved Chris.
She thought Chris loved her too; otherwise, why was he so earnest every night?
They had been together for three years.
He was good to her, giving her everything she liked and wanted.
The only thing he wouldnt give was marriage.
She attended a friends wedding last year and came back telling him how romantic and happy the wedding was.
He said, "Only fools get married."
At that moment, she felt as if she had been thrown into a cold pool, chilled to the bone.
In fact, that was when she should have realized that Chris didnt love her.
What he loved was the feeling they shared.
People are like that, always thinking they are special. Thats why they keep hitting the wall.
This time, she turned back.
"I forgot something."
"What?"
She remembered she had packed up all his things. These past few days, she had been desperately trying to find something of his.
"The ones I bought that night, there should be half a box left," Chris said, stubbing out his cigarette and tossing it into the nearby trash can.
Lily instantly understood what he was talking about.
That night, in the heat of passion, they realized they were out of protection.
The kind he used to buy came in boxes of only six, which they would use up in less than two days. Later, he started buying them by the box.
In a rush that night, they bought a box and used half of it.
Saying he was extravagant, yet he wanted to take back the unused ones.
The time it would take to come to her place and get them, he could have just bought a new box and been done with it.
Lily took out the items for him.
Chris took them and pocketed them, explaining, "I didnt really want to come get them, but everyones size is different, and they might not fit. If your new love sees them, Im afraid he might feel inferior."
Lilys ears burned.
Who asked for his explanation?
"You should also be more restrained, be careful not to be drained," Lily said bluntly.
Chris narrowed his eyes, "Even if I gave you three more years, you wouldnt be able to drain me."
Lily felt bitter; if she really played around for three more years, she would have wasted half her life.
By that time, she would truly be the subject of everyones gossip.
"Go ahead and leave. Dont keep him waiting," Lily said, pushing the door to close.
Chris held the door, and Lily looked at him.
Chriss Adams apple moved slightly up and down, "
Introduction: Jane Smith is reborn with a chance to rewrite her tragic past. In her previous life, she was betrayed by her lover, Prince Henry, and her own cousin, Susan Cloud. Trapped and tormented by Governor William, she now seeks vengeance. With the support of her family and the unexpected protection of the powerful Governor, Jane is determined to confront her enemies and reclaim her destiny.
Synopsis: Grace Chen, once resigned to a loveless marriage with the aloof Kevin Shen, discovers her worth and the depth of her husband's deception when a rival, Claire Bai, enters their lives. With a new determination, Grace embarks on a journey to reclaim her dignity and make those who have wronged her pay. Set against the backdrop of ancient nobility, "The Unyielding Lady's Revenge" is a tale of resilience, cunning, and the pursuit of justice.
Introduction: Grace Gu, a woman caught in a web of deception, is thrust into the life of the Hawke family as a substitute bride. Expected to be shamed and cast out, she instead finds herself pampered by the family patriarch, Jayden Hawke. As scandals unfold, including a lavish purchase of a private island and a new planet named after her, Grace is left bewildered. With a marriage in shambles and a family divided, Grace must navigate the treacherous waters of high society and family betrayal. This is a story of intrigue, family drama, and the resilience of one woman in the face of adversity.
Synopsis: Everyone knows that Bo Leng once had a beloved first love, the white moonlight of his life. After years, he writes a song about her, and journalists ask if he has reconciled with his first love. He coldly replies, "This song is just a final reminiscence of the past, nothing more." Yu Si watches his interview and recalls the past, realizing that she was the only one immersed in this relationship. She turns around and unhesitatingly throws a divorce agreement in front of him. When asked about Yu Si's rumored upcoming marriage to a movie star, he sneers at the camera, "Do you know how many years you get for bigamy?" This is a story of a naive bunny who unknowingly falls into the den of a wolf, and the complexities of love and fame.
Synopsis: Celeste Yun, raised by the noble Yun Family of Alpha Prime, has always been grateful for their kindness. However, her world turns upside down when the long-lost true heiress, Sharon Yun, returns, making Celeste's position in the family awkward. Accused of competing with Sharon for the family's affections and her fianc茅's loyalty, Celeste faces betrayal and deceit. In a twist of fate, she discovers she's been matched with a husband through the genetic matching system, not just any man, but the Imperial Prince, the youngest and highest-ranked commander of the Alpha Prime. As she navigates this new reality, she must decide whether to embrace her destiny or forge her own path.
Synopsis: Reborn at the tender age of five and a half, Emily Feng is determined to secure her family's future by attaching herself to the future Chief Minister, North Jin, who is currently a disgraced son. Despite his current status, she sees the potential in him and becomes his most loyal supporter. As she tries to help him seize opportunities, she discovers he seems content being a 'salmon' (a metaphor for someone who is not striving for more). Just as she is about to give up, he rises to power, becoming the supreme ruler and offering her a share of the throne. Will she accept, or will she find her own path?
Introduction: Chloe Carter, the rightful heir of the Carter Family, was switched at birth with a village girl, turning her into a pawn for her family and the royal court. Deceived into marrying Max Black, the son of the Duke of Southland, Chloe finds herself in a family of warriors and wealth. However, her heart belongs to Henry Black, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Yan, who she believed would be her savior. After aiding her family in the downfall of the Black family, Chloe realizes she was merely a tool. Betrayed and imprisoned, she vows to change her fate when given a chance to be reborn. This is a story of intrigue, betrayal, and the quest for self-identity in a world of deception.
Introduction: Charlotte Johnson finds herself in a dog-eat-dog novel, becoming the spoiled and capricious wife of a business tycoon with a disability. As the original Charlotte was known for her extravagance and infidelity, the new Charlotte must navigate a world where her husband, Lucas Thompson, is offering her a divorce after a scandal. Determined to change her fate, Charlotte retracts her divorce request, only to find Lucas becoming increasingly affectionate. As she tries to understand the change in their relationship, Charlotte must also come to terms with her new reality and the power dynamics within the Thompson family.