My mom rolled her eyes with practiced grace. "Claire, haven’t I told you—this face of mine is a perfect plan? You inherited my beauty and that’s the main thing. You look so much like me; back in my day…" (one thousand narcissistic words omitted). I had to bite down and say, "Ethan has someone he loves—Hazel. You can’t just shove me at him because Hazel isn’t back in the country."
My mom put a hand to my forehead, puzzled. "You’re not feverish. Why are you talking nonsense?" When I stayed silent, she added, "Don’t worry. Ethan’s been decent all these years. He’s almost thirty and never dated, which is why his aunt came to talk to me about asking for you as a daughter-in-law." I was getting more annoyed. Why would my parents refuse to believe Ethan and Hazel had a past when I’d told them so many times?
I was about to speak when the doorbell rang again, choking off my words. I opened the door in a sour mood.
Standing there was Ethan—my legal husband.
"E-Ethan?" I said, confused. "Weren’t you at the lab?" My mom hurried over, lighting up. "Is Ethan here to pick up Claire?" "Mom, these are for you and Dad." Ethan handed over bags as if it were the most natural thing. "I took a couple days off from the lab. I came home and didn’t see Claire; I figured she was here, so I stopped by." Watching my mom beam, I thought: what a model son-in-law.
"If you’re coming, just come—no need for all that. I’ve told Claire enough, you two can head home." Ethan finally looked at me. "Want me to take you out to eat? Anything you want?" My mom cheerfully shooed me into Ethan’s car, clearly convinced she’d performed a heroic matchmaking deed.
On the drive, I couldn’t sit still. Ethan stayed silent, so I forced the small talk. "Why did you take time off?" I asked.
"You should’ve told me you were coming home," he said with a faint reproach. "If you came back alone, my mom would worry we were fighting." I felt a little hurt and snapped softly, "You weren’t home, and I’m not familiar with the new place. I didn’t want to be alone." Ethan tilted his head and asked, "Are you afraid of the dark?"
I cocked my head, thinking. "No. I just don’t sleep well in strange beds." "Since I’m married to you, I’ll do my duty and be the husband and son-in-law I should be." Ethan’s tone was flat, as if saying a plain fact.
He was such a capable person—everything he did was done thoroughly. I believed he could play the part of husband. But regarding Hazel—had he really let her go?
"Actually," I said, "if you want, we can end this marriage at any time." Because you have no love for me, only obligation. I didn’t dare bring up Hazel abroad—didn’t want to stir up old pain.
"Ethan: I don’t have that thought, and I probably never will. My parents like you; we fit. I don’t want to waste time with drama." He parked and opened my door for me.
We were at a highly rated authentic Szechuan hotpot restaurant. He probably thought he was thoughtful bringing me here. He didn’t know I can’t eat spicy food.
His gestures toward me were gentle and considerate—but completely bereft of love.
I said nothing and followed him inside. He ordered, and I watched the red oil bubble in the pot. The smell was fierce; my eyes were close to watering.
"Excuse me, can I get your WeChat?" a young college-looking girl asked Ethan, cutting through my thoughts. Ethan was mixing dipping sauce and didn’t even look up, as if he hadn’t heard.
Receiving no reply, the girl awkwardly turned to me. "Does your brother have a girlfriend?" I blinked—what kind of look makes her think we’re siblings?
"He isn’t—" I started to explain.
"Married." Ethan said the word sharply, placed the sauce in front of me, and never glanced at the girl. She mumbled an apology and fled.
"Ethan," my nose stung a little, "could you… not be so good to me?" I was afraid his kindness would make it impossible for me to hold back my feelings. I had loved Ethan long before Hazel even existed.
I couldn’t remember when it started—ten years ago? Twenty? I always followed his footsteps: same middle school, same high school, same major. On the day I got my acceptance letter, I wanted to tell him—wanted to confess. Passing a room, I heard Hazel tell him, "Okay—five years from now, when I come back, you’ll marry me." Ethan said, "Okay." Hazel then traveled the world for inspiration, determined to be a great painter. Ethan buried himself in research and became a well-known scientist. I studied Biomedical Engineering, a field I didn’t love, and kept my feelings to myself.
Ethan was like a beloved book I couldn’t stop rereading—knowing I couldn’t get inside but unable to let go.
"Claire," he said, using my full name this time, "if you really don’t want to marry me, you should have said so from the start. I wouldn’t force you." I looked up and tears slipped down. The hotpot was making my eyes sting.
Seeing me cry, Ethan looked awkward but tried to soothe me. "I didn’t mean anything. Don’t read too much into it." "This hotpot is really spicy," I said, talking about something else entirely.
Ethan said, "Hazel recommended this place. I thought you two had similar tastes… What’s wrong? Don’t you like spicy food?" "It’s my period. I don’t have an appetite," I said expressionlessly. I knew my attitude was strange, but I couldn’t bear to hear Hazel’s name.
"Let’s go home." Ethan called the server for the bill, picked up his coat on the chair, and said, "Come on, Claire."
Back at Ethan’s house, I sat on the couch scrolling through my feed. My friend Maya had posted her wedding photos and I realized Ethan and I hadn’t even taken wedding photos.
Both families originally wanted a grand wedding—both the Fosters and Bennetts were prominent. I had refused. I didn’t want a big spectacle. Marrying Ethan felt like something I’d stolen from Hazel—something that couldn’t be shown to the light. How could I parade it around?
While looking at Maya’s photos, she called.
"Hey Maya," I answered, "Ethan and I picked up the certificate today." "With who?" Maya was still her loud self. "What time is it—are you sleeping in?" I checked the study upstairs to make sure he couldn’t hear, then went on, "No, I really did it. We picked it up." "Wait—you mean Ethan Foster?" Maya was incredulous. "Yes, the one you mean." I was half amused, half exasperated.
"This world is wild," she shouted. "Claire Bennett, you did it—you married the man every woman in Southport dreams of!" I had a headache from her yelling. "I’ve liked Ethan for so many years," I said. Silence on the line made me think the call dropped. Maya then whispered, "You’ve known him so long? Holy—what kind of family are you?" Ugh.
Maya always focused on the oddest things. I kept myself from smacking her and steered the conversation back. "The point is I like him—I’ve liked him for years." "Ah! Wait, I remember now—he’s the childhood friend you left me for when you went overseas?" Her mental reflex was slow.
"Marrying him should make your dream come true," Maya gushed. "Bossy CEO’s little wife—no, bossy scientist’s little wife. So exciting!" "But he used to date my cousin," I said, and the words felt like a heavy stone in my chest.
"Ooh—spicy," Maya purred. "I wouldn’t even dare to write this in a novel." I rubbed my temple. "So I don’t know how to face my cousin about it." "Face what?" Maya said. "You didn’t steal or lie. You legally registered—what’s there to explain? You’re protected by law. Why worry about an ex?" That fired me up. I crossed my legs and, in full gossip mode, asked, "Do men never forget their first love? Isn’t it true that when the ex cries the current loses?" "How would I know… Claire, you seem a little off today."
“You’re not usually so sentimental. Aren’t you supposed to be a straight-up STEM girl?” I even thought my sudden mood today was weird. Ethan is probably my biggest exception.
(4)
After hanging up with Maya, boredom hit me. I scrolled Zhihu on my phone.
A topic caught my eye: “What’s it like to marry someone you’ve liked for a long time?” Hmm… what’s it like being married to Ethan?
It’s like when you were a kid and saw a beautiful, delicate doll in a store window—loved it but couldn’t buy it, so you’d make a point of going to the mall every day just to look.
Day after day, year after year you stare at it, and then one day the store clerk takes the doll out and hands it to you, announcing it’s yours now.
At first you’re overjoyed, but later an unreal feeling creeps in, then fear—fear that someone else will like the doll, fear you’ll lose it.
Losing something after having it hurts so much more than never having had it at all.
Maya’s last words still echoed: “Stop being scared. Ethan and Hazel—five years are over. Your legal husband is right in front of you, why are you chickening out? You’re not worse than Hazel. You grew up together—close water gets the moon first…” I admit, when Maya gets excited, her words tumble out all wrong, but the kernel is true.
Thinking Ethan hadn’t eaten much tonight, I opened the fridge and made a bowl of tomato-and-egg noodles.
This was my signature dish. Back when I was studying in the culinary desert of the British Isles, it’s what kept me alive.
I took a deep breath to calm the tension and knocked on the study door.
Ethan opened quickly, looking puzzled. “What’s up?”
“I made you noodles. You didn’t eat much tonight,” I met his eyes. “I didn’t want you to be hungry.” He blinked and then said, “Okay, I’ll eat now.” The chopsticks were already set. Ethan rolled his sleeves up and dug in.
I propped my chin on my hand and watched him. He looked so good—features so precise it was like an artist had drawn him. From this angle, that high nose made me ache with envy.
He took a few bites and noticed me staring. He cleared his throat. “You’re not eating?”
I waved him off, reverting to my breezy self. “It’s my period. No appetite.” “Open up.” Ethan twirled some noodles and held them to my mouth. He’d never done anything this intimate before, so his expression was awkward.
I obediently opened my mouth.
The noodles were soft, soaked with tomato jus—tangy and sweet and utterly tempting.
He didn’t switch chopsticks when he fed me, which meant… oh my god, indirect kissing!!!
Realizing that, my face went hot; my ears flamed.
Ethan poked my cheek. “Why are you so red? Is your period making you hot?” My face felt even hotter. I mumbled, “No… you’re overthinking. I’m going to sleep.” Ethan suddenly became serious. “I think you might have dysregulation between your sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, causing capillary dilation and heat.”
You’re the one with nerve dysregulation.
Trying to be the composed wife-in-front-of-her-love, I said softly, “A nap should fix it. Don’t worry.” “Maybe you should see a doctor.” He set down his chopsticks and rolled his sleeve. “I remembered—if you get a virus during your period, an upper respiratory infection can cause fever.”
If I didn’t like you I’d have to smack you.
“No, I’m fine,” I jumped up and escaped the table. “You do your work. I’m going to sleep.”
(5)
Time flew; Ethan and I were nearing three months of marriage.
I Married My Childhood Friend, But He Loved Her
His project kept him busy, but maybe because he knew I worried, he’d always make it home before ten no matter how late.
He had a great memory. He quickly learned what I liked and disliked and sometimes cooked for me.
When we had free evenings we’d watch new movies on the home projector.
He always accused me of leaving chip crumbs all over the couch, yet when I finished a bag he’d hand me another.
When bored, I tinkered with baking and once invented a “dark dessert.” I wasn’t keen on it, but he ate it anyway—even frowning, he ate every bite.
He really was fulfilling every duty. As he said, he was trying to be a good husband.
Around our hundredth day, he casually said, “I booked two tickets to London.” My hand shook and chips scattered. “London?” “My experiment’s done. The team lead gave me a week off. I thought I’d take you away for a break,” he said.
“Why London?” My voice trembled. I’d seen Hazel’s location tag—she was in London.
Ethan blinked. “I haven’t been back to London in two years. I wanted to go back. Besides, you studied in London for five years, right?” I couldn’t find a reason to refuse and mumbled yes.
He smiled and ruffled my hair. “I won’t be back tonight. I need to finish lab work. If you’re scared, go to your parents’.” As soon as he left, I called Maya.
“Maya, what are you doing? It’s three in the morning!” she complained when she picked up.
I didn’t care. I blurted, “My British bestie, listen—I’m freaking out!” “Hold on, I’ll go to the living room.” I remembered she’d gone to the UK with her fiancé Liam to meet his family. “Okay, spill.” she said.
“Ethan’s taking me to London. I’m in shock.” “London? Too bad—I’m in London right now.”
So London was suddenly popular.
“Also,” I said, “Hazel is in London.” “You two will run into each other eventually,” Maya yawned. “She’s your cousin—can’t hide forever.” “We haven’t seen each other in six or seven years,” I said. “Who knows if she’ll come at me angry.” “Could be a full-on slapping-and-hair-pulling drama—old flame versus new flame, how will Mr. Foster choose?” I pictured Hazel slapping and pulling my hair; because we hadn’t seen each other in years, my mental Hazel was the nineteen-year-old version.
“If this were a novel, Hazel’d be the heroine—‘Hazel stirred Ethan’s heart,’ right?” Maya mused.
I couldn’t take it. “Actually, our parents named us on that whole ‘Claire and Hazel stirring the wind’ nonsense. Hazel later changed her name. After her parents died she was taken into my family, and my mom thought her old name was unlucky, so she changed it.” “What was her original name?” “Lila Summers.”
Maya erupted in laughter. “Claire, don’t be scared. With names like yours and Ethan’s, you’re the OTP. Let Lila eat a peach or whatever!”
(6)
Ethan and I landed in London and checked into our hotel without drama.
Maya had meant to meet me in London but was taken to Australia by her fiancé to meet his grandparents.
I both looked forward to and feared the trip, praying London was big enough for me not to bump into Hazel.
London hadn’t changed much since I left. Ethan and I even revisited my old campus.
The professor who mentored both of us—Professor Martin Hayes—was surprised we were together and gave us his blessings with a smile.
That evening, London—rarely snowy when I studied there—started to fall with gentle flakes. After five years in London, I’d only seen snow a handful of times.
“Ethan! Look—snow!” I reached up, catching a flurry in my hand and showing him.
He looked down at me, brushed a flake off my shoulder, and echoed, “Yeah, it’s snow.” Small flakes drifted down. “The last time I saw snow in London was four years ago. I didn’t go home that Christmas.” Ethan replied, “I wasn’t back either.” The memory cracked something open in me. “That year the snow was huge. Maya and her boyfriend Liam came to London with me.” He said, “I was invited to your cousin’s graduation. I saw my parents then.” My mood dropped; I walked silently, trying to make footprints in the thin snow.
Back at the hotel it was warm inside.
I cuddled on the couch and scrolled through Moments. To my surprise, Ethan—who never posts—had updated his feed.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
I opened it and found he’d posted a photo of me he’d snuck during our campus visit—me bundled in a scarf, grumbling about the cold.
In the photo I was looking down at something and smiling.
I refreshed and saw Lila had liked the post.
Even after so many years, she’d recognize me.
The room was heated, but I felt like I was in an icebox. My old impression of Lila was forceful and bold; I didn’t know what she might do.
Then the message popped up from her: “Claire, can we meet?”
“Let’s talk about Ethan.” Straight to the point—that’s Hazel.
I replied, “Okay,” and sent her the hotel location.
“Go take a shower,” Ethan said as he stepped out of the bathroom. “Use hotter water—you’re on your period.” I was half out of it, obediently took the clothes Ethan handed me, and went into the bathroom.
Worried Hazel would arrive soon, I showered quickly and came back out.
“That fast?” Ethan raised an eyebrow. “You usually take at least half an hour.” Just then my phone lit up—Hazel had messaged: Let’s talk downstairs. It’s awkward in front of Ethan. I tapped back, Ethan, I’m stepping out for a minute, I’ll be right back. Then I grabbed my phone and headed downstairs.
I saw Hazel.
She wore a fiery red coat, a matching scarf knotted at her throat like a blaze.
Oh… the scarf.
I couldn’t help shrinking into myself. Ethan had assumed I wouldn’t go out—the room had heat—so he’d brought me comfy loungewear.
But the air outside was bone-robbing cold, and I hugged my arms to keep warm.
A dull ache in my lower abdomen made me wince.
“Hazel…” I didn’t know how to start.
She cut me off, her delicate brows drawing together. “Claire, are you together with Ethan?” “With Ethan… it was arranged by our families. My parents said the Foster family would be a good match…” That was all I could say to explain.
“Claire,” Hazel said softly, “if it was Uncle and Aunt’s arrangement, go talk to them. Explain it. They love you; they wouldn’t keep forcing you.” “Ethan and I already picked up the marriage certificate.” I lowered my eyes, ashamed to look at Hazel.
“What did you say?” Disbelief flooded Hazel’s face. “You and Ethan got the certificate?” “Yes. No wedding, so we didn’t make it public.” “Claire, if it’s family arrangement, you can divorce him, right?” Hazel’s gaze was full of something that made my chest ache—pleading, pain, betrayal.
I stayed silent. Hazel stepped forward and gripped my hand, her voice cracking: “I’ve always let you have things, but I really like Ethan. He likes me too. I can’t let this go—you have to divorce him, okay?”
The ache in my abdomen sharpened. Cold spread through me; Hazel’s grip on my wrist hurt.
“Hazel, I’m sorry, I…” The words “I can’t let this” weighed like a thousand pounds and stuck in my throat.
Then warmth wrapped around me.
“You should’ve worn more to go downstairs.” It was Ethan’s voice.
He must’ve come down because I hadn’t gone back upstairs.
“Ethan…” Hazel loosened her hold on my wrist, eyes misting. “Long time no see…” “Mm.” Ethan answered, then gently chided my stunned self, “Put your coat on.” I fumbled my arms into the sleeves and zipped my down jacket.
Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.
My head was a mess. Hazel showing up meant our barely hundred-day marriage could be over.
“Let’s go upstairs and talk.” Ethan tossed out, then led the way back to the hotel.
Ethan poured two cups of warm water for Hazel and me.
“Talk here if you want. I’ll listen too.” He sat beside me and looked at Hazel across from us.
Hazel couldn’t keep calm and blurted out first: “Ethan, what is going on between you and her?” “It was arranged by the families, so we married.” Ethan was blunt.
Tears instantly clouded Hazel’s eyes. “But we agreed—you said you’d marry me when I finished my studies.” “I never promised you that.” Ethan’s reply was as short as before.
I watched Hazel’s knuckles turn white on her cup.
“So what is she to you? Why did you quietly marry her?” she demanded.
Ethan frowned and corrected her. “She has a name. She’s Mrs. Foster, Claire Bennett—your cousin.” Hazel sneered. “If you knew she was my cousin, how could you—after me—go after her?!” “I think you misunderstand.” A chill that had been barely held back now showed in Ethan’s face. “You told me to marry you. I thought a union between the Fosters and the Bennetts was bound to happen. I don’t waste time on these trifles, so I didn’t explicitly refuse you.” Ethan put an arm around my shoulder and said in a low voice, “But the family arranged me to marry Claire, and we’ve already married. Both families approve, and I have no plans to divorce. If my earlier behavior misled you, I apologize.” I don’t think I’d ever heard Ethan talk so much.
“Claire,” Hazel turned her accusation to me, “you’ve always known I like Ethan.” I stayed mute.
Hazel went on: “When I was fifteen, my parents died, and I was brought to the Bennett household in Southport. Living as a burden crushed me; I even thought about ending my life. I left as soon as I became an adult. I’ve been abroad for years and never went back.” Her stare was fierce, pleading. “I owe the Bennetts nothing. I had to work my way up. I’ve always let you have things, but Ethan—I really can’t let this go. I fought so hard. Why should I give up everything I earned for you?!”
So Hazel hadn’t returned for seven years because she didn’t consider the Bennett household home?
I couldn’t help speaking up. “Hazel, aren’t you being a little unfair to my parents? After Uncle and Aunt died, my parents brought you from the countryside to my home. Worried you’d fall behind, they sent you to a private school. You wanted to study art—my parents never said no. When you went abroad, they worried about money and sent funds to your account every month. Are you saying you never used that money?” I grew more heated. “So you think I owe you everything?!” Hazel practically shouted, “You think Ethan marrying you is a given—have you looked at whether you deserve him?!”
Do I deserve him?
Hazel had a point: Ethan’s marriage to me was arranged by our families. Without that, knowing his temperament, he might never have married. Hazel’s tragedy was she believed she was his one true love—without realizing Ethan had never put anyone above himself.
“Enough.” Ethan cut through Hazel’s tirade. “Just because I don’t say things doesn’t mean I don’t know.” I looked at him, waiting for more.
Ethan glanced at Hazel and said, “You haven’t been away the whole time. Five years ago you got pregnant by your professor. It was too complicated abroad, so you returned and terminated the pregnancy.” I was floored and glanced at Hazel.
Her expression froze instantly. After a long beat she answered in a rough voice, “It was an accident… I applied for a scholarship, and the professor—he took advantage of me. I hated him. Of course I wouldn’t keep that child.” “Four years ago I went to your graduation. You were still close with him, and you introduced him as your mentor.” Ethan’s words landed like blades. “Or is this Stockholm syndrome?” “I…” Hazel went white.
“Goodbye.” Ethan dismissed her.
Hazel grabbed her bag and fled, not a trace of the smug triumph a scorned wife catching a mistress might feel.
After Hazel left, Ethan’s face remained as cold as London weather.
“How did you know about Hazel’s situation?” Did he investigate her? I couldn’t figure it out.
“Someone mailed the photos to my house.” That explained it.
I was about to ask more when Ethan got up and returned to the bedroom without even saying good night.
I touched my nose—was he still angry? Shouldn’t I be the one furious? If not for him, my cousin wouldn’t have shouted at me like that!
To be safe, I decided to ask Maya Carter. She writes novels and has a fiancé who worships her.
“Maya, are you crazy, Claire?” Maya answered, waking up and instantly cranky. “Can’t you check time zones before you call?” I hung up fast—no outside help tonight. I had to figure this out myself.
I replayed Hazel’s words in my head: that I didn’t deserve Ethan, that I should divorce him, that Ethan was her light and faith. I decided to write a little message to Ethan on WeChat—explain my feelings after hearing Hazel. Maybe a heartfelt note from a straight-science girl would move him?
I opened WeChat and froze. How to start?
Screw it.
“Hazel said I don’t deserve you… Don’t listen to her. Having me as your wife isn’t shameful. I’m a grad from a top university—if she mocks my degree she’s mocking yours…” No. Deleting. Too boastful.
I deleted everything and tried again. “Hazel’s right in one way—marrying you is my blessing. Look at you: from a prominent family, outrageously handsome, accomplished in research at a young age—Southport would fall over itself to marry you…” No. Way too sycophantic.
Typing was clearly not my talent. Then I remembered Maya’s trick: when inspiration runs dry, go out and look for it. Maybe a walk in the snow would clear my head.
I wrapped my scarf, pulled on my long down coat, and went downstairs.
Snow kept falling, showing no sign of stopping.
The sidewalks were already a three- or four-centimeter blanket. I stepped into the soft, powdery snow in my boots, leaving prints as I walked, my thoughts all on Ethan.
Ethan is three years older than me. When I was little he wasn't so cold—he'd even build block towers with me.
I liked him before I even knew what "liking" meant. My mom says I used to cling to him for no reason at all.
Then Ethan started middle school and grew into that clean, sharp-faced boy. He'd always sit alone in the study, working on physics problems that looked impossibly hard to me.
Later, he went to boarding school in high school.
Sometimes I'd visit under the pretense of stopping by Uncle and Aunt Bennett's house to see him. He was either in the lab or the library.
I told myself I had to work hard to have anything to talk about with him.
So I stopped showing up constantly. I swallowed that liking and hid it in my chest.
I started sacrificing playtime like him—doing problem sets, entering competitions.
When it came time to apply for college, I didn't even think twice. I applied to the same university and the same major he was in.
My parents joked that our family was going to produce a scientist like Ethan.
I followed his footsteps, one careful step at a time.
Hazel worked hard to be worthy of Ethan—and weren't I doing the same?
Thinking that made me inexplicably a little hurt.
I looked up at the fluttering snowflakes and the line from an old poem popped into my head: "like willow fluff rising on the wind." It felt so fitting.
"Are you trying to freeze to death?" Ethan appeared at my side, his face dark.
I froze and tilted my head to look at him.
A few flakes rested on his shoulder. He lowered his eyes to me, his thin lips pressed tight.
The next second he scooped me up horizontally.
"Don't run around during your period." Caught off guard, I buried my face in his chest.
Otherwise my beautiful face would be smacked by snowflakes!
"Don't move," Ethan said.
I couldn't see his expression, but from his voice I could tell he wasn't angry anymore.
My heart fluttered and I couldn't help blurting out, "Ethan…have you fallen for me?"
The moment the words left my mouth I regretted them, wanting to bite my tongue off. After a long, agonizing second I heard his answer, amused: "So this was discovered—Mrs. Foster is clever."
(The End)
Author's note: Finished—throwing confetti!
Many comments said Ethan's character feels bad, like he's kind of a jerk. Honestly, my best friend said the same after reading, and said the ending felt rushed—I admit that. Stand at attention, take the beating. This story is the one of mine that got the most views on Zhihu by far, and it brought me a little attention. My writing is immature and there are lots of bugs; I admit them and I'll slowly revise!
About the character and rushed ending—I'll try to fill those holes in the extras. The extras include Ethan's perspective; actually Ethan has always secretly liked Claire!
The extras are in my column—go find them!
zhuanlan.zhihu.com is the link to the extras. First time writing a marriage-first-then-love story; after finishing it, I felt it worked.
There's a hotpot detail—did you ship it? Four years ago Ethan heard Claire liked hotpot, so after they married he took her to hotpot.
Turns out Claire doesn't eat spicy—she only eats clear broth. Hahaha, poor Ethan getting roasted in the comments.
I'll keep revising until I'm satisfied.
Maya Carter's story is also interesting—check it out if you're curious.
Calisy: How do you start a story with "I stabbed the emperor, but he made me empress"? www.zhihu.com If you can't see the link, search my column "A Little Sweet Bite"—there are my other stories there too, like a campus HE sweet short "The Years and Time."
Jiang Zhuxian: Any super sweet short stories? www.zhihu.com
I've reorganized my columns. I like using one shared universe, so you'll see crossovers—for example Ethan, the male lead in "Willow Fluff Rising," and Ji Huaibei, the male lead in "The Years and Time," are cousins. I've grouped my works under the same column. Current columns: A Little Sweet Bite (modern romance, includes "Willow Fluff Rising" main + extras, "The Years and Time" main + extras, "Unexpected Joy" main and ongoing works), Captive Garden (historical BE ongoing), Add a Little Sugar to Life (xianxia romance, includes "Hope"), Joyful Faces (historical romance, includes "Evening Bloom").
[Links to columns in reverse order—grab whatever you want]
www.zhihu.com Joyful Faces www.zhihu.com Add a Little Sugar to Life www.zhihu.com Captive Garden www.zhihu.com
A Little Sweet Bite www.zhihu.com
2020.12.2 — 100 likes celebration ~ 2020.12.7 — 1,000 likes celebration ~ After finishing Maya Carter's section I added more extras 2021.3.11 — columns reorganized; it's school season so I've been busy lately.
