Bright red peonies, a hot water kettle with a red “double happiness” character, a white enamel washbasin with red flowers, and red double-happiness paper cuttings scattered everywhere—just from these nostalgically dated objects, even without anyone saying a word, Jiang Lianyue could tell from all the red around her that this was a bridal room.
But how did she end up in a room like this?
Jiang Lianyue lowered her head, bracing her soft, weak body as she tried to sit up, and her eyes landed on the large red silk flower on her chest. She jumped in shock.
Damn it. Was she the one getting married?
She had just been helping a little kid who almost fell on the elevator, bent down to catch him, and then lost her balance and tumbled down the elevator. How did she end up here?
Before Jiang Lianyue could make sense of the situation, clear voices of commotion came from outside the door.
“The bride must be waiting inside anxiously. Groom, hurry in!”
“I heard the bride is very beautiful. Lucky groom!”
The more Jiang Lianyue listened, the paler her face became. It wasn’t the words that shocked her, but the flood of information rushing into her mind, making it hard to accept.
She had transmigrated into a book.
It was a historical novel, and she was the male protagonist’s ex-wife—a minor character described in just a few lines, and an obnoxious one at that.
In the book, the male lead, Zhou Jiajing, rescues the original female lead after she accidentally falls into a reservoir. The original female lead, insisting she is innocent, clings to Zhou Jiajing, threatening to expose him if he refuses to marry her. Zhou Jiajing, in a critical period for his promotion, reluctantly marries her.
After their marriage, Zhou Jiajing ignores the original female lead, remaining extremely cold. The original female lead, never an easy person, cries, throws tantrums, and even threatens self-harm, constantly creating chaos. Zhou Jiajing grows increasingly resentful and eventually schemes to divorce her.
The main story only begins after the divorce, when the male lead meets the new female lead and ultimately achieves both career and romantic success.
The ex-wife appears only once more in gossip after the protagonists are happily married.
“I heard the one before—she had a car accident and… she’s gone.”
Jiang Lianyue thought, “So, what was my purpose in transmigrating here?”
She stared blankly, wondering if this was just a short-term “book tour.”
At that moment, laughter erupted outside, followed by fading footsteps and voices until the area quieted down.
After a while, the door opened, and a tall, sharp-eyed young man walked in, his gaze cold as he looked at Jiang Lianyue sitting on the bed.
The young woman in front of him had a delicate oval face, her skin whiter than the distinctive bronze tone of southern people, like a peeled egg. Her large eyes were sparkling and seemed capable of speaking.
Beneath this pure appearance, however, was an ugly heart. He had saved her, only to be forced to marry her.
If he could have a do-over that day by the reservoir…
Zhou Jiajing stopped himself. He couldn’t let someone else’s wickedness change his own principles.
While the man scrutinized Jiang Lianyue, she was also examining him.
Indeed, he was the novel’s male lead. That face was even better than those popular actors whose fame relies solely on looks.
How to describe it?
Brows like swords, eyes like stars, and skin so flawless.
Perhaps sensing the admiration in Jiang Lianyue’s eyes, the young man let out a cold snort. His expression grew colder, exuding a frosty aura.
Jiang Lianyue calmly withdrew her gaze, removed the red flower from her chest, and placed it on a wooden table nearby.
Then, she grabbed the hot water kettle and poured herself a glass of water.
A sip of water to calm her nerves first.
Zhou Jiajing watched her silently, his cold gaze fixed as if inspecting an object.
After finishing a glass of water, Jiang Lianyue felt tired and lay back down on the bed.
Zhou Jiajing thought she had looked at him as if she wanted to devour him when she arrived, yet now she was acting indifferent.
He waited quietly for a moment, frowning slightly as Jiang Lianyue continued to ignore him.
Dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, the red silk flower on his chest made his expression appear particularly detached. His words were even colder than his gaze:
“If you want to marry, I will marry, but I will never touch you.”
Jiang Lianyue, who had only planned to rest and gather her thoughts, was intrigued.
“Never touch me” meant he wanted to be roommates?
A golden opportunity.
In the original story, the male lead meets the new female lead four years later, so if she could survive these four years and divorce him, she could avoid the original story’s plot.
Jiang Lianyue immediately sat up straight, her big watery eyes fixed on his handsome face.
Once she confirmed he wasn’t joking, she nodded repeatedly. “Good, how about we make three rules?”
Zhou Jiajing raised an eyebrow.
Seeing he didn’t speak, Jiang Lianyue took it as consent and continued. “First, we pretend to be husband and wife in public but act as roommates in private. Second, we divorce when policies loosen. Third, from now on, you follow your own path, I’ll follow mine.”
Divorcing immediately was possible, but:
Most importantly, the male lead wouldn’t meet the new female lead for another four years, and he wouldn’t reach his breaking point with the ex-wife for at least three years, by which time societal attitudes toward divorce would be more tolerant.
Considering they would have to live together for a while, Jiang Lianyue continued, “Think of it as renting your house. I’ll pay rent and utilities according to market rates. How about that?”
Zhou Jiajing furrowed his brows, scrutinizing her.
This Jiang Lianyue, so detached now, was a completely different person from the shy girl who had looked at him just two hours ago.
His expression was complicated.
Jiang Lianyue hesitated briefly, then explained, “We just live under the same roof. We’ll wash our own clothes, cook our own meals, maintain hygiene in public, and avoid each other except for necessary occasions, like visiting each other’s homes during holidays. How does that sound?”
She waited, and when Zhou Jiajing remained silent, she collapsed back onto the bed.
“You can think about it. I’m tired, so I’m lying down waiting for you.”
“All right. Agreed.”
Just as Jiang Lianyue was about to fall asleep, Zhou Jiajing snorted in agreement.
Her drowsiness vanished instantly. She leaped up. “Words aren’t enough. We need it in writing. Each of us keeps a copy, and anyone who breaks it must compensate the other.”
Zhou Jiajing snorted lightly. “As you wish.”
Who would dare break it?
“Go get paper and pen,” Jiang Lianyue commanded. “I’ll dictate, you write.”
Her assertive, commanding manner mirrored the way she had forced him to marry earlier. Zhou Jiajing’s doubts eased; perhaps this was just a tactical retreat.
He took a Hero brand fountain pen from the pocket beneath the red flower and a white-and-red striped notebook from the drawer, then began writing.
Jiang Lianyue stood beside the desk. “You’ve written contracts before, right? Just follow that format.”
According to the book, Zhou Jiajing was highly literate—a top student, and later a skilled writer admired by his superiors, quickly becoming the Propaganda Section Head at a machinery factory.
At this point, he hadn’t yet become Section Head, still under evaluation, which was why he had to reluctantly marry the original female lead.
Zhou Jiajing paused, troubled by another thought.
Jiang Lianyue had only finished junior high and had been working in the countryside ever since. How did she know about contracts, and the specific format used in formal agreements?
“Title: Marriage Agreement. Next, Party A: Jiang Lianyue, Party B: Zhou Jiajing.”
While Zhou Jiajing was distracted, Jiang Lianyue began dictating the contents rapidly.
After a few lines, seeing he hadn’t moved, she tapped the table. “Hurry up. You’ve been busy all day. Once we finish, we can sleep.”
The tapping brought Zhou Jiajing back to focus. His gaze fell on her pale, slender hand, and he silently admired it: such delicate fingers.
A pity they belonged to a woman with a snake-like heart.
When it came to the living arrangements, Jiang Lianyue paused. “How many rooms do you have?”
She knew that housing wasn’t spacious at the time. If he only had one bedroom and a living room, she’d have to inconvenience him by taking the living room.
Zhou Jiajing: “Two—one bedroom and one study.”
Jiang Lianyue: “Then Party A takes the bedroom, Party B takes the study.”
Zhou Jiajing: “Why aren’t you studying? This is my room.”
Jiang Lianyue confidently replied, “If guests come and find nothing of mine in the bedroom, they might doubt our relationship, which could affect your career.”
Zhou Jiajing considered this. She was a woman after all; letting her have the bedroom was harmless. He said no more and continued writing.
Once she finished, Zhou Jiajing also finished.
Jiang Lianyue checked for mistakes.
Zhou Jiajing’s handwriting was strong and vigorous, seeming at odds with his composed image. Looking at it, one might think he was a protagonist in a fantasy novel.
Jiang Lianyue glanced at him, and their eyes met briefly before she returned her gaze to the notebook and cleared her throat. “Two copies. Copy it again, sign, and it’s done.”
She subtly moved slightly away from him.
Zhou Jiajing’s gaze was still cold, and she wouldn’t impose.
He copied a second version and signed it.
Jiang Lianyue grabbed a pen and signed her name as well.
She carefully folded one copy, wrapped it in a sheet of paper, and hid it under the mat, letting out a small sigh of relief.
Done, no need for a blind marriage.
Exhausted, Jiang Lianyue waved to Zhou Jiajing. “Goodbye. Please close the door behind me.”
Then she collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.
Watching her drift into slumber, Zhou Jiajing’s usually composed face flickered with complexity.
Even as a “roommate,” she trusted him far too easily.
After all, he was a man in the prime of his youth.