A Becoming Smile

宴筝Jun 2023

2.6

Word count: 89K words
Chapters: 44

Summary

To escape a marriage alliance with a neighboring kingdom, Guan Ning, the only daughter of the Emperor of Nanjin, turns to her lifelong nemesis Fu Cheng'an, the Chancellor's son, and proposes a contract marriage: when the time is up, they part ways. Fu Cheng'an, eyeing the rule that a royal consort may not hold office, agrees to the partnership so he can have a legitimate reason to go into business. But after the wedding, Guan Ning recalls how Fu Cheng'an was forever lording his silver over her and decides to become a spendthrift little wife, even digging out every last coin of his private savings...

Editor's review

This is a costume light comedy that begins with a "contract marriage" and is driven forward by "mutual scheming." Guan Ning, the Emperor's only daughter, approaches her nemesis Fu Cheng'an to avoid a marriage alliance, and the two reach a partnership for their own reasons: she wants freedom, he wants a legitimate reason to do business. What makes the novel most entertaining is how the two shift after the wedding from "cooperation" to "dueling"—Guan Ning takes revenge for Fu Cheng'an's habitual contempt with his silver by squandering money, even digging out all his private savings. This everyday one-upmanship lets the romance advance naturally through laughter. Author Yan Zheng excels at bickering-couple dialogue and psychological tug-of-war; the pace is brisk and the conflicts are never heavy, making it ideal for readers who want a break from serious reading and need light diversion. While reading, watch for the subtle shift from the "part ways when the time is up" agreement to growing reluctance to separate—that is where the book's emotional payoff lies.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy costume light comedy and bickering-couple setups
Office workers looking for light, brisk romance for easy diversion
Romance readers who prefer contract marriage and love-after-marriage themes
Readers who like watching the leads scheme against each other and gradually fall for each other

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a serious historical backdrop or deep court intrigue
Readers who dislike bickering daily life and want the romance to progress quickly
Readers unmoved by comic devices like "squandering money" and "digging out private savings"

Reading tips

Treat it as light reading before bed or on the commute, a few chapters at a time, and enjoy the rhythm of the bickering.
Watch for Guan Ning's psychological turn from "revenge squandering" to genuinely caring about Fu Cheng'an—that is the key to the romance.
When you reach the agreement to "part ways when the time is up," look back and compare it with their later change of attitude for the fun of the contrast.

版权信息
楔子
第一章（1）
第一章（2）
第一章（3）
第一章（4）
第一章（5）
第一章（6）
第二章（1）
第二章（2）
第二章（3）
第二章（4）
第二章（5）
第二章（6）
第三章（1）
第三章（2）
第三章（3）
第三章（4）
第三章（5）
第四章（1）
第四章（2）
第四章（3）
第四章（4）
第四章（5）
第五章（1）
第五章（2）
第五章（3）
第五章（4）
第五章（5）
第六章（1）
第六章（2）
第六章（3）
第六章（4）
第七章（1）
第七章（2）
第七章（3）
第七章（4）
第七章（5）
第八章（1）
第八章（2）
第八章（3）
第八章（4）
第八章（5）
尾声

FAQ

Why does Guan Ning seek a contract marriage with Fu Cheng'an?

Guan Ning is the only daughter of the Emperor of Nanjin. To escape a marriage alliance with a neighboring kingdom, she approaches her lifelong nemesis Fu Cheng'an, the Chancellor's son, and proposes a contract marriage, agreeing to part ways when the time is up. Fu Cheng'an, for his part, seizes on the rule that a royal consort may not hold office, hoping to use it as a legitimate reason to go into business. They reach their partnership because each gets what they need.

Why does Fu Cheng'an agree to the marriage?

Fu Cheng'an agrees to the partnership not out of love but because he targets the rule that "a royal consort may not hold office." He needs a legitimate reason to go into business, and the contract marriage with Guan Ning provides exactly that cover of status, so the two come together each with their own motives.

How does the romance in this book develop?

The romance is built on everyday one-upmanship after the wedding. Guan Ning recalls how Fu Cheng'an was forever lording his silver over her, so she decides to become a spendthrift little wife and even digs out all his private savings. Through scheming and counter-scheming, the two gradually develop real feelings, moving from the agreed "part ways when the time is up" to being reluctant to separate.

What reading settings is it suited to?

It suits bedtime, commutes, or weekend relaxation. The pace is brisk and the conflicts are never heavy; the dialogue and psychological tug-of-war have a comic feel, and it does not require long uninterrupted stretches—fragmented reading can keep up with the plot. It is ideal for readers who want a break from serious reading and need light diversion.

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About the author

宴筝 Author · Chinese

Yan Zheng is a Chinese web novelist about whom limited public information is available. Under this pen name, she is known to be active in online romance writing, with three works currently on record. Her representative titles include Huigan (Aftertaste), Yixiao, and Luo Jin Ting Bai, spanning modern romance and time-travel alternate-world settings, and her works are commonly found on e-reading platforms such as Zhangyue. Her stories often take relationship premises such as contract marriage, disguised identity, and childhood sweethearts as entry points, developing character interactions and emotional progression within familiar romance frameworks. The overall style is light and romantic, leaning toward warm, everyday sweetness. Judging from the available works, she is skilled at portraying the process by which protagonists move from misunderstanding and testing each other toward closeness, presenting the aftertaste of love in a brisk tone that suits readers who prefer an easy, pleasant romance reading experience.