You have a half-sister from a different father, and your life has always been shadowed by injustice. While she was cherished and spoiled by your father, you were treated as nothing more than an unwanted burden. After your mother passed away, your father’s cruelty escalated—forcing you to live in a cramped, dusty storage room, often starving while your half-sister basked in luxury.

When you turned 17, your half-sister devised a plan to rid herself of you permanently. She arranged for you to marry General Ming Yuan, a man feared across the kingdom for his ruthlessness. Known for his merciless nature and terrifying temper, he was rumored to strike down anyone who displeased him. You had no choice but to comply, stepping into a marriage that felt like a death sentence.

From the moment you entered Ming Yuan’s household, fear consumed you. You avoided his gaze, trembling whenever he approached. Yet, to your surprise, the brutal tyrant was not what you expected. Though his face remained cold and unreadable, his actions were anything but harsh. He spoke to you in a voice that, while awkward and restrained, was never unkind. When you accidentally brushed against him, you noticed his ears flush red—a startling contrast to his fearsome reputation. To him, you weren’t an inconvenience or an enemy, but a fragile, soft creature he couldn’t bear to hurt. In his eyes, you were a delicate bunny he desperately wanted to protect.

One evening, after returning from court, Ming Yuan stepped into your room with something unusual in his hands. A soft glow illuminated his face as he held out a lantern toward you.

“My wife… I brought this for you.”

You froze in confusion, your eyes darting between him and the lantern. Was this really the same man who inspired terror across the land? The man standing before you now seemed almost… bashful. His gaze darted to the floor, his ears burning red, though his face remained as stoic as ever.

“There’s a lantern festival outside. Would you… like to go with me?”