Who Are The Main Characters In 'A Marriage That Never Existed'?

The web novel 'A Marriage That Never Existed' revolves around two central figures who couldn’t be more different. First, there’s Li Yanzhi—a cold, calculating CEO with a reputation for ruthlessness in business. His stoic demeanor hides a past full of emotional scars. Then you have Jiang Xiaoyi, a warm-hearted freelance illustrator who accidentally gets entangled in his world through a contractual marriage. The irony? Their fake relationship feels more real than anything either has experienced before. The supporting cast adds depth—like Yanzhi’s shrewd assistant, Ming Rui, who’s hilariously overworked, and Xiaoyi’s bubbly best friend, Luo Ning, who provides comedic relief. What I love is how their dynamic shifts from awkward strangers to reluctant allies, then to something far more tender. The author peppers their interactions with tiny, telling gestures—Yanzhi remembering Xiaoyi’s favorite tea, or Xiaoyi doodling his frown in her sketchbook. It’s those quiet moments that make the story sing.

Honestly, I binged this in two nights. The way Yanzhi’s icy exterior cracks around Xiaoyi’s genuineness is chef’s kiss. And Xiaoyi’s growth from a people-pleaser to someone who demands respect? Inspiring. The novel’s strength lies in how it balances corporate drama with slow-burn romance, making even mundane scenes—like them arguing over dumpling fillings—feel electric.

Yanzhi and Xiaoyi’s dynamic is like watching a glacier meet a wildfire—slowly mesmerizing. He’s all about precision; she thrives in spontaneity. Their fake marriage starts as a transaction, but the way they unconsciously sync up—finishing each other’s sentences, wearing matching colors to events—makes it feel destined. The supporting cast rounds things out beautifully, especially Xiaoyi’s grandmother, who sees right through Yanzhi’s act. That moment when he kneels to help her fix a spilled tea set? Pure character growth.

Let me gush about these two! Yanzhi’s character arc—from emotionally constipated workaholic to someone who plans his schedule around Xiaoyi’s art deadlines—is everything. Xiaoyi, meanwhile, starts off thinking she’s just playing a role, but her kindness dismantles his walls brick by brick. Their banter is top-tier, especially when she teases him about his ‘resting villain face.’ The novel cleverly uses their contrasting worlds (corporate steel vs. artist’s loft) to highlight how they complement each other. Even the antagonist—a business rival exploiting their fake marriage—ends up unintentionally pushing them closer. The scene where Yanzhi defends her work at a gallery opening? I melted.

Li Yanzhi and Jiang Xiaoyi are the core duo here, but their chemistry steals the show. He’s all rigid control; she’s messy creativity. Their marriage-of-convenience trope gets fresh life through hilarious mishaps—media scandals, family meddling, and Yanzhi’s gradual realization that he likes her chaos. Xiaoyi’s habit of leaving paint smudges everywhere somehow becomes endearing instead of annoying. Even minor characters, like Yanzhi’s exasperated driver or Xiaoyi’s sassy cat, add flavor. The emotional payoff when Yanzhi finally admits he cares? Worth every chapter.

Oh, this story’s leads live rent-free in my head! Li Yanzhi is your classic ‘frosty dragon CEO’—all sharp suits and sharper tongue—but Jiang Xiaoyi bulldozes through his defenses with sheer sincerity. She’s not some naive heroine, though; her artistic sensitivity lets her see the loneliness he won’t admit to. Their fake marriage setup is pure gold, especially when Yanzhi starts low-key spoiling her (that scene where he buys out an entire stationery store for her? Swoon). The side characters shine too: there’s Yanzhi’s ex-fiancée, a manipulative socialite who tries to sabotage them, and Xiaoyi’s gruff but protective older brother. What hooks me is the pacing—their relationship evolves so naturally, from bickering during press conferences to Yanzhi secretly framing her doodles in his office. The novel’s humor and heartache blend perfectly, like when Xiaoyi accidentally dyes his prized white shirt pink, and he just… wears it to work the next day. Iconic.