Meanwhile.
The Yang's and Wu families were sitting in the Yang mansion living room as Yang Yufan and Wu Lixi signed their marriage certificate.
Despite it being an arranged marriage, Yufan made sure to give her the bride prices that was worth becoming a Yang, not hesitant to treat her right only when he was about to sign on the papers did his hand halt for a moment but at the end he still signed on it and hanged it to the lawyer for any finalization.
Wu Xiang and him were all cool again, Wu Zhiyu still grumbling about how his daughter should have found a better man but he accepted their marriage upon still, not having a choice anyway.
Yufan motion for the maids to bring in ceremonial food and drinks for a mini party between the two families. He did say they wouldn't have a party at all but he really couldn't bring himself to treat her badly, which bride wouldn't want to celebrate her marriage besides she was now his woman, already carrying his child and the Yang name.
The table was lavishly set with an array of dishes, from steaming bowls of soup to glistening plates of roasted meat and delicacies that filled the air with warmth and spice. Laughter and polite conversation floated around the room as both families made their way to the dining hall, taking their seats to celebrate the new union.
Yang Yufan sat at the table, his posture composed, his right hand resting firmly on the polished wood. His other hand moved with precise ease, bringing food to his lips. The golden light from the chandelier highlighted the veins that ran down his hand, the quiet strength behind every movement.
Then, he felt it...a smaller, softer hand wrapping gently around his.
He froze. The movement of his chopsticks stopped midair, food hovering inches from his mouth. His gaze shifted sideways, landing briefly on Wu Lixi, who sat beside him, her eyes lowered, her fingers trembling slightly where they touched his. For a heartbeat, silence was pressed between them, an awkward, uncertain pause before Yufan quietly turned back to his plate, his expression unreadable.
Her family's eyes were on them, and this was neither the place nor the moment for confrontation. Losing his composure here would serve no one. So, with a slow breath, he slipped his hand from hers, the gesture smooth enough to seem natural, though distant.
"I have an emergency meeting," he said finally, his tone calm, almost polite. "My driver will take you to my penthouse, Lixi."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key, setting it on the table beside her plate. His lips curved into a faint smile, ...carefully measured, perfectly polite, and entirely fake.
The families exchanged quiet glances at the scene. The Yangs, dignified as ever, were already beginning to accept her as one of their own, while the Wus, especially Wu Zhiyu remained visibly hesitant. He didn't like the distance he saw in Yufan's eyes. Yet, he had little choice. The marriage was done. His power to object had ended with the signing of those papers.
Wen Yiting, ever the gentle hostess, rose from her seat and walked to Lixi's side. Her eyes softened as she placed a comforting hand on the young woman's head.
"Don't worry," she said warmly, her voice carrying a mother's steadiness. "I'll take care of her, I promise."
Her smile was tender, almost affectionate, as she gently pulled Lixi up from her chair. "It's your wedding night, dear. Let's get you dressed properly before sending you home."
Lixi nodded immediately, forcing a bright smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Yes, Mother," she said softly, pretending happiness she didn't feel.
Inside, all that lingered was the cold weight of the key in her palm and the unspoken distance in Yufan's gaze that had already begun to bruise her heart.
By evening, she was dressed in a soft pink silk qipao, the fabric hugging her delicate frame with an elegance that whispered both innocence and temptation. Her hair was styled perfectly, her nails glimmered faintly, and her makeup was soft yet enchanting.
The driver dropped her at Yufan's penthouse, its tall glass walls reflecting the city's golden lights. As she stepped out, the night air felt colder than usual, brushing against her bare neck like an omen. Still, she clung to a fragile thought, maybe he'd like her if he saw her like this. Maybe beneath his aggression and hate for her, there was warmth waiting to be found.
But hope, she soon learned, could be cruel.
Hours slipped by in aching silence. Lixi sat quietly on the edge of the bed scattered with red rose petals, petals that smelled like celebration but felt like mockery. Every tick of the clock echoed louder in the room.
Nine o'clock.
Ten.
Eleven.
Her reflection in the mirror looked less like a bride and more like a stranger, one who had waited too long for someone who never intended to come.
By midnight, the faint glow of the city lights painted her in shades of loneliness. She bit her lower lip, hard enough to taste bitterness, and let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Happy wedding night," she whispered to herself, the words barely audible before she stood up and disappeared into the bathroom.
When she emerged, the silk had been replaced with soft pajamas... plain, comfortable, unremarkable. She wiped away the traces of makeup, climbed into bed, and let exhaustion pull her under.
But just as her eyes fluttered shut, the door creaked open.
Yufan stepped in, his steps calm, his face normal as the usual Yufan. Not a trace of guilt or excitement, sleeves rolled up, the faint scent of cologne and night air trailing behind him.
He paused when he saw her. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly, his voice was smooth, careful... too careful. "Sorry I came back late."
Lixi blinked up at him through the dim light, her heart tightening at the sound of his voice. She wanted to ask why he hadn't come sooner, why he hadn't cared enough to call. But instead, She just gave a faint nod and smiled, the kind of smile that looked polite but carried a quiet ache beneath it.
"…Okay. Good night, then," Yufan murmured, his tone calm, almost detached. He turned toward the door, his hand already on the handle, about to leave for another room.
But her voice stopped him. "Where are you going?" Lixi whisper-yelled, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound composed.
He hesitated, the pause stretching heavily in the dimly lit room before he finally answered.
"…I'll be sleeping in the other room from now on."
His tone was polite but every word carried a firm edge that left no room for protest.
Lixi froze, her heart sinking as her mind struggled to grasp the weight behind his calmness. She forced a small smile, the corners of her lips twitching slightly as if trying to hold something broken in place.
"…Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Yufan gave her one last distant look then closed the door behind him with quiet finality.
The silence that followed felt heavier than the sound of the door itself. Lixi stared at the empty doorway, her throat tightening as the air grew colder. The rose petals on the bed had begun to wilt.
While one couple drifted apart like a wilted flower shedding its last petals, another bloomed beautifully, only to be crushed under the weight of misunderstanding.
Zhu Villa.
The night air was thick with silence.
Zhu Zihan sat on the couch, one leg crossed neatly over the other, his sharp eyes fixed on the ticking hands of his wristwatch. 12:24 a.m.
His wife still wasn't home.
He rarely showed emotion, but tonight, something fierce stirred within him, not just anger, but a kind of ache he wasn't used to feeling. The usually unshakable calm that defined him trembled ever so slightly at the edges.
He knew he was partly at fault. He had hidden truths from her, things she deserved to know but that didn't erase the fact that his wife being out this late was improper. At least to him.
The door finally clicked open.
Her heels echoed against the marble floor, each step sharp and deliberate, like the tick of a clock counting down to confrontation. She halted the moment a voice, deep and calm, yet cutting like a blade, filled the air.
"Where were you?"
Guo Min froze, her breath catching in her throat. His tone wasn't loud, but the restraint in it was far more terrifying than a shout could ever be. Still, pride straightened her back.
"Since when did you start monitoring my whereabouts?" she shot back, her voice steady but her pulse racing.
"…Guo Min," he said again, slower this time, "where were you?"
He ignored her question entirely, his voice quiet but weighty, pressing into her like the cold edge of authority.
She clicked her tongue, letting out a small hiss of irritation, and turned on her heel without answering.
Zihan's gaze followed her until she disappeared up the staircase. His jaw tightened. He could feel something inside him fracture... a quiet, invisible break, but still, he controlled himself.
He stood, adjusting his cufflinks out of habit, and reached for the glass of water on the table. The cool liquid slid down his throat, doing nothing to ease the burning in his chest.
He sank back onto the couch, eyes still fixed on the space where she had stood moments ago. The silence returned, thicker now, pressing against the walls of Zhu Villa like a storm about to break.