The Xu family mansion was a quiet storm of wealth and coldness. The kind of house where chandeliers glittered, but warmth never settled. Each polished surface gleamed with untouchable perfection, much like the people who lived inside.
In the drawing room, Li Wenhua sat upright on the velvet settee, her back as straight as her judgment. The gold trim on her qipao shimmered faintly as she poured herself a cup of ginseng tea, not for the taste, she never cared for sweetness, but for the routine. She believed in rules. Discipline. Appearances. Not emotions.
Across from her, Xu Zhenkai paced silently with a letter in hand. His brows were furrowed in concentration, but a flicker of ambition shone in his eyes. The Li family crest stamped in red wax on the envelope said everything he needed to know.
"They're serious," he said finally, breaking the silence. "The old matriarch herself wrote it. A formal proposal."
"Li Zeyan?" Wenhua asked, setting down her teacup with a quiet clink.
"Yes," Zhenkai replied. "Or more accurately, Madam Li wants a bride for him. She's chosen us."
"Does he know?"
He shook his head. "Doesn't seem like it. The letter only mentions that she wants someone obedient. Elegant. Discreet. Someone who won't interfere with his... temperament."
A small, mirthless smile curved Wenhua's lips. "Temperament. That's a nice way to say 'cruel.'"
Zhenkai didn't respond. Everyone in the business world knew about Li Zeyan. Ruthless. Cold. Brilliant. A man who built his empire without needing to raise his voice. And a man who destroyed competitors without blinking. His silence was more terrifying than any fury.
But he was also the heir to billions. The CEO of one of the most powerful conglomerates in the city. And now, their family's golden ticket.
Xu Yueran walked in, her perfume preceding her, soft and floral. She wore a designer blouse and a matching skirt, her long hair swept elegantly to one side. The perfect daughter. The one who always fit.
"Father, Mother," she greeted lightly, but the moment she saw their expressions, her voice dropped. "What is it?"
"Sit down," Wenhua said.
Yueran obeyed, her eyes landing on the envelope in her father's hand.
"We've received a marriage proposal," Zhenkai announced. "From the Li family."
Yueran blinked. "As in… Li Zeyan?"
"Yes," her mother said coolly. "Madam Li is choosing a bride for her grandson. It's not romantic. It's strategic. And they want someone from our family."
Yueran's hand trembled slightly as she reached for the letter. She had heard all the stories, too, of boardroom freezes when Li Zeyan entered, of his unrelenting standards, of his absolute lack of affection for anyone. He wasn't just powerful, he was untouchable.
And terrifying.
"I… I can't," she stammered, placing the letter down. "I'm not... I'm not strong enough to marry someone like that."
"You're twenty-three," Zhenkai said. "It's time."
"I said no!" her voice rose. "That man is, he's inhuman."
Wenhua's eyes narrowed. "Careful, Yueran. We don't get second chances with families like the Li's."
But Yueran stood. "Then let Meilin marry him."
The room fell silent.
Zhenkai raised a brow. Wenhua simply tilted her head. "What did you say?"
"She's twenty now, right?" Yueran said with a faint smirk. "She's quiet. Obedient. Isn't that what they're looking for?"
Wenhua leaned back slowly. "You might be right."
"She doesn't even live here anymore," Yueran added. "No one will question it. If it fails, she's the only one who falls. If it works, well, she still doesn't matter."
Zhenkai stroked his chin. "This might work. The Lis only care about appearances. If we dress her up properly, she'll pass inspection."
Wenhua's voice was ice. "At least this way, she'll finally be worth something."
There was no argument. No pause.
Just like that, Xu Meilin's life was traded like a business deal.
---
Meanwhile, in a quieter part of the city...
Xu Meilin rinsed the last dish in her small apartment sink. The evening air outside was cool, and the faint hum of the city buzzed through the window. Her little world was silent, peaceful, in its loneliness.
Her phone buzzed on the counter. She dried her hands and picked it up.
Mother.
A rare call.
She stared for a moment before answering. "Hello?"
Li Wenhua's voice came through, clipped and cold.
"Come home tomorrow."
No explanation. No warmth. No 'how are you?'
Just a command.
Meilin hesitated, but old habits were hard to kill.
"…Yes, Ma."
The line cut off.
She set the phone down gently, heart sinking like a stone.
Something was wrong.
---
Back in the Xu mansion, the storm had passed. Plans were already in motion. Calls would be made. Clothes would be tailored. Lies would be prepared.
And somewhere across the city, Li Zeyan, the man at the center of it all, sat alone in his glass tower, unaware that a quiet girl named Meilin had just been selected to become his wife.