The wedding dinner had ended. The guests left, the fake smiles faded, and the heavy silence between Xixi and Li Feng settled back like an iron curtain.
Now, inside his apartment their new "home". Xixi stood at the doorway of the bedroom, staring at the massive bed in the middle of the room. Her lips twisted into a smirk.
"Well," she said, throwing her small purse on the couch, "congratulations, husband. We survived the wedding. Now, about this bed…" She pointed at it like it was an enemy. "I'm taking the right side. You stay on your lane. No funny business."
Li Feng looked at her from the other side of the room, unamused. He had already taken off his jacket, his white shirt neat and crisp even after the long day. He didn't answer immediately. He just loosened his tie and placed it on a chair.
Xixi frowned. "What? Cat got your tongue?"
"You're loud," he said flatly, picking up a pillow.
She gasped. "Excuse me? Loud? I just saved you from Fang Li's smear campaign, stood next to you in front of reporters, and smiled like a beauty queen while everyone gawked at us. And the first thing you call me is loud?"
"You are loud," he repeated, setting the pillow at the edge of the bed.
Xixi's eyes narrowed. "And where exactly do you think you're sleeping?"
"Here." He sat down on the bed calmly, pulling off his cufflinks. "It's my bed."
"Correction," she shot back, folding her arms, "it's our bed now. And I don't share with strangers."
Li Feng finally looked up at her, his sharp eyes catching hers. His tone stayed calm, almost cold. "You're not a stranger anymore. You signed the papers."
Xixi's jaw dropped. She pointed at him. "Unbelievable! You're impossible, you know that? Contract marriage or not, I have rules. Rule number one: no touching. Rule number two: keep your icy face on your side. Rule number three: if you snore, I'm filing for a second divorce."
He didn't even blink. "I don't snore."
"Good. Then you better not start tonight."
For a moment, the silence returned. Then Xixi grabbed her own pillow, marched to the bed, and flopped onto the right side with dramatic flair. She yanked the blanket to her chest. "Don't cross the line," she warned, drawing an imaginary barrier down the middle.
Li Feng, still calm as ever, lay down on the left side. "You're childish."
"And you're boring," she muttered, turning her back to him.
Xixi shifted again under the blanket, her back stiff against the edge of the mattress. "If you roll over even a little, I swear I'll kick you," she warned, voice muffled.
Li Feng chuckled lowly, not looking at her. "You're the one hogging the blanket. You think I don't notice?"
"I am not hogging the blanket," she hissed, tugging the fabric tighter around herself. "You're just too tall for this bed. That's not my fault."
He shook his head, lips curving into the smallest smile. "For a fake bride, you act like you own the place."
She turned to glare at him, only to see that faint smile on his face.
It softened something in her chest, though she quickly turned away.
"Just sleep, Lawyer Li. The sooner you close your mouth, the sooner we both survive this night."
But despite her complaints, Xixi's lips curved slightly in the dark.
For the first time in weeks, she wasn't crying or shaking from fear. She was annoyed, yes, but strangely… lighter.
****
The next morning, Xixi woke to an empty bed.
Li Feng was already gone, leaving behind the faint smell of coffee and paper. Typical, she thought. The man probably lived inside his office.
She spent the morning unpacking her small bag of clothes.
By afternoon, she was sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone when the doorbell rang.
Confused, she got up and opened it.
Standing there was a tall, graceful woman with a warm smile.
"You must be Xixi," the stranger said softly, her voice like honey. "I'm Gu Wen. Li Feng's old friend. May I come in?"
Xixi blinked, caught off guard. The woman was stunning. Elegant dress, neat hair, gentle manners.
She almost radiated kindness.
"Uh… sure," Xixi said, stepping aside.
Gu Wen entered gracefully, her eyes scanning the room before settling back on Xixi.
"I've heard so much about you," she said with a soft laugh. "I must say, you're even prettier in person."
Xixi felt her guard drop a little. The words were so smooth, so friendly, she didn't even think twice.
"Thank you. I didn't know Li Feng had… well, friends who visit."
Gu Wen chuckled. "He doesn't let many people in. But I've known him since university.
We're like family." She reached out, gently squeezing Xixi's hand. "So now, that makes us family too."
Xixi's eyes widened. The warmth in Gu Wen's tone melted some of her suspicion.
Almost immediately, she smiled back. "That's… really nice of you."
When Li Feng returned later in the evening, he found the two women in the living room, laughing over tea.
"Feng," Gu Wen greeted warmly, standing up. "I hope you don't mind—I couldn't resist visiting your lovely wife."
Li Feng's stiff face softened slightly. "Of course. You're always welcome here."
Xixi grinned, feeling oddly proud. "Look at this. Your best friend and your wife getting along already. Isn't that nice?"
Li Feng glanced between them and gave the faintest nod. "Good."
What he didn't notice, however, was the quick, sharp look Gu Wen gave Xixi when his back was turned.
It was gone in an instant, replaced by the same warm smile.
To him, Gu Wen was the perfect friend. To Xixi, she seemed like the perfect new guest.
But hidden behind the sweetness, something else was there.
Gu Wen's lips curved in warmth, but her heart whispered anot
her tune. Xixi, enjoy this peace while it lasts.
I'll ruin you slowly, without Feng ever suspecting a thing.