It was late night when Su Qingyuan stepped into the Gu Villa with her simple suitcase.
The marble floor reflected the dazzling light of the crystal chandelier, making the whole villa look like a palace. The butler, Uncle Chen, respectfully took her luggage. "Madam, the Young Master has instructed for you to stay in the guest room on the east side of the second floor. This way, please."
The east side guest room, separated from the master bedroom by a long corridor and the atrium of the entire floor.
The arrangement of separate sleeping quarters became the most direct footnote of this contract marriage.
"Thank you, Uncle Chen." Su Qingyuan nodded, but her gaze inadvertently scanned the layout of the entire villa. She had never set foot here in her past life; now it seemed that Gu Ting-shen's life was even more solitary than she had imagined.
The guest room was simple and comfortable. After a quick wash, Su Qingyuan sat on the bed, staring blankly. Every day since her rebirth had been like fighting a war. It was only now that she had a moment to catch her breath.
Her phone suddenly vibrated. It was a message from her father: [Qingyuan, Lin Haoyu came to the house today asking about your whereabouts. I told him you went out of town for a project inspection. He seems a bit suspicious; be careful.]
Su Qingyuan's eyes instantly turned cold.
Lin Haoyu was already suspicious? Faster than she expected. But it didn't matter. The contract was signed, and Gu Ting-shen, this trump card, was in her hand. No matter how Lin Haoyu calculated, he wouldn't dare act rashly now.
She replied: [Got it, Dad. You stay safe too. Try not to go out alone recently.]
Putting down the phone, Su Qingyuan walked to the window. Outside was the huge garden of the Gu residence. Moonlight spilled over the neatly trimmed lawn, peaceful and beautiful.
Suddenly, she noticed a figure deep in the garden.
Gu Ting-shen stood under a plane tree, a cigarette between his fingers, the fire flickering in the night. He looked up at her window, his gaze flickering in the dark.
Su Qingyuan quickly pulled the curtains shut, but her heart accelerated traitorously.
What was he looking at? What had he discovered?
This man's keenness and danger were far beyond her imagination.
The next morning, when Su Qingyuan went downstairs, Gu Ting-shen was already at the table reading a financial newspaper. The morning light outlined a golden contour on him through the French window.
"Morning." She greeted him softly, sitting opposite him.
"Morning." Gu Ting-shen didn't look up, his voice flat.
The crisp clink of silverware replaced conversation. Gu Ting-shen's profile as he read the paper and Su Qingyuan's silence as she cut her steak formed a standard picture of estrangement under a contractual relationship.
Until—
"Your coffee." Su Qingyuan stood up, intending to hand the coffee cup to him.
The moment their fingertips touched, she accidentally spilled the coffee on his custom dark gray suit. The brown liquid spread across the expensive fabric, and her hand was touching his warm wrist.
"I'm sorry!" Su Qingyuan frantically pulled her hand back, her heart instantly racing and her cheeks flushing.
The moment her fingertips touched his