Wu Mansion.
Wu Lixi pushed open the grand doors in a rush, her steps quick, uneven, her face pale. She didn't even greet the servants or notice the faint chatter in the hall, her only thought was to reach the safety of her room.
The moment she shut the door behind her, her bag slipped from her trembling hands, thudding onto the floor. She staggered to her bed and collapsed, burying her face into the pillow as sobs ripped out of her chest.
Hot tears soaked the sheets as the weight of her reality pressed down.
He doesn't love me.
He still loves Guo Min. Always Guo Min.
To him, I'm not even a woman… and yet… I still...
Shame burned through her, curling her body inward as the tears refused to stop. How pitiful. How shameless. The words rang in her head like accusations. She hated herself for what had happened, hated her weakness, hated the desperate pull in her heart that had driven her to this.
It felt like hours before the storm of tears finally ebbed. Her eyes were swollen, her throat raw. Sitting up slowly, she stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror.
"What's done is done," she whispered to herself, her voice hoarse. "Wailing won't solve anything."
She forced herself to clean up. A splash of cold water over her face. Powder to cover the redness of her eyes. A neatly pressed blouse and skirt. Layer after layer, she wrapped herself back into composure until no one could see the cracks.
Finally, she left her room, descending the stairs with measured steps.
"Lixi… dear." Mrs. Wu's voice carried from the dining table, her brows furrowed with concern as she looked at her daughter. "Are you okay? Where were you last night? You didn't come home after the Zhao family function."
Lixi froze, her heart slamming against her ribs. Her mother's eyes were too sharp, too knowing.
"…I… I was with Ruoxi last night, Mom. Don't worry." The lie slipped out smoothly, but her voice betrayed her, a faint quiver in its edges.
Mrs. Wu studied her for a long moment, her lips tightening. "…Lixi, I don't believe what you said to be true, but I won't push further."
With that, she rose gracefully and left the table, heading upstairs to meet her husband.
The moment her mother's figure disappeared, Lixi's knees weakened. She sank into the nearest dining chair, her fingers clutching at the tablecloth as if to steady herself.
Forcing a few bites of breakfast past her throat, she swallowed quickly, barely tasting anything. The walls of the mansion felt suffocating.
Grabbing her bag, she bolted out of the house, running toward her car.
Wang Pulse Entertainment.
Wu Lixi slipped into her office and buried herself in work, but the documents in front of her blurred as fragments of last night clawed back into her mind. The warmth of his arms, the way she wanted to stay there… but then his rage and disgust. Her chest tightened, and she bit her lower lip hard to chase away the memory.
The door opened.
Her brother stepped in, sharp eyes immediately scanning her face.
"Lixi…" Xiang's tone was calm, but it carried weight. "What's wrong?"
She flinched, scrambling to fix her expression. "Ah, X...Xiang, it's nothing. Really." A forced smile stretched across her face.
He didn't buy it. With slow steps, he came around her desk and sat opposite her, leaning forward. "Spill it."
Her hands twisted together in her lap, her gaze dropping to the floor. "Y… Yufan, he..."
Just then, Xiang's phone buzzed, breaking the moment. He glanced at the caller ID, expression hardening. "Wait. I need to take this."
He strode out, the click of the door echoing in her ears. Only then did she release the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her trembling fingers gripped the edge of the desk.
A moment later, Xiang re-entered the office, his phone tucked back into his pocket. His sharp gaze locked onto Lixi's, silently urging her to finish what she had been saying.
She scrambled for words. "Ruoxi and I… we were just arguing about Yufan's birthday present. She called me inconsiderate, that's all."
"…Okay." Xiang let out a sigh, his tone softening. "Solve your problems and stop being moody." He reached over, ruffling her hair like when they were kids.
"Mm." Lixi forced a brighter smile this time, one he seemed to accept. He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, then left her office.
As soon as the door shut, Lixi exhaled in relief. Her phone buzzed on the desk.
Xixi, Guo Min's wedding is in 3 weeks. Let's have a girls' party night. Four Seasons Hotel, baby, we're waiting!
Her lips curved. Somehow, the message eased the heavy knot in her chest.
---
Four Seasons Hotel.
The dimly lit VIP room pulsed with soft music, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. The girls lounged on plush seats, their chatter filling the space with warmth.
"Mrs. Zhu Zihan." Ruoxi teased, eyes glinting with mischief as she nudged Guo Min.
Guo Min lowered her gaze with a small, bashful smile. "Yes, that's me."
The three of them burst into chuckles.
"Lixi," Ruoxi whined playfully, hugging her arm, "our Guo Min has been taken. She won't even have time for us anymore."
"We also want to be loved," Lixi added, pretending to sniff dramatically, though there was an edge of truth hidden in her tone, her eyes wavered and throat suffocating, but she masked it, putting on a fake smile like it's her second skin.
"Shut up, you two. You girls are so dramatic." Guo Min clicked her tongue at them with a mock annoyance before lifting her glass of wine. The ruby liquid swirled lazily as she took a slow sip, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.
"Oh my God," she said suddenly, eyes widening as if the thought had just struck her. "I don't even know who my bridesmaid should be."
"Me!". Both Lixi and Ruoxi exclaimed at once, sitting up straighter and glaring at each other as though the answer should be obvious.
Guo Min smirked, enjoying the scene. "Well, I'm not deciding for anyone. I don't want to hear 'you love her more than me' complaints later. You two can fight it out yourselves."
She rose gracefully, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. With a mischievous wink, she blew them a kiss. "I have a future husband to tend to. Ciao."
The door shut behind her, leaving Ruoxi and Lixi alone in the quiet dim of the room.
"Tch. Arrogant brat," they muttered in unison, clicking their tongues, though their eyes lingered on the door with a smile longer than their words admitted.
Ruoxi laughed first, leaning back lazily against the velvet couch. "She looks happy, brother Zihan's doing a good job".
"Yes, I'm happy for her". Lixi replied sincerely, but her heart felt heavy.
Zhu Villa.
Guo Min stepped out of the garage, heels clicking lightly against the marble as she entered the vast, quiet house. The night air clung faintly to her skin, carrying the lingering perfume of the Four Seasons gathering. The villa was silent. The maids had already retired to their quarters, leaving the space bathed in hushed elegance.
She ascended the staircase with slow steps, her slender fingers tugging at the buttons of her blouse. By the time she reached the master bedroom, she shed her work clothes one by one, leaving them neatly aside before retreating into the bathroom.
Warm steam curled around her skin as she bathed, washing away the residue of perfume and sweat. She lingered, letting the warmth soak into her bones until her muscles felt like melted wax.
Nearly an hour later, she emerged refreshed. Her hair damp, her skin faintly glowing, she padded barefoot to the vanity. She sat on the edge of the bed, plugged in the hair dryer, and reached for the brush. But before she could lift it, a larger hand gently closed over hers, taking it away.