Very early in the morning, Yang Yufan exhaled softly as he stood in front of the Wu gates. The cool dawn air brushed against his face, yet it did nothing to ease the heaviness pressing down on his chest. Even though what he had done was almost unforgivable, he raised his head high and forced his steps forward.
"Good morning, auntie, uncle," he greeted with practiced politeness, bowing his head slightly.
Wu Zhiyu's gaze was like steel, sharp and dismissive. He didn't reply, only looked away, his silence was louder than any insult. Qin Fen, however, managed a small, polite smile and nodded at him.
Yufan didn't falter. He didn't expect forgiveness, at least not yet. "Where's Lixi?" he asked quietly.
"In her room," Qin Fen replied, her voice was gentle, though her eyes carried a hint of concern.
"Thank you, auntie," he murmured before hurrying up the stairs. Each step felt heavier than the last, the echoes of his footsteps ringing in his ears like accusations.
Inside her room, Lixi was sitting up in bed with a book resting on her lap. Her long lashes lifted at the sound of the knock. "Come in," she called, adjusting her bangs in the small mirror by her side. She froze mid-motion when the door opened, and Yufan stepped inside.
Her heart stuttered. Of all the people she expected, he was the last. For a moment, a smile bloomed on her lips. Did this mean he had come to take responsibility? That he wanted to stand by her, by their child? Her hand drifted instinctively to her stomach, but then doubt slithered in. What if he was only here to tell her to get rid of it?.
"...Lixi," his deep voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. He walked toward her bed and sat at the edge, his expression unreadable but softer than usual. "I'm sorry," he said, the words almost foreign on his tongue.
Her heart clenched. "No...I won't abort this child!" The words escaped her in a rush, sharp and firm, even as her hands trembled slightly on her lap.
For the first time in days, a faint smile tugged at Yufan's lips. He reached forward and gently held her hand, his warmth steady against her shaking fingers. "It might sound harsh, but I'll be honest," he said slowly, as if every word cost him. "...I don't love you, Lixi."
The air between them is still, heavy. Her throat tightened, but she forced herself not to cry, not in front of him.
"But," he continued, his gaze steady on hers, "if you accept, we can marry legally. No banquet, no celebration, just papers. A proper marriage, in name."
His pause lingered, the silence wrapping around them like a shroud. His thumb brushed over her knuckles, almost absently, as though he were grounding himself.
"...And you don't have to worry," he added, voice low, deliberate. "Even if this marriage is arranged, I will respect it and be by your side when needed. You will have the respect and all the rights that come with being the Yang family's young mistress. Every treatment, every honor, I'll make sure it's yours."
He stopped then, and his eyes darkened, a flicker of conflict buried deep within. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter, almost reluctant. "But I can't promise you my heart."
Lixi stared at him, her chest aching. It was not the declaration she had hoped for. It was not warmth, or love, or even remorse in the way she wanted. It was an offer of responsibility, but nothing more.
She opened her mouth, then closed it, the words tangled and lost somewhere in her throat. She didn't even know what to say.
Yufan studied her face for a moment longer, his own expression unreadable. Then, with uncharacteristic gentleness, he lifted her hand and pressed a polite kiss to the back of it. "Whatever your decision is... I'll be here," he said quietly.
And with that, he stood and left, leaving behind the faint trace of his cologne and the heavy silence of everything left unsaid.
Lixi sat frozen, her hand still tingling where his lips had touched. Her book lay forgotten beside her, her heart caught between fragile hope and bitter disappointment.
She bit her lower lip hard, then buried her face into the pillow for a moment before forcing herself upright, staring at the ceiling as if the plain white could absorb her unshed tears. Life was never meant to be easy, she knew that, but she had been pampered all her life, sheltered by her family's love, especially her elder brother's. Xiang had always given her whatever she wanted. But this… this was something he couldn't give her.
The door creaked open again, and Xiang stepped inside, his tall frame filling the doorway. His eyes swept over her, immediately sharp. "What's wrong?" His jaw tightened. "Don't tell me it's Yufan again."
"... ... It is." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
His fists clenched at his sides before he strode over and sat beside her on the bed. She told him everything, haltingly, about Yufan's words, about the apology, the offer of marriage without love, and the promise of duty without heart.
When she finished, silence fell heavy between them. Xiang exhaled slowly, his hand reaching out to squeeze her shoulder. "I can't decide for you anymore, Lixi. From here on, whatever decision you make with him… I'll accept it. But I'll say this, if he doesn't treat you well, he'll have me to answer to."
Lixi's throat tightened. She didn't trust herself to speak, so she only nodded.
Seeing her quiet, Xiang pushed himself up and small smile forming onto his lips. "Come on. Get up. Go get dressed. I'll drop you off at the Wangs, or the Zhus. Chatting with Ruoxi or Guo Min will help clear your head."
"... Wangs". she murmured after a pause. "Guo Min is probably busy with wedding preparations." She slid off the bed and walked into the closet, her steps slow but steady, determination warring with despair in her chest.
Just as she finished dressing, her phone buzzed. The screen lit up with Guo Min's name.
"Hey Lixi, it's hectic here, we need more help," came Guo Min's frazzled voice on the other end.
Lixi blinked, then glanced at her brother as she stepped out of the room. "Change of plans. Drop me off at the Zhus."
Xiang raised a brow but didn't question it. "Okay, let's go."
Zhu Mansion.
When Lixi stepped into Guo Min's room, she stopped short, her eyes widening. Clothes were everywhere, on the bed, draped over chairs, spilling across the carpet like a colorful avalanche.
"…You weren't exaggerating," Lixi murmured, half in disbelief.
Guo Min, standing in the middle of the chaos with a hair clip barely holding her messy bun together, threw her hands up dramatically. "They picked my wedding dress. Done! Finished! I thought I was free! But noooo… my lovely mother-in-law just decided we need outfits for the reception too."
Lixi bit back a laugh, the corners of her lips twitching. "So… why does it look like you're picking clothes for an entire army instead of just yourself?"
"Because," Guo Min growled, tugging on a dress that had slid halfway off its hanger, "my wicked husband-to-be locked himself in the study under the noble excuse of 'work.' He left me to suffer alone!"
Lixi's smile widened despite herself. For the first time that day, the heaviness in her chest lightened. She stepped further into the room, gently picking up a gown that had slipped to the floor. "So he escaped, huh?"
"Brother Zihan isn't in the wrong," Ruoxi chimed in from where she lounged on the sofa, grinning as if she had been waiting to say it. "He has to make money."
Guo Min shot her a dramatic glare. "Lixi, do you hear that? She's been siding with him ever since the bride price reached the Wangs. I swear, I think he bribed her."
"Correction," Ruoxi said, lifting her chin with mock pride. "He didn't bribe me, he converted me. I'm now a Zihan loyalist."
"You're a traitor." Guo Min groaned, throwing a scarf at her best friend.
The women carried on with their endless chatter, laughter ringing between them as fabric was sorted, argued over, then finally agreed upon. By the time they collapsed into the mini sitting room for lunch, matching outfits for the couple were carefully set aside like trophies after battle.
Guo Min exhaled dramatically and leaned back against the cushions. "Finally. If I see another shade of brown or blue today, I'll scream. Now," she said, fixing her gaze on the other two. "You two, any gist lately?"
Ruoxi smirked knowingly, but Lixi's fingers twisted nervously in her lap. Before she could stop herself, the words slipped out, "…I'm pregnant."
Guo Min gasped so hard she nearly spilled her tea. She whipped her head toward Ruoxi only to find her friend perfectly calm, even munching on a spring roll as if she'd been expecting it.
"You knew!" Guo Min's eyes went wide. "And you didn't tell me?"
Ruoxi lifted a hand in defense. "I just found out last night, don't bite my head off." Then, with a mischievous smile, she added, "Besides, you haven't even heard the shocking part yet."
Guo Min blinked. "…Huh?"
Lixi's lips trembled before she forced the words out, her voice quiet but firm. "…Yufan's the father."
The room froze. Guo Min's jaw dropped, eyes darting from Lixi to Ruoxi and back again, as if waiting for one of them to shout just kidding.
But no one did.