Chapter 9 – Terms and Conditions
The room was quiet—too quiet.
Lin Chaoxi could hear the tick of the wall clock like a countdown to something irreversible. Opposite her sat the man she was about to marry—not out of love, but out of necessity.
Shen Muyan.
His suit was impeccably tailored. His expression, as always, unreadable. He sat with one leg crossed over the other, reading the thick marriage contract like it was just another business proposal.
"Clause 3.2—no physical intimacy without prior consent from both parties." His voice was cold, professional. "Are you comfortable with this?"
Chaoxi hesitated. She wasn't expecting this level of detail. She had thought it would be a quick agreement—sign the papers, shake hands, and return to their separate lives. But Shen Muyan was taking this very seriously, too seriously.
She forced a nod. "Yes."
He flipped to the next page. "Clause 4.1—public appearances as husband and wife shall be required at least once per week. Joint attendance at corporate events is mandatory."
Chaoxi took a deep breath. "Understood."
"Clause 5.0," he paused, eyes lifting to meet hers for the first time, "The marriage will be valid for a period of one year. Extensions can be negotiated. But during this year… absolute confidentiality must be maintained. No one, including your family, can know this is fake."
Something twisted in her chest. Her family. She had already told her mother she was dating someone. What would she say now? That she got married overnight?
"Fine," she said, trying to hide the strain in her voice. "I won't tell anyone."
A long silence followed.
Shen Muyan signed first. His name was sharp and swift, slashing across the bottom of the contract like a final verdict.
Then he passed her the pen.
Chaoxi's fingers trembled. She looked at the blank space where her name was supposed to go. This was it. The moment her life changed—again.
Her hand hovered over the paper.
"Cold feet?" Shen Muyan asked, his tone still neutral but with a faint edge.
"No," she said quickly. "Just… making sure I'm doing the right thing."
"Do you need reassurance?" he asked. "Because I won't give it to you."
Her heart skipped.
She stared at him, unsure if that was a warning or just another one of his cruel truths. But she wasn't here for reassurance. She was here to save herself. Save her career. Pay her debts. Keep her pride.
She signed.
The moment the pen left the paper, Shen Muyan stood up. "The wedding will be held this weekend. Private, no media."
"Wait," she said. "You've already arranged everything?"
"I don't leave things to chance, Miss Lin."
"It's Madam Shen now, isn't it?" she said with a forced smile.
He looked at her for a beat longer than necessary.
"You can play that role in front of the world," he said, turning away, "but don't forget—this is a contract, not a love story.
Her smile faded.
As he walked out of the room, the weight of those words settled in her chest like a stone.
The next morning, the media exploded.
[Breaking] CEO Shen Muyan to Marry Rising Star Lin Chaoxi This Weekend
Her phone buzzed non-stop. Social media was on fire. Her name trended for twelve hours straight.
But none of them knew the truth.
To the world, they were a power couple. To the entertainment circle, she was the luckiest woman alive. And to her haters—especially Bai Lin, the "original female lead" who'd been tipped to marry Shen Muyan for real—it was a slap in the face.
Bai Lin's Weibo update was instant:
"People will do anything for fame. Even pretend love."
Chaoxi clenched her phone tighter. The bile rose in her throat, but she didn't respond. She couldn't.
Meanwhile, Shen Muyan's assistant delivered her a schedule for fittings, rehearsals, and press-prep. She was swept into a world of silk gowns, makeup teams, and diamond rings—but not once did she see her groom-to-be again that week.
Until rehearsal day.
When she arrived at the venue, Shen Muyan was already there, standing under the arch of white roses. He looked like he belonged in a magazine—perfect, distant, untouchable.
"Come here," he said simply, motioning for her to stand beside him.
Chaoxi took her place.
"You'll walk from that aisle," he said, pointing. "Smile. Don't cry. I won't hold your hand unless cameras are around."
"I wasn't expecting you to," she said flatly.
He glanced at her. "No regrets?"
She met his gaze. "Only that I didn't ask for more money."
That actually earned her a faint smirk. Just for a second—but it was there.
Then it vanished.
That night, she stood in front of her mirror wearing the wedding gown.
Alone.
She touched the fabric, white and smooth, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to dream.
What if this wasn't fake?
What if he… felt something too?
Then she shook her head.
No
This was just Chapter One of another script—and she was playing her part.
Tomorrow, she would become Mrs. Shen.
She deep down, she wondered…
Would Shen Muyan ever forget this was a contract?
Or would he eventually cross that line between business… and something real?