The Storm Behind the Smiles
The banquet hall glittered under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers. Everywhere, guests mingled with glasses of red wine in hand, their laughter and polite chatter blending into a symphony of wealth and status. To outsiders, tonight was a perfect celebration — the uniting of two powerful families. But to Xia Lian, it felt like the stage of her own execution.
Her hand rested stiffly in Li Wei's, the warmth of his palm both grounding and suffocating. He had been surprisingly gentle tonight, even going so far as to pull out her chair earlier and pour her a drink. Yet Xia Lian couldn't shake the sharp reminder that this was all an act — a performance for the crowd who believed in fairytales written in contracts.
As they moved from one group of business associates to another, Xia Lian forced her lips into the perfect polite smile. Every compliment from the wives about how "beautiful she looked tonight" and every envious glance only deepened the hollowness inside her. Did anyone here even care what she truly felt?
Li Wei leaned close, his breath brushing her ear. "You're doing well," he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "Keep that smile. Father's watching."
Xia Lian's lashes lowered, hiding the flicker of resentment in her eyes. Always about appearances… never about me.
When they finally took their seats at the main table, Xia Lian let herself relax for a moment. She toyed with her chopsticks, pretending to be occupied with the food, until a sharp, familiar voice sliced through the air.
"Well, well… if it isn't the new bride."
Her stomach tightened. She didn't need to look up to recognize that mocking tone — it was Lin Yue, a woman who had hovered around Li Wei for years, always clinging to him at social events. Lin Yue's red dress clung to her body like a second skin, her painted lips curving in a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Congratulations," Lin Yue said sweetly, though her words dripped with venom. "I must admit, I never expected you of all people to win his heart."
The table went quiet. Several guests exchanged amused glances, sensing the tension like wolves circling prey. Xia Lian's cheeks heated, but before she could open her mouth, Li Wei's hand closed over hers beneath the table.
"She didn't win my heart," he said smoothly, his gaze flicking to Lin Yue. "She already owned it."
For a split second, Xia Lian forgot how to breathe. The words were said so convincingly, she almost believed them herself. Almost. But then she remembered who he was — her enemy, her husband only in name — and she reminded herself it was just another performance.
Lin Yue's smile faltered, though she quickly recovered. "How romantic," she replied, raising her glass in a mocking toast. "Let's see how long this fairy tale lasts."
Xia Lian's pulse thudded in her ears, but she kept her head high. She would not let Lin Yue see her break.
The rest of the evening dragged on, each minute a careful balancing act of pretense. By the time they finally escaped into the quiet corridor outside the banquet hall, Xia Lian's feet ached, and her cheeks hurt from holding a smile that wasn't hers.
She pulled her hand free from Li Wei's the moment they were alone. "You didn't have to say that back there," she snapped softly, her voice trembling with unspent emotion. "You made it sound like I actually matter to you."
Li Wei's dark eyes locked onto hers. For once, there was no smirk, no mockery — only something unreadable. "And what if you do?"
Xia Lian's breath hitched. The hallway stretched silent around them, the golden wall sconces casting shadows on his sharp jawline. She wanted to laugh, to dismiss his words as yet another layer of his manipulation. But her heart betrayed her, thudding painfully against her ribs.
"Don't play games with me, Li Wei," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I've had enough of people pretending."
He took a step closer, his height forcing her to tilt her chin up. "I don't pretend when it comes to you," he said quietly.
For the first time since their marriage, Xia Lian couldn't tell if he was lying. That terrified her more than anything else.