The penthouse was exactly as Xiaowei had imagined it: a pillar to minimalist wealth that felt more like a museum than a home. The air was filtered and the only sounds were the almost imperceptible hum of hidden appliances and the click of her cheap sandals on the polished marble floor. Zhang Wei, ever the cheerful usher of her new reality, gave her a brief tour.
"This is the main living area. The kitchen is fully stocked, though Mr. Gu primarily employs a chef. The balcony offers a 270-degree city view. And this," he said, stopping before a door at the far end of a long hallway, "will be your suite."
He opened the door, and Xiaowei stepped inside. It was a beautiful prison cell. A large, comfortable-looking bed, a sleek desk, a walk-in closet bigger than her entire room in the love hotel, and an ensuite bathroom with a shower that had more nozzles than a car wash. It was impersonal, decorated in shades of beige and gray, but it was clean, safe, and hers.
"Mr. Gu has taken the liberty of having a few items delivered for you," Zhang Wei said, gesturing to a row of garments hanging in the closet. They were simple, elegant dresses and trousers in neutral colors. The sizes looked correct. Of course he'd had her sized up by his team. The efficiency was unsettling.
"A few items?" Xiaowei murmured, running a hand over the silk of a blouse. It felt like money.
"The dinner with Madam Gu is at seven at the Grand Phoenix restaurant. A car will be here at six forty-five." Zhang Wei gave a final, polite nod. "If you need anything, simply press the intercom by the door. I have programmed my number."
And with that, she was alone.
The silence was deafening. She sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress yielding perfectly beneath her. She pulled out her copy of the contract from the small bag containing her meager original possessions—a change of clothes and the little money she had. She read through it again, the clauses now feeling less like a lifeline and more like shackles.
'Clause x: The Party of the Second Part shall not, under any circumstances, discuss the terms of this Agreement with any member of the Gu family or associated parties.'
'Clause y: All public appearances shall be pre-approved by the Party of the First Part, with talking points provided at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance.'
She was an actor being sent on stage with a strict script and a director who communicated primarily in icy stares. The five million RMB at the end of it glimmered like a mirage, feeling more distant by the minute.
A knock at the door made her jump. It wasn't Zhang Wei. Gu Yichen stood in the hallway, having changed into another impeccable, dark suit. He held a long, black velvet box.
"For tonight," he said, thrusting the box into her hands. He didn't enter her room.
Xiaowei opened it. Inside, nestled on white satin, was a necklace. A single, teardrop-shaped diamond suspended from a delicate platinum chain. It was breathtakingly beautiful and utterly cold. It was a prop.
"It's… very you," she said, unable to keep the dryness from her voice.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "It is appropriate for the occasion. My grandmother appreciates… conventional displays of status."
"Right. Because nothing says 'happy marriage' like a rock that could feed a small country for a year." She held it up, the diamond catching the light and throwing rainbows across the beige walls. "Do I get to keep this if you fire me?"
"No," he said, his tone flat. "It remains the property of the Gu family. It is part of the collection."
"Of course it is." She fastened it around her neck. The stone felt heavy and cold against her skin. "Any last-minute instructions, darling husband?"
He ignored the jab. "My grandmother values tradition and deference. Speak when spoken to. Be polite. Agree with her. Bai Xue will likely also be there. She is the daughter of my grandmother's oldest friend."
"The one you're supposedly using me to avoid marrying?"
"Precisely. Do not engage with her provocations. It is beneath you."
Xiaowei almost laughed. "Beneath me? You pulled me out of the gutter this morning. I think most things are beneath me."
For a split second, she thought she saw his lips twitch. It was gone so fast she decided it was a trick of the light. "The car will be here shortly. Do not be late."
---
The Grand Phoenix restaurant was the kind of place that had hushed its way to a grand star. The tables were spaced impossibly far apart, the lighting was flatteringly dim, and the staff moved with a silent, graceful efficiency that made Xiaowei feel like a clumsy giant.
Madam Gu held court at the best table in the house, a throne-like chair positioned with a view of the entire room. She was a small, slender woman in her seventies, dressed in a severe, high-collared qipao of dark blue silk. Her hair was swept into a flawless chignon, and her eyes, the same piercing gray as her grandson's, missed nothing.
And sitting beside her, looking as sweet and poisonous as a nightshade berry, was Bai Xue. She was undeniably beautiful, with delicate features and a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She was pouring tea for Madam Gu with a practiced, graceful motion.
"Grandmother," Gu Yichen said, his voice a respectful monotone. "This is Lin Xiaowei. Xiaowei, my grandmother."
Xiaowei offered a slight, formal bow. "It is an honor to meet you, Madam Gu."
The old woman's gaze swept over her, from the simple but elegant dress Gu Yichen had provided to the diamond necklace. Her eyes lingered on Xiaowei's face, assessing, judging. "Sit," she commanded.
They sat. The silence was heavier than the solid silver cutlery.
"This is quite… sudden, Yichen," Madam Gu began, her voice like the rustle of dry leaves. "Bai Xue was just telling me how surprised she was by the news. We all were."
Bai Xue offered a sweet, concerned smile. "We were just worried, Yichen. You've been so focused on work. We had no idea you were even seeing anyone." Her eyes flicked to Xiaowei. "Miss Lin, your family is from…?"
And here it was. The first punch.
"Guangxi," Xiaowei said, keeping her voice neutral.
"Oh, the countryside! How… refreshing," Bai Xue said, her tone implying it was anything but. "It must have been quite a culture shock, moving to Shenzhen. What does your family do there?"
Xiaowei felt Gu Yichen go rigid beside her. This was the danger zone. The truth—that her family sold her—would be a catastrophic breach of "decorum."
She took a small sip of water, buying a second. Then, she channeled her past-life experience of dealing with condescending colleagues. She gave a small, wistful smile, one that didn't reach her eyes, perfectly mirroring Bai Xue's own.
"They are simple people," she said, her tone laced with a gentle finality that invited no further inquiry. "We prefer to keep our private matters private. I'm sure you understand, Miss Bai. In our circles, some things are best left unsaid."
She saw Bai Xue's smile tighten at the corners. Check.
Madam Gu's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly. She turned her attention to Gu Yichen. "And how did you two meet?"
Gu Yichen, to his credit, didn't flinch. "Through a mutual business contact. It was a… fortuitous accident."
"An accident?" Madam Gu pressed.
"Yes," Xiaowei interjected smoothly, leaning forward slightly as if sharing a charming secret. "He wasn't looking where he was going, and I was… distracted by the city's energy. We quite literally bumped into each other. It felt like fate." She delivered the line with such sincere, wide-eyed conviction that she almost believed it herself. She placed her hand lightly over Gu Yichen's on the table.
His hand was cold and stiff as a metal. He did not reciprocate the touch, but he didn't pull away either.
Bai Xue's sweet facade cracked further. "How… novel. A modern-day fairytale."
"Isn't it just?" Xiaowei agreed, her smile now genuine in its mischief. She gave Gu Yichen's hand a subtle, reassuring squeeze, feeling the tense muscles beneath her fingers. Play along, iceberg.
He cleared his throat. "Indeed."
The first course arrived, a delicate broth that tasted like liquid gold. The conversation moved to safer, more tedious topics—the stock market, a recent charity auction, the disappointing performance of a certain sculptor. Xiaowei remained silent, eating carefully and observing. She was playing her part perfectly.
Then, as the main course was served, Madam Gu fixed her with another stare. "That necklace, It is from the family collection, is it not, Yichen? The 'Tear of the Moon.' Your grandfather gave it to me on our tenth anniversary."
Xiaowei froze, the fork halfway to her mouth. The diamond suddenly felt like a millstone.
Gu Yichen's jaw tightened. "It is."
"A significant piece for a… new bride," Madam Gu said, her meaning clear: You are not worthy of this heirloom.
Bai Xue couldn't resist. "It's a heavy piece for such a… slender neck. One must be so careful not to lose it. The security alone must be a constant worry."
The implication was a masterclass in subtle venom: You are a temporary custodian, a thief in waiting.
Xiaowei felt a hot flush of anger. She was tired of being judged, of being looked down upon. The docile act was wearing thin. She set her fork down with a quiet, precise click.
She looked directly at Bai Xue, her expression one of polite confusion. "A worry? Not at all. The security in our home is quite comprehensive. But it's kind of you to be concerned." She then turned to Madam Gu, her voice softening with a feigned, heartfelt reverence. "Madam Gu, to be entrusted with such a meaningful piece so early in our marriage is a profound honor. It makes me feel that Yichen and I are truly carrying the family's blessings forward. I will cherish it as you clearly have."
It was a perfect counter. She had acknowledged the weight of the gift, framed it as a symbol of acceptance, and mirrored the traditional deference Madam Gu expected, all while subtly slapping down Bai Xue's pettiness.
Madam Gu was silent for a long moment, her unreadable gaze fixed on Xiaowei. The air at the table grew thick with unspoken tension. Gu Yichen was watching her too, his expression unreadable but she thought she saw a new, faint light of assessment in his eyes.
Finally, Madam Gu spoke, her voice softer than before. "See that you do."
The rest of the dinner passed in a tense, but manageable, peace. As they stood to leave, Madam Gu dismissed them with a wave. Bai Xue shot Xiaowei a look of pure, undiluted hatred before pasting her sweet smile back on for Madam Gu.
The car ride back to the penthouse was, once again, silent. But this silence felt different. Charged.
When the elevator doors opened into their home, Gu Yichen didn't immediately retreat to his study. He stood in the vast living room, looking out at the city lights.
"You handled that… adequately," he said, his back to her.
"Adequately?" Xiaowei unclasped the heavy necklace, the weight of the evening finally lifting from her shoulders. "I just navigated a verbal battlefield with two tigers while you sat there like a particularly handsome statue. I'd say I earned my stipend tonight."
He turned around, his gaze falling to the necklace in her hand. "The 'Tear of the Moon' was my grandfather's mistress's favorite piece. Not my grandmother's. She loathes it."
Xiaowei stared at him, the diamond suddenly feeling filthy in her hand. The compliment, the reverence she had poured on—it was all for a piece of jewelry that symbolized betrayal. Her flawless performance had been built on a lie he had let her walk into.
The victory of the evening curdled into ash in her mouth. He had set her up. He had watched her make a fool of herself, pandering to a symbol of his grandmother's humiliation.
She placed the necklace carefully on the coffee table, the click of metal on glass echoing in the silent room.
"You knew," she said, her voice dangerously quiet. "You knew, and you didn't warn me."
Gu Yichen met her furious gaze, his own still unreadable. "It was a test. To see how you would handle an unexpected variable."
Xiaowei took a step toward him, all pretense of the demure bride gone. "Listen to me, husband. Our contract says I have to be your shield. It does not say I have to be your pawn. The next time you decide to 'test' me," she said, her eyes blazing, "you'd better be ready for me to test you right back."
She turned and walked toward her room, leaving him standing alone in the dark. The facade of the perfect couple had survived its first trial, but the foundation of their business arrangement had just developed its first, deep crack. The battle lines within their own home were now officially drawn.