The red wedding shoes stepped onto the cold marble staircase. With each step upward, it felt as if I was leaving behind the twenty-two years of my past life. Two maids in black uniforms walked ahead of me, their faces expressionless, their steps perfectly in sync, as if they had undergone military training.
"Madam, this is your room."
The older maid pushed open the heavy double wooden doors, her voice flat and devoid of any emotion.
I stood at the threshold, momentarily dazed.
Madam.
That title felt like an ill-fitting coat, abruptly thrown over me.
"Mr. Huo, he..." I started hesitantly, not even sure what I wanted to ask.
The younger maid's lips curled in an almost imperceptible hint of mockery. "Sir's bedroom is next door, connected by a private passage. If you need anything, just press the call bell."
They left as silently as shadows, disappearing down the thickly carpeted corridor. The door closed softly behind me with a dull thud.
Leaning against the door, I let out a long breath and finally began to carefully examine what would soon become my prison.
The room was astonishingly large, almost more spacious than the entire second floor of the Gu family home. The decor was understated, in deep gray tones paired with dark wood furniture, exuding a sense of refined luxury. What surprised me most was that the room was clearly divided into two areas—on the left was a dressing table and walk-in closet, while the right side was mostly empty, furnished only with a single sofa and a small tea table.
Barefoot, I stepped onto the soft wool carpet and walked towards the closet. The double doors slid open smoothly, and the sight inside took my breath away.
Three full rows of racks were filled with this season's latest fashions, from casual wear to evening gowns, everything one could need. I picked up a dress at random and checked the label, surprised to find that the size fit me perfectly.
Further in was the accessories section. The shoe cabinet was lined with dozens of pairs of shoes, from flats to high heels, all luxury brands. The dressing table was stocked with a full set of skincare and makeup products. I picked up a bottle of serum, only to find it was the same drugstore brand I'd used for years, even the exact same series.
How did Huo Chen Zhou know all this?
A chill crept up my spine. He had investigated me—thoroughly.
This realization made my skin crawl, as if I had long been transparent, every move watched by others.
The bathroom was equally spacious, with a jacuzzi large enough for three or four people. I filled it with hot water, poured in my usual gardenia-scented bath gel, and the familiar fragrance quickly filled the air. Sinking into the hot water, my taut nerves finally relaxed a little.
Through the rising steam, scenes from earlier in the day replayed in my mind.
My mother's well-maintained face leaned close, her voice sickly sweet:
"Nian Nian, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Do you know what kind of family the Huo family is? Marrying in is a blessing earned over several lifetimes."
I remembered staring at the floor, head down, tracing the patterns on the tiles. "But what about sister...?"
"Yao Yao isn't feeling well, and the wedding can't be delayed." My mother's tone turned cold instantly. "Besides, with Young Master Huo's condition, wouldn't your sister just suffer if she went? You've always been sensible. You know what's best for the family."
How ridiculous.
When Gu Yao was supposedly "unwell," I'd seen her flirting with her new boyfriend in the back garden, her laughter like silver bells.
And Huo Chen Zhou—the man in the wheelchair—hadn't smiled once throughout the wedding. His suit was impeccably tailored, expensive, but it couldn't hide the cold aura that surrounded him. When the priest asked if he would take me as his wife, he only nodded slightly, not even deigning to utter a single "I do."
The Gu family members all visibly sighed in relief, as if what they had sent away was not a daughter, but a hot potato.
The water gradually cooled. I got out of the tub and wrapped myself in a soft new bathrobe, the tag just cut off, the fabric unusually comfortable against my skin.
As I left the bathroom, I noticed a glass of water and a note on the bedside table. The water was warm, just the right temperature to drink. The handwriting on the note was bold and strong, a stark contrast to Huo Chen Zhou's disabled appearance:
"If you need anything, instruct Assistant Lin. The number is saved as speed dial 1 on the bedside phone."
I gripped the glass so tightly my fingertips turned white.
So this was my wedding night?
A glass of water and a note?
No humiliation, no coercion, not even a meeting?
In a way, this was more unsettling than the coldness I'd expected. The unknown is always more frightening than the known.
As I stared at the note, the door connecting the bedroom to the next room slid open silently. Huo Chen Zhou entered in his wheelchair, now dressed in dark gray loungewear with a thin blanket over his knees. Even seated, his back was straight and his shoulders broad, showing no sign of frailty.
"Are you settling in?" His deep voice was especially clear in the quiet room.
Instinctively, I clutched the collar of my bathrobe and took half a step back. "Yes, thank you."
His gaze swept the room before finally landing on me. "This is your room. No one will force you to do anything."
I froze, not sure how to respond.
Huo Chen Zhou maneuvered his wheelchair a few steps closer, stopping three meters away. "Gu Nian, I'm giving you three choices."
His tone was like a business negotiation—methodical, emotionless.
"First, stay. As Mrs. Huo, you will receive due respect and protection. No one can harm you, including the Gu family."
My breath caught.
He really did know about the Gu family.
"Second, leave. I will give you enough money to ensure you never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of your life. You can go anywhere and start over."
He moved a little closer; now only two meters separated us. I could see his deep-set eyes, nearly black under the light.
"Third," he paused, his gaze landing on my face with tangible weight, "we can cooperate. Each getting what we need."
The room was so quiet I could hear my own heartbeat. I stared at this man, trying to read his true intentions from his expressionless face.
"Why?" I finally asked, my voice dry. "Why me? You could have married Gu Yao. She's the real daughter of the Gu family."
The corners of Huo Chen Zhou's mouth seemed to lift slightly, but the hint of a smile vanished so quickly I thought I imagined it.
"Gu Yao is too flamboyant. She's not suitable for the Huo family," he replied, so curt it was almost perfunctory. "But you, Gu Nian, you know how to survive."
That sentence was like a needle, piercing the most secret corner of my heart.
Yes, I knew all too well how to survive.
In the Gu family's gilded cage, I'd long since learned how to be invisible, how to read faces, how to survive in the cracks.
"What do you need me to do?" I asked warily.
"For now, nothing," Huo Chen Zhou replied. "Just play the role of Mrs. Huo. When the time is right, I'll tell you the next step."
He turned his wheelchair and slid toward the door he'd come from. At the threshold, he paused, but didn't look back.
"Remember, Huo Chen Zhou is not the only master of the Huo family."
The door closed softly, leaving me standing alone, chewing over the deeper meaning of his last words.
After a long while, I slowly sat down on the bed, my fingers unconsciously stroking the silk sheets.
Everything had happened so fast, so unexpectedly.
I'd thought my wedding night would be filled with humiliation and pain, but reality had given me a completely different script.
Huo Chen Zhou—what kind of man was he, really?
Physically disabled, yet in control of a vast business empire; seemingly cold, yet he'd prepared all my usual daily necessities; his words were concise, but every sentence carried hidden meaning.
I got up and began to carefully inspect the room.
The closet was filled with this season's latest women's fashion. The price tags had been cut off, but from the quality and design, they were clearly expensive. The dressing table even included my usual drugstore face masks, a detail that made my heart tremble inexplicably.
The desk drawer was neatly organized with stationery and a hardcover book. I picked up the book, and a document slipped out.
When I picked it up, my breath stopped—it was the Gu family's financial statements for the past three months, with several obvious funding gaps and bad assets marked in red pen.
The last page held a note, in the same handwriting as the one on the bedside table:
"They need this marriage alliance more than you think."
My hands began to tremble.
So Huo Chen Zhou knew everything—about the Gu family's impending bankruptcy, that I was sent here as a bargaining chip, that I was insignificant in that household.
A strange feeling rose in my chest—not anger or sadness, but a clarity I'd never felt before.
So what I thought was sacrifice was, in others' eyes, just a move in a game long decided.
I walked to the window and drew back the heavy curtains. The Huo estate was vast; from the second floor, I could only see distant lights and the dark silhouettes of trees. High walls and iron gates surrounded the place. It felt less like a home and more like a heavily guarded fortress.
Huo Chen Zhou's words echoed in my ears:
"Huo Chen Zhou is not the only master of the Huo family."
The implication was clear—there was a power struggle within the Huo family, and my situation might be more dangerous than I'd imagined.
At 1 a.m., I was still wide awake.
It wasn't that the bed was uncomfortable—on the contrary, it was so soft it felt like it could swallow me whole.
But my mind was churning with too many thoughts, too many questions with no answers.
I got up to pour myself a glass of water, noticing that the mini fridge was stocked with all kinds of drinks, including the yogurt brand I'd often drunk as a student.
This meticulous attention to detail made me uneasy, as if I were living in a carefully woven web.
In the end, I made a decision: I would stay.
Not because I trusted Huo Chen Zhou's promises, but because I had no other choice.
Go back to the Gu family? That would be walking into a trap.
Leave on my own? I had no doubt my mother would use every means to drag me back. After all, I was now their last lifeline.
Staying at the Huo family was at least safe for now.
And maybe, just maybe, I could find an opportunity to fight back from here.
The thought made my heart race.
For the first time in twenty-two years, I had a chance to break free from the Gu family's control, even—perhaps—to reclaim justice from those who had once belittled and used me.
At the same time, in the next room.
Huo Chen Zhou had left his wheelchair and was standing in front of a wall of surveillance screens. The screens were divided into dozens of small frames, showing live footage from every corner of the Huo estate.
The largest screen displayed the feed from Gu Nian's room.
He watched her slender figure move slowly around the room, sometimes pausing to examine a detail, sometimes lost in thought. Her expression gradually shifted from initial tension to calm, and finally to a look of determination.
"She's calmer than expected," a voice said from behind him.
Assistant Lin had appeared at some point, holding a folder.
Huo Chen Zhou didn't turn around, his eyes still on the screen.
"She's always been calm. After so many years in the Gu family, she's long since learned how to hide her true emotions."
"The Gu family has already started making moves," Assistant Lin reported, placing the file on the desk. "Madam Gu is tentatively asking when the first payment after the marriage alliance will be made."
Huo Chen Zhou's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Tell them, after Gu Nian has settled in at the Huo family."
On the screen, Gu Nian was picking up the financial report. Her fingers trembled slightly, but her expression was exceptionally calm.
Huo Chen Zhou noticed the look in her eyes as she read—focused and sharp, not at all like a newly graduated student.
"She's found it," Assistant Lin stated.
"Three hours earlier than expected," Huo Chen Zhou said, with a hint of admiration in his tone. "She's even sharper than the intelligence we gathered suggested."
"Do we need to take extra measures?"
"No need."
Huo Chen Zhou finally turned and poured himself a glass of whiskey.
"It's more convincing if she discovers the truth herself."
Assistant Lin nodded and handed over another document.
"The second branch has noticed you're sleeping in separate rooms on your wedding night. They might use this as an entry point."
Huo Chen Zhou gave a low chuckle.
"As expected. Let them think this is a marriage of convenience."
He took a sip of his drink, his gaze returning to the surveillance screen.
Gu Nian was now standing at the window, her back straight and solitary. Moonlight outlined her silhouette in soft resilience.
"Increase security in the main house, especially on her floor," Huo Chen Zhou suddenly ordered. "Don't let anyone from the second branch approach her."
"It's already arranged," Assistant Lin replied. "But sir, why did you choose her? Gu Yao is obviously easier to control."
Huo Chen Zhou was silent for a moment, his eyes never leaving the screen.
"Gu Yao is the type who would betray anyone for short-term gain. But Gu Nian—" He paused. "Once she makes a promise, she'll see it through. She just needs a reason worth being loyal to."
"You seem to know her well."
"I know data and analysis," Huo Chen Zhou replied coolly. "All her behavioral patterns indicate she values commitment above all, as long as she thinks it's worth it."
On the screen, Gu Nian finally turned off the lights and got into bed. But she was clearly not asleep, as the monitors showed her heart rate was still high.
Huo Chen Zhou picked up the internal phone and gave a few low-voiced instructions.
A few minutes later, the surveillance showed a maid knocking on Gu Nian's door, bringing her a cup of warm milk.
"There are mild sleep herbs in the milk, non-addictive," Assistant Lin explained.
Huo Chen Zhou nodded, his eyes still following her figure on the screen.
Watching Gu Nian hesitantly accept the milk and sip it, a flicker of emotion passed deep in his eyes.
"She reminds me of myself," he said softly, his voice almost inaudible.
Assistant Lin didn't reply, just stood quietly in the shadows.
When Gu Nian finally set down the empty cup and lay back on the pillow, Huo Chen Zhou left the surveillance area.
"Starting tomorrow, let her gradually get involved in the Huo family's affairs," he said as he walked to his desk. "Begin with the charity foundation. It's relatively safe."
"The second branch may use that as an excuse to stir up trouble."
"Let them." Huo Chen Zhou's voice turned cold. "Let's see what tricks they'll try."
Assistant Lin nodded, took note, and reported a few other matters before hesitantly asking,
"The old master wants to know when you'll bring the young madam to see him."
Huo Chen Zhou thought for a moment.
"This weekend. Let her get used to the environment first."
"Should we brief her on precautions in advance?"
"No need." Huo Chen Zhou shook his head. "It's better for her to meet grandfather as she truly is."
After Assistant Lin left, Huo Chen Zhou returned to the surveillance screens.
Gu Nian seemed to be asleep now, her breathing slow and steady.
He zoomed in on her bedside, watching her sleeping face.
At twenty-two, she should have been carefree, but she had already experienced too much betrayal and disappointment.
Huo Chen Zhou's fingers gently traced her outline on the screen, his gaze complex.
He took a thick file from the drawer, the cover pasted with Gu Nian's university ID photo. Even then, she had an air of calm beyond her years, her eyes clear but guarded.
"We'll change all of this, Gu Nian," he murmured softly, closing the file.
Just as he was about to turn off the surveillance system, a flicker of movement on a corner screen caught his attention.
In the east wing corridor, a shadow darted by, quickly disappearing into a blind spot.
Huo Chen Zhou immediately enlarged that area, but found no trace.
He frowned and quickly typed a command.
"Lin, there's something off on the third floor of the east wing. Take someone to check it out," he ordered into the phone, his gaze suddenly sharp.
It seemed some people couldn't wait to test the new Mrs. Huo.
His eyes returned to the main screen.
Gu Nian was still sleeping, unaware of the storm about to break.
He watched her quietly for a long time, finally whispering,
"Good night, Gu Nian. Welcome to the Huo family."