Chapter 2 Wedding Night, Strangers Under One Roof
1009 Words
The next day, the sky was clear and bright, a stark contrast to the torrential downpour of the previous night.
At the gate of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Su Wan wore a simple white dress, her face bare of all makeup. Her complexion remained pale, with lingering exhaustion hidden in her eyes. Lu Shiyan was dressed in his customary black suit, exuding noble poise and icy indifference, his aura so frigid that no one dared draw near.
Not a single unnecessary word passed between them. No gentle glances were exchanged. They did not even stand side by side. They merely complied silently as the staff guided them through photos, signatures, and the marriage registration process.
When the red marriage certificates were handed to them, Su Wan’s heart sank slightly. That thin piece of paper had bound her life to a complete stranger for an entire year.
Lu Shiyan took his certificate, handed it casually to his assistant Chen Mo behind him, and spoke to Su Wan in a detached tone.“Get in the car.”
Su Wan followed silently and stepped into his black Maybach. The interior was spacious and lavish, yet filled with a bone-chilling coldness. They sat separated on the backseat, the heavy silence inside the car suffocating.
The vehicle pulled away from the bureau slowly, heading toward the Lu family mansion. Staring at the scenery rushing past the window, Su Wan’s heart was tangled with conflicting emotions. She had no idea what kind of life awaited her in the year ahead, nor where this contractual marriage would ultimately lead.
Over half an hour later, they arrived at the Lu residence. Perched halfway up a mountain, the grand villa’s massive iron gate swung open. Before her stretched a spacious courtyard with neatly trimmed greenery, an exquisite fountain, and in the distance stood the magnificent main villa, grand as a palace yet utterly devoid of warmth and homely life.
Servants stood respectfully at the entrance. Upon seeing Lu Shiyan and Su Wan, they bowed in unison.“Master, Madam.”
Su Wan was startled by the grand spectacle. She instinctively glanced at Lu Shiyan, only to find his expression unchanged, as if such deference was nothing but ordinary to him.
“The room on the west side of the second floor is yours,” he said as he led her upstairs, placing a silver key into her palm. His voice remained distant. “Stick to our contract. Stay in the residence quietly, keep regular hours for meals and rest. Do not wander about freely, and never enter the areas I have forbidden.”
He leaned against the doorframe, elegant and imposing, his cold gaze fixed on her as he spoke every word with sharp warning.“In public, uphold your role as Mrs. Lu to suit my status, and do not bring me any trouble. Beyond that, do not meddle in my life, do not crave what does not belong to you, and above all, do not develop any affection for me. I have no need for marital affection from a wife, and you shall harbor no delusions of special favor as the president’s spouse.”
Clutching the key with ice-cold fingertips, Su Wan nodded softly.“I understand, Mr. Lu. I will abide by the contract and never cause you trouble.”
She knew full well that this marriage was nothing but a transaction from start to finish. She dared not harbor unreasonable hopes, grow attached, or fall in love.
Seemingly satisfied, Lu Shiyan said no more. He turned and entered his master bedroom, closing the door gently. It sealed off their two worlds, and every last trace of possible warmth between them.
Su Wan was left alone in the vast, quiet corridor. She pushed open the door to her assigned room. It was spacious, bright, and exquisitely decorated, yet as cold and sterile as a luxury hotel suite, holding no trace of her own presence.
She walked to the window and gazed out at the courtyard, her mind shrouded in utter bewilderment. She had traded one year of her marriage to save her father’s life. From this day onward, her entire fate was bound irrevocably to this contract.
Night fell. The villa was eerily silent, even the soft howl of wind outside audible to the ear. Lying on the unfamiliar bed, Su Wan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her thoughts were consumed by her father lying in the hospital, and by Lu Shiyan’s icy gaze from earlier that day.
Yet there was solace: her father’s medical fees had been fully paid. The doctors assured her that with successful surgery, his chances of recovery were high. No matter how distant their lives would be for the next year, no matter how crippling the loneliness she would endure, she had no regrets.
Little did she know, this cold contractual arrangement had strayed off every anticipated path from the very beginning. Nor was the indifferent man as heartless as he appeared on the surface.
Meanwhile, inside Lu Shiyan’s master bedroom, he stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the light on in Su Wan’s room, his fingers tightening imperceptibly around his fist.
Chen Mo’s voice came from behind him.“Mr. Lu, Miss Su’s father’s surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning. All preparations are complete. Additionally, the old matriarch has heard news of your marriage and requests that you bring Miss Su to visit her.”
Lu Shiyan gave a slight nod, his tone unchanged.“Understood. Bring her to see her tomorrow afternoon. Also, instruct the servants to look after her well. See that no harm comes to her.”
Chen Mo paused in surprise. Having served Lu Shiyan for years, he had never seen his master show such concern for any woman. Even this simple order to ensure she was unharmed was unprecedented.
Lu Shiyan paid no mind to his own unusual behavior. He shifted his gaze away, his outward expression remaining frosty. Yet deep within his heart, an indistinct, faint ripple had inexplicably stirred.
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