Forced Marriage: Forbidden Love.

Chapter Five: The Game of Power

The deep winter enveloped the Lu family estate in a thick fog, with silver-white snow blanketing the courtyard, unable to conceal the undercurrents within the family. Gu Yunshen sat on the sofa in the main house, holding a cup of hot tea. The aroma of the tea lingered, yet it couldn’t dispel the chill in her heart.

“Yunshen,” Mrs. Lu, elegant and poised, sat across from her, her gaze sharp as a blade. “Since you’ve married into the Lu family, you must learn to shoulder the responsibilities of being the young mistress.”

This was the third “conversation” Mrs. Lu had initiated this week. Each time, she would impose the title of “young mistress of the Lu family” upon Gu Yunshen, suffocating her with its weight.

“You must attend the board members’ banquet and cannot remain silent like last time; the donation list for the charity gala has been given to the secretary, and the amount should match the Lu family’s status; also, the master’s birthday banquet…”

Gu Yunshen nodded in acknowledgment, her hand around the teacup growing colder. Mrs. Lu’s demands were like an invisible net, tightly binding her to the rules of high society, leaving no room to breathe.

Lu Zexing’s Attitude

After this “lecture,” Gu Yunshen walked out of the main house, leaving a solitary trail of footprints in the snow. Returning to her room, she was surprised to find Lu Zexing already waiting for her.

He stood by the window, his gaze calmly fixed on the snowy scene outside. Draped in a deep gray cashmere coat, he resembled a cold sculpture.

“Mother spoke with you?” He turned to look at her, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of concern.

“Yes,” Gu Yunshen replied softly, avoiding his eyes.

“What did she say?”

“Nothing more than asking me to adapt to the Lu family’s life.” Her voice carried a trace of fatigue. “But I think she isn’t genuinely concerned about whether I can integrate; she just wants me to behave like the ‘young mistress of the Lu family’ she envisions.”

Lu Zexing frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with this answer. He stepped closer, lowering his head to look at her face. “If she pressures you again, you can tell me.”

These words stunned Gu Yunshen. She looked up at this man, incredulous. His voice remained indifferent, but she had never imagined he would** stand up for her.

“You…” She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

“Don’t misunderstand,” Lu Zexing averted his gaze. “I just think she doesn’t need to impose her expectations on my wife.”

Gu Yunshen smiled bitterly. This man’s concern was always cautious, even deliberately concealed, yet she felt a trace of warmth.

Subtle Changes in Their Relationship

From that day on, the relationship between Gu Yunshen and Lu Zexing began to undergo subtle changes. Although he remained indifferent, he was no longer completely indifferent to her.

One afternoon, she was overwhelmed with tasks arranged by Mrs. Lu and didn’t return to her room until dusk. Upon entering, she unexpectedly found a cup of warm milk on her desk.

She froze for a moment, then noticed a note beside it: “Don’t overexert yourself.” The handwriting was strong and forceful, clearly written by Lu Zexing.

Her heart inexplicably ached. She wasn’t sure if this counted as concern, but in this cold estate, such an act was like a beam of light, illuminating her dark world.

The Game of High Society

Life in the Lu family was more complicated than Gu Yunshen had imagined. Every banquet, every gathering, felt like an invisible war. Behind those glamorous smiles were unspoken calculations and struggles for power.

At a family dinner, Gu Yunshen inadvertently overheard a conversation.

“Did you hear that the Gu family’s debt crisis hasn’t been resolved?”

“Yes, I don’t understand why Young Master Lu would marry her. The Gu family background doesn’t match the Lu family at all.”

These sarcastic remarks pierced her pride like daggers. But she didn’t retort because she knew that in this game of high society, any emotional outburst would become others’ amusement.

Returning to her seat, she noticed Lu Zexing was looking at her, his eyes carrying a complex emotion. He seemed to have heard those discussions but didn’t stand up to defend her.

After the dinner, Gu Yunshen couldn’t help but ask him, “Why didn’t you speak up just now?”

Lu Zexing looked down at her, his tone indifferent yet carrying a trace of helplessness. “Life in high society is like this; everyone is looking out for themselves. I can refute them once, but such voices will never stop. You can only learn to ignore them.”

“So your solution is to watch from the sidelines?” Gu Yunshen asked, somewhat disappointed.

“Yes,” Lu Zexing nodded. “But you can choose a different way, like making them shut up.”

Gu Yunshen was stunned. She had never seen him offer such straightforward encouragement. Perhaps this was the only support he could give her.

Two Lonely Hearts

Although their relationship had eased, an invisible barrier still existed between them. Lu Zexing’s concern was devoid of any extra emotion, and Gu Yunshen didn’t dare to hope for more. But she could feel that they were no longer completely indifferent; there was a complex tacit understanding between them.

Late at night, Gu Yunshen sat alone by the window, watching the snowflakes falling outside, her heart calmer than before.

“Perhaps, I’m not entirely alone,” she whispered to herself, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Behind Lu Zexing’s coldness were secrets she had yet to uncover, and she had her own path to follow. In this game of high society, they were like two lonely chess pieces, pushed by fate in different directions, yet unexpectedly beginning to draw closer.