Rose Thorn

Chapter 2 · The Masked Wedding

Lin Wanqing stood before the fitting room mirror, fingertips grazing the lace of her wedding dress. The haute couture gown, airfreighted from Paris by Gu Chengyan, was studded with pearls, its three-meter train pooling like liquid silver—yet she knew it was merely part of his elaborate charade.

"Miss Lin, Mr. Gu asked me to remind you to visit your father at the hospital at 3 PM," Xia Xia, the assistant, called from outside. "Also, Miss Su contacted the hotel to send 'wedding gifts'."

Lin Wanqing's fingers stilled on the skirt's pleats. Su Manni's message from three days ago burned in her phone: "Wanqing, I truly love Shen Yanzhi. Please don't blame me." In the photo, Shen Yanzhi's hand wiping Su Manni's tears rested on her waist.

"Noted." She tore off the veil, the teardrop mole at her eye rim reddening with unshed tears in the mirror.

The VIP ward of Gu's private hospital smelled of antiseptics. Lin Zhengxiong lay pale as paper, the heart monitor's green waves beating steadily. Lin Wanqing held his hand—his fingers were ice-cold, like withered leaves.

"Dad, about the surgery fee..." Before she could finish, a nurse entered to change dressings: "Miss Lin, Mr. Gu has paid the full amount, including post-operative rehabilitation."

Lin Zhengxiong's cloudy eyes widened: "Wanqing, did you—"

"Don't worry, Dad." Lin Wanqing forced a smile, adjusting the lilies by the bed. "Gu Group is just a business partner."

As she spoke, the door opened. Gu Chengyan walked in wearing a charcoal suit, carrying a fruit basket, flanked by two men in bodyguard uniforms.

"Uncle Lin." He nodded toward the bed, glancing at Lin Wanqing. "I've transferred the surgery fee to the hospital. Rest assured."

Lin Zhengxiong opened his mouth, but no question of "Why help us?" emerged. Lin Wanqing knew her father understood—Gu Chengyan's "help" came with strings.

At 6 PM, the charity gala on Gu Group's penthouse floor blazed with light. Crystal chandeliers cast starlight on marble floors as tuxedoed guests sipped champagne, their eyes subtly fixed on Lin Wanqing in the corner.

"Who is she?"

"Mr. Gu's fiancée?"

"Rumor says Gu Group is marrying into the Lins."

Whispers pricked Lin Wanqing's neck. Clutching a champagne flute, she saw Gu Chengyan chatting with tycoons, cigar smoke curling from his fingers like a dangerous omen.

"Miss Lin."

A familiar voice sounded behind her. Su Manni wore a burgundy gown, diamond necklace at her collarbone, the blue diamond watch on her wrist dazzling—Shen Yanzhi's "love token".

"I heard you became Mrs. Gu?" Su Manni smiled sweetly, cloying perfume filling the air. "Shen Yanzhi and I wanted to surprise you, but he had to go on a business trip last minute."

Lin Wanqing eyed her own dress, pearls catching fragmented light: "Miss Su is well-informed."

"After all..." Su Manni raised her voice, "I am Shen Yanzhi's fiancée."

All eyes turned. Lin Wanqing looked up, meeting Gu Chengyan's gaze. He'd approached unnoticed, suit crisp, eyes cold as ice.

"Miss Su is joking." Gu Chengyan slid an arm around Lin Wanqing's waist, pulling her close. "Miss Lin is my lawfully wedded wife. Wouldn't you agree?"

His palm burned through the dress fabric. Lin Wanqing heard her heart thundering, yet smiled: "Mr. Gu is right. We'll be engaged in three days—do join us, Miss Su."

Su Manni's face paled. Before she could retort, Gu Chengyan's assistant intervened: "Miss Su, the Sunflowers and Roses Mr. Gu bid on will be auctioned. Please proceed to the VIP section."

The auction climax came abruptly. When Gu Chengyan stepped onto the stage with the painting, silence fell—the canvas showed a sunflower field, a crooked tree at the edge, and behind it, a girl in a white dress holding a palette knife.

"This is..."

"An unfinished piece from my studio three years ago." Gu Chengyan's voice echoed through the mic. "A thief broke in, held a knife to my wrist, saying, 'Let Gu Chengyan taste betrayal'."

His gaze found Lin Wanqing, whose fingers clenched the champagne flute. The girl's profile as she turned was unmistakably her at age 18.

"Later I learned she came to steal the painting." His tone softened. "She didn't know it was meant for her—after I caught her sketching me in the sunflower field for a week."

Laughter rippled. Lin Wanqing's face burned, recalling that stormy night when she'd held a palette knife to his wrist, his eyes laughing: "Stealing paintings isn't skill, Miss Lin. Drawing me into your heart is."

"Starting bid: 8 million yuan," the auctioneer announced. "Minimum increment: 1 million."

Su Manni raised her paddle: "9 million!"

Gu Chengyan glanced at her, smirking: "18 million."

Gasps echoed. Lin Wanqing realized the painting held her secret—she had sketched him in the sunflower field, never admitting the rose in her drawing was the one he'd planted for her.

"Sold!" The gavel fell. "Congratulations, Mr. Gu, for acquiring this token of love for Mrs. Gu!"

Gu Chengyan stepped down, handing her the frame. As she took it, her fingertips touched a note on the back, his handwriting: "What I couldn't say three years ago—may I enter your heart, Miss Lin?"

By the gala's end, it was midnight. Lin Wanqing stood on the hotel terrace, wind tangling her hair and lifting her veil.

"Thinking about something?" Gu Chengyan's voice sounded behind her. In a white shirt with rolled sleeves, he revealed toned forearms.

"About your painting." She turned to face him. "Three years ago, why didn't you tell me you were drawing me?"

He stepped closer, eyes on her teardrop mole: "Because you said, 'Gu Chengyan's paintings hold only interests'."

She flinched. She had indeed said that, brandishing a knife after slashing his studio wall: "Your paintings are all about business wars, mergers, maximizing profits. Where is the heart?"

"What about you?" He advanced, forcing her back against the railing. Moonlight glinted off his black diamond ring, recalling the words "Exclusive to Lin Wanqing" he'd written on her sketchpad at 18.

"Not yet." She smiled. "But soon."

His hand found her waist, pulling her close. His breath tickled her ear: "Don't be greedy, Miss Lin. The contract doesn't allow Mrs. Gu to steal my heart."

Her phone vibrated. A hospital message: "Lin Zhengxiong's vitals stable. Surgery scheduled for 9 AM tomorrow."

She looked up, his eyes a deep pool in the moonlight, emotions unreadable.

"Mr. Gu." She stood on tiptoe, kissing his chin. "If the surgery succeeds, can we end the contract early?"

His Adam's apple bobbed. He cupped her nape, pressing his lips to hers. The kiss burned like whiskey, deepening when she tried to pull back, as if to crush her into his bones.

"Lin Wanqing." He panted against her forehead. "Try ending it early and see."