substitute marriage favor

Chapter 8: The Loving Couple Facade

"Since we're already talking about this, I might as well tell you everything."

Biting her lip, Qinru seemed to summon her courage. "I had a boyfriend for three years. That despicable man, to save his failing company, drugged my drink and sold me off. When I woke up, I realized I'd been violated. For years, I held onto my last shred of dignity, thinking I'd give myself to my husband on our wedding night. But instead, I was used as a bargaining chip."

Her hands rubbed her arms incessantly, as if trying to smooth down the goosebumps. "I don't know what that man looked like, but just the thought of him on top of me makes me want to vomit. I probably have PTSD."

She had considered seeking therapy, but couldn't bring herself to recount the humiliating experience to a doctor.

Gu Shenyan looked at Qinru in shock, not expecting that the trauma she spoke of would have been caused by him.

Faced with her now, he found it even harder to reveal the truth. Damn it! Whoever orchestrated that night couldn’t have predicted the twist of fate that followed. What was meant to be a fleeting encounter had turned into a prolonged entanglement.

How would Qinru react if she discovered he was the man from that night? Would she hate him or be angry enough to kill him? For the first time, he found himself too afraid to admit his mistake. He didn’t want to become someone Qinru couldn't bear to face.

"Qinru, it's all in the past now. Try not to dwell on it."

Gu Shenyan reached out to pull Qinru into a comforting embrace, but she instinctively recoiled from his touch. "I'm also in the medical field. I'll manage to adjust my mindset."

"It's late. Let's get some sleep."

Gu Shenyan, somewhat evasive, got up and walked to the bed, pulling back the thin quilt and lying down. He turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into darkness.

He couldn't sleep, plagued by guilt. Hearing her story, he knew she was an innocent victim. Fortunately, she had married into the Gu family by a twist of fate. He vowed to make it up to her, to slowly win her trust and acceptance.

Qinru lay on the sofa, equally sleepless. As she confessed to Gu Shenyan, memories of that night resurfaced, forcing her to rebuild her mental defenses. Even though Gu Shenyan was gay, his mere presence as a man made her tense and uneasy.

The moonlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a dim glow in the room. Both, lost in their thoughts, stared blankly, neither breaking the heavy silence.

...

The next morning, golden sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow in the room. Qinru awoke, relieved to find she hadn’t sleepwalked to the bed. She untied the belt from her wrist and got up, noticing that Gu Shenyan had already made the bed and left the room.

After freshening up, she headed downstairs, greeted by the sound of laughter. "Shenyan, don't wear your wife out so she can't get up in the morning."

"Grandma, if you want a great-grandchild soon, I have to put in the effort."

His reply drew light-hearted laughter from the others. "Yes, yes, work hard. Let's hope Qinru gets pregnant soon."

Qinru's face turned red. Gu Shenyan's casual lies were too much.

When he saw her at the top of the stairs, he called out, "Good morning, wife."

"Good morning," she replied, smiling awkwardly as she descended the stairs, understanding he was putting on an act for the family. The term "wife" held no real significance for her.

"Come have breakfast," Grandma called, and Qinru obediently joined them at the table. "Good morning, Grandma, Mom, Dad."

"Try the abalone porridge, it's delicious," Gu Shenyan said, handing her a bowl. She took a few sips, pushing the abalone to the side.

"Don't you like abalone?" Gu Shenyan asked.

"I just prefer the porridge," she replied, though she did find it quite tasty.

"I'll eat the abalone, then," he said, using her spoon to scoop it into his mouth, unconcerned about sharing utensils.

Qinru was shocked. Last night, he ate her leftovers, but at least she hadn’t touched them. Now, he was eating directly from her spoon.

Yulin and Grandma smiled approvingly.

"Why aren't you eating?" Gu Shenyan asked, placing the spoon back in her bowl. She felt awkward, caught between eating and not eating.

"Is the porridge not to your taste?" Grandma asked kindly. "I can have Liu Ma make you a fresh bowl."

"No, it's fine," Qinru forced a smile and finished the rest of her porridge in one go, not wanting to waste it.

"I think these two are a perfect match," Yulin remarked, genuinely liking Qinru. Gu Shenyan's demeanor had softened noticeably since she entered his life.

"Have you planned your honeymoon?" Grandma inquired.

"I have exams today," Qinru quickly said. "I’ve already taken two days off. I need to be at school."

"Then go after your exams," Grandma suggested. "Shenyan, you should take her to school after breakfast."

"Yes, Grandma," he agreed.

After breakfast, Gu Shenyan handed Qinru a wet wipe. "You’ve got food on your face. Planning to take it with you?"

She blinked, taking the wipe. "I'll do it myself."

She blushed as she cleaned her face, thinking how meticulous he was with his act. To everyone else, they were the picture of a loving couple.

"Let's go," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist. She tensed but followed his lead.

In the car, she turned to him. "You don’t need to overact. It might backfire."

He shrugged, smiling. He wasn’t acting. He genuinely wanted to be good to her. If she thought it was an act, so be it, as long as it made her more comfortable.