LOVE FRAGMENTS

THE FAMILY SECRET

The button on his shirt wasn’t fully fastened, and Gu Antong caught a glimpse of his sharp, delicate collarbone. The sight made her heart skip.

“Just now? Big Brother Secretary…” she stammered.

Si Zhenxuan, now fully awake, looked at her with his usual calm indifference.

“If you want others to think you’re not happy,” he said, “then keep yelling.”

Embarrassed, Gu Antong lowered her head. Si Zhenxuan reached out and lightly tapped the tip of her nose.

“Call me Zhenxuan,” he said softly.

Calling him husband didn’t seem right—not yet, not for them.

Her nose tingled at his touch, and she found herself gazing at him, thoughts swirling.

Mengmeng, clearly displeased with being ignored, let out a sharp meow. Just then, a servant burst into the room.

“Young Master, Young Miss—the two young ones are back! They’re arguing in the study. You should—”

The maid froze mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she took in the scene before her. The newlyweds, wrapped in an ambiguous position, in the study instead of their bedroom—it looked far too intimate. A knowing smile crossed her face.

“I’m terribly sorry for disturbing you. Shall I tell them you’ll come shortly?”

“Well,” Si Zhenxuan replied smoothly, taking advantage of the moment to give Gu Antong a quick peck on the lips, “take your time getting ready. There’s no rush.”

Gu Antong’s eyes widened. He had kissed her—in front of the servant?

She stood there, stunned, her face burning, before quickly gathering her clothes and hurrying out.

Mengmeng meowed again, snapping her back to reality.

She covered her mouth in disbelief. Did he really kiss me? Was it just to make a point to the household? They might be married now, but everything still felt far too sudden.

While she was lost in thought, raised voices erupted from the study. Si Yueyun was arguing with their parents. Gu Antong hurried over, finding Si Zhenxuan waiting outside. Breathless, she whispered,

“Is it bad inside?”

It was worse. The shouting could be heard clearly through the closed door.

Before he could answer, Wei Yulan’s voice cut through the air.

“I’ve told you many times—Zhenxuan isn’t truly a Si family member! He’s just an orphan we adopted. He can’t marry Gu Antong, do you understand?”

Gu Antong froze, eyes wide in shock. She hadn’t meant to overhear, but now she knew the family’s deepest secret. She turned slightly, only to see Si Zhenxuan’s calm expression.

Inside, the argument raged on, but Wei Yulan’s words echoed in her mind. Zhenxuan isn’t a real Si.

Then, could their marriage be nothing more than a calculated move? A way for him to secure his place in the family?

The thought left her uneasy.

Si Zhenxuan finally looked at her, his tone unreadable.

“You still have a choice today,” he said quietly.

Then he opened the door and walked inside.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, his words unsettled her. Before she could process it, another voice—Jiang Wenjiao’s—rose from within.

“Uncle, Aunt, please don’t force Yueyun anymore. It’s already settled. Today, we’re actually here to speak with Antong.”

Gu Antong took a deep breath. So Jiang Nuan had come. In a way, she was glad; if Jiang Nuan hadn’t faced her now, she might have regretted it later.

“Miss,” the maid whispered from behind, “would you like to have breakfast first?”

“No,” she said curtly.

Though she had come hastily, her natural grace still shone through despite her slightly disheveled appearance. Straightening her back, she pushed open the door to the study and greeted everyone with a gentle smile.

“Good morning, Mom and Dad. Is everyone here already?”

All eyes turned toward her in surprise. Instead of approaching Si Yueyun and Jiang Nuan, Gu Antong walked straight to Si Zhenxuan and sat beside him. She leaned against his arm affectionately, mirroring his calm confidence.

The gesture sent ripples of discomfort through the room.

Moments earlier, Si Zhenxuan had been discussing with Si Yueyun the possibility of Yueyun marrying Gu Antong instead. As Wei Yulan had emphasized, Zhenxuan wasn’t a true Si, and yesterday’s marriage had been nothing more than a temporary solution.

His arguments had almost convinced Si Yueyun—until Gu Antong’s entrance changed everything.

An awkward silence filled the air. Finally, Si Hanxiang cleared his throat and asked awkwardly,

“Ah Tong, did you sleep well last night?”

Gu Antong gently brushed back a loose strand of hair and replied with a teasing smile,

“How could I sleep well? It was our wedding night, after all. Zhenxuan didn’t let me sleep a wink. Look, Dad—” she pointed at her faint under-eye shadows—“I’ve even got dark circles.”