Mo Yichen didn't speak to her for the next week. He was ashamed. Though he had wished to discomfort her, to shatter her serene facade, he had never intended to hurt her physically. He wasn't that kind of man. He would never be that kind of man.
And yet, she carried on with flawless precision, executing every duty without faltering once. Not once did she ask about him. That stung.
Maybe she really just wanted to marry rich, he thought bitterly. Maybe she has no interest in me at all.
She never looked at him. Never tried to get his attention. And yet, she always had it. That fact irritated him more than he cared to admit.
In his eyes, she was the reason for his entrapment, the woman who tied him to a marriage he hadn't chosen, the one who wrapped these invisible chains around his wrists. He told himself, again and again, that he hated her. He clung to that hatred like a lifeline.
So what if she got hurt? he rationalized coldly. He could always compensate her. Money solves everything, doesn't it? But deep inside, a quiet part of him knew the truth: hatred wasn't the full story.
Meanwhile, Madam Mo had begun to set her own plans in motion. She was not satisfied with Xia Ruyan as her daughter-in-law. Now, she was resolved to push her out. That evening, she invited a few of her close friends over for tea. Among them was Madam Ye of the powerful Ye family, and her daughter, Ye Yutong.
When Ruyan returned at six in the evening, the mansion was alive with chatter. Several middle-aged women and a few younger ones lounged in the living hall, surrounded by a lavish spread of pastries, fruits, and delicacies artfully arranged on a grand table.
As soon as the socialites caught sight of Ruyan, their eyes lit up some with admiration, others with envy.
Clad in an elegant all-white ensemble, a designer handbag resting gracefully on her forearm, she entered with her signature poise. Her sleek, low bun revealed the clean lines of her neck, and her amber-gold eyes carried the quiet, moonlit calm of someone utterly unbothered by noise.
"Meiling, you never told us you were hiding such a beauty in your home," Madam Li of the Li Estate remarked, her tone a mixture of awe and curiosity.
"Come here and greet the guests," Madam Mo said coolly.
Ruyan approached with graceful composure and offered a soft, restrained, "Good evening." She made a slight turn, intending to leave, but Madam Mo stopped her.
"Join us," she said firmly. Ruyan obeyed without complaint and took a seat, her posture impeccable.
"This is Madam Li of the Li Estate," Madam Mo began, her tone formal, clipped. "And Madam Zhou, my sister-in-law and the head of Zhou Cosmetics. That is Madam Ye, wife of the Ye family patriarch, who is running for mayor. And beside her is Ye Yutong, their eldest daughter."
"This is Xia Ruyan," she added flatly. Nothing more.
Her introductions were deliberately sharp and curated. She offered no accolades for Ruyan, no mention of her background or achievements. The message was subtle but clear: You don't belong here.
Ye Yutong stood, all charm and poise. She was petite, about 5'4", with straight shoulder-length hair framing a delicate face. Her large doe eyes sparkled beneath understated makeup, and she was dressed in a chic seasonal collection, an elegant knee-length skirt, and a pale blue blouse.
She walked toward Ruyan with deliberate grace.
Ye Yutong was known as the capital's premier socialite, praised for her style, grace, and pedigree. But standing opposite Xia Ruyan, she was just another pretty face. And she knew it. A flash of jealousy burned beneath her polished smile.
"Hello, I'm Ye Yutong," she said sweetly. "I'm Brother Yichen's childhood sweetheart. I hope you don't mind; we've known each other since we were kids. We're very close."
Her tone was soft, but the intent behind it was sharp and unmistakably pointed.
"Hello," Ruyan replied, her voice even and composed. She didn't extend her hand. She never did...not for just anyone.
At that moment, Marie arrived, carrying Ruyan's favorite coffee blend. The warm, rich aroma drifted through the air, quieting the room for a fleeting second.
"Ma'am, your coffee," Marie said gently.
"Thank you," Ruyan replied politely. She took the cup and walked to a single-seater sofa placed slightly apart from the main group. Sitting down gracefully, she sipped her coffee in silence. But rather than seem isolated, her placement radiated a kind of sovereign detachment. Her every gesture, her silence, didn't suggest exclusion. It proclaimed a command.
The room buzzed with polite conversation once again, but every now and then, glances drifted toward Ruyan, some curious, others appraising.
Ye Yutong returned to her seat beside Madam Ye, a faint pout tugging at her lips. She had expected a reaction, a flicker of jealousy, at least. But Ruyan's serene stillness had swallowed her provocations whole.
Madam Mo's lips twitched in disapproval. She poured herself a cup of oolong tea and gave Ruyan a sidelong glance.
"Ruyan," she said with a smile that didn't touch her eyes, "you haven't told us much about your background. What does your father do again?"
The question was casual on the surface, but carefully chosen, sharp as a dagger.
Ruyan looked up, her amber eyes clear and unflinching. "My father runs a business," she said simply. "He is also a scholar." Her tone was calm, dignified. "My mother was a painter."
"Oh," Madam Li chimed in, brows slightly raised. "And yet you carry yourself like… well, forgive me, but I thought you were from old money."
"I am," Ruyan said smoothly, taking a sip of her coffee. "Just not the kind that flaunts itself."
A brief, chilly silence followed. One of the younger women let out a nervous laugh. "That's quite admirable. These days, everyone's so showy."
Just then, the glass doors at the far end of the room opened. Mo Yichen walked in.
The hum of conversation dropped several degrees. Dressed in black slacks and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, he looked effortlessly composed. His presence carried weight, restrained, commanding.
His gaze swept across the room... and stopped when it found her. Sitting apart. Quiet and unaffected. He hadn't really seen her in days, not like this. The bandage on her neck was gone now, replaced by a delicate silk scarf. Her skin looked pale and untouched. He expected her to look at him.
She didn't even look up.
"Yichen," Madam Mo said warmly, trying to fill the silence. "Come, come. We have guests."
He nodded to the women and moved toward the main seating area, but not without another glance, just one, toward Ruyan. A flicker of frustration tugged at his mouth.
Ye Yutong stood again, her voice bright. "Brother Yichen, you're back! Shall we play chess? Remember those summers at the lake house?"
Mo Yichen looked at her and nodded. "I remember."
"You used to let me win," she added coyly.
"I don't recall that," he said flatly.
The women snickered, but the tension had crept back in.
Ruyan rose slowly, brushing invisible dust from her skirt. "Excuse me," she said to no one in particular. "I will freshen up."
Before anyone could stop her, she turned and walked out. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor, echoing in the hush that followed. Yichen's jaw clenched.
"She's… difficult, isn't she?" Madam Ye murmured to Madam Mo, loud enough for others to catch. "So proud, for someone with so little."
Yichen heard it. And for some reason, the words scraped something raw inside him.
"She's not difficult," he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the room. "She just doesn't perform for people who don't matter."
The silence was deafening. He didn't wait for a response. He turned on his heel and followed after her, startled by himself.
Why would I take her side? he thought. I hate her.
Or at least, that's what he kept telling himself.