Su Nian stared at the phone in her hand, her heart racing as the name "Lily" flashed on the screen. Lu Cheng's ex-fiancée? The words felt like a punch to her gut. She didn't know what to expect from this conversation, but she knew one thing for certain—she couldn't ignore it. She had to know what this woman wanted, why she was reaching out, and, most importantly, what it meant for her relationship with Lu Cheng.
She hesitated for only a moment before pressing the green button to accept the call.
"Hello?" Su Nian said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
"Su Nian," the woman's voice came through clearly—smooth, controlled, but with a hint of something colder underneath. "I'm Lily. I don't know if you remember me, but we've met before. I was Lu Cheng's fiancée."
The words sent a chill through Su Nian. She remembered meeting Lily at one of the charity events she had attended with Lu Cheng. Lily had been polite but distant, her gaze always lingering on Lu Cheng in a way that made Su Nian uncomfortable. But she hadn't thought much of it then. After all, that was before she had learned about the pressure from his family, before she'd known about the arrangement they were now in.
"I remember," Su Nian replied, her voice carefully neutral. "What do you want?"
Lily's laugh, though soft, carried an edge to it. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not here to cause trouble. At least, not for you specifically." Her tone shifted, becoming more pointed. "I'm here because I want to be clear about something—something that might help you understand the situation a little better."
Su Nian's heart thudded in her chest. "What do you mean?"
"I'm sure Lu Cheng has told you about our engagement," Lily continued. "But I'm guessing he hasn't told you everything. He's the type to keep things buried, isn't he? So much for honesty, huh?"
Su Nian's mind was racing. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was this woman trying to plant doubt in her mind? Was she trying to break them apart? She steadied her breathing, trying to keep her emotions in check.
"I don't know what you're getting at, Lily," Su Nian said, her voice calm despite the turmoil inside her. "But if you think you can come here and disrupt my relationship with Lu Cheng, you're wrong."
"Oh, Su Nian, I'm not here to disrupt anything," Lily said, her voice smooth. "I'm just here to help you understand the full picture. You see, Lu Cheng and I... we were supposed to get married. Our families arranged it long before he met you. It was never about love. It was about duty, about business. Our families are intertwined, and that's why he's with you now. It's not because he loves you. It's because he has to. He's been trapped in that life for years."
Su Nian's breath caught in her throat. Her mind was spinning, and she felt like the ground was slipping out from under her. She had always known their marriage had been arranged, but hearing it from Lily's lips, hearing the way she spoke with such conviction, made everything feel like a lie.
"Lu Cheng never wanted to marry me," Lily continued, her voice softening, almost sympathetically. "He was forced into it. And trust me, Su Nian, that kind of pressure doesn't disappear overnight. If you think he's being honest with you, you're mistaken."
Su Nian's chest tightened, the words reverberating in her mind. She wanted to argue, to defend Lu Cheng, but she found herself at a loss for words. Could Lily be right? Was Lu Cheng really just following his family's orders? Was everything that had happened between them nothing more than a business arrangement?
"I'm not trying to hurt you," Lily said, her voice now laced with something softer, something almost apologetic. "I just want you to know what you're getting into. Lu Cheng... he's not the man you think he is. And you deserve to know the truth."
Su Nian's hands were shaking, and for the first time, she didn't know how to respond. She had trusted Lu Cheng, believed in him—believed in their marriage. But now, everything felt like it was being torn apart in an instant.
Before she could say anything, Lily's voice rang out again, "Think about it, Su Nian. Think carefully before you get in too deep. I don't want you to get hurt."
The line went silent as Lily hung up.
Su Nian stood there, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, as her thoughts swirled. The weight of Lily's words hung heavily in the air, like a storm cloud threatening to break. She had always known that Lu Cheng's family had influence, that their marriage was influenced by things beyond her control, but hearing it so plainly—hearing Lily speak with such certainty—made it impossible for Su Nian to ignore.
She sank onto the sofa, her mind spinning. Was this all a lie? Was Lu Cheng's love for her nothing more than a charade, an obligation he had to fulfill because of his family?
The phone buzzed in her hand, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Lu Cheng.
"I need to talk to you. Meet me tonight, please."
Su Nian's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't shake the feeling that tonight would be the moment that would change everything. She had to know the truth. She couldn't continue living in the shadows of doubt.
That evening, Su Nian arrived at the restaurant where she was supposed to meet Lu Cheng. Her mind was a whirlpool of emotions—confusion, anger, hurt. She didn't know what she would say to him, but she knew that she had to get answers.
When Lu Cheng saw her walking in, his face lit up, but the moment he saw the expression on hers, his smile faded. He motioned for her to sit, and she did, the space between them feeling like an ocean.
"Nian Nian, you're here. I—" He started, but his words were cut short when Su Nian spoke first.
"Lu Cheng," she said, her voice trembling slightly, but firm. "I need to know the truth. About you. About your past. About everything."
Lu Cheng's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of hesitation passing through them. But then, he took a deep breath, his gaze locking with hers.
"Sit down, Nian Nian," he said softly, his voice serious. "We need to talk."
As he began to speak, Su Nian could feel the weight of the moment. The truth was about to come out, and everything would change. She didn't know what would happen next, but one thing was certain: tonight would be the turning point.