The mansion was unusually quiet the morning after the gala. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting soft patterns across the marble floor. Yuexi sat at the dining table, a cup of untouched tea cooling in front of her.
Her phone buzzed with notifications: articles, gossip threads, photos from the event. She scrolled hesitantly.
"The Lu couple dazzles at the Imperial Gala.""Mrs. Lu: Cinderella or Gold Digger?""Gu Yichen and Mrs. Lu—an interesting balcony encounter?"
Her fingers froze at the last headline. A blurry photograph showed her and Gu Yichen standing close on the balcony, her expression caught mid-smile. To an outsider, it looked almost intimate.
Her stomach knotted.
She barely noticed when Chenxuan entered the room, his suit already perfectly pressed, his expression unreadable. He sat across from her, unfolded the morning paper, and began to read in silence.
Finally, Yuexi found her voice. "Have you… seen this?" She pushed her phone toward him.
He glanced at the headline, then at the photo, before setting it aside with a calm that unsettled her. "Of course I've seen it."
"And you're not angry?" she asked, her brows furrowing.
His lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "Why would I be angry? It's exactly what I expected."
The words stung. "You expected me to embarrass you?"
"I expected the media to twist things." His gaze was cool, detached. "They thrive on scandal. Don't let it bother you."
But it did bother her. Not just the article, but his tone—so indifferent, as if nothing about her could affect him.
Later that day, Liu Mei handed Yuexi a list of upcoming public appearances. "The president wants you at these events. Attendance is non-negotiable."
Yuexi scanned the list. Fashion week. Charity luncheons. Red carpet premieres. Her schedule was suddenly filled with engagements, none of which were her choice.
She sighed, setting the paper down. "Am I just… decoration?"
Liu Mei blinked, then lowered her voice. "Mrs. Lu, forgive me for speaking plainly, but appearances matter. You're not just his wife—you're part of his brand now."
The words settled like a weight in Yuexi's chest. Part of his brand. Not a partner. Not family. Just another asset to maintain.
That evening, when Chenxuan finally returned from work, Yuexi was waiting in the living room. She rose from the sofa, determination stiffening her spine.
"We need to talk," she said.
He glanced at her, removing his cufflinks with practiced ease. "About what?"
"About us." Her voice trembled slightly, but she pressed on. "I signed the contract, yes. I knew what I was agreeing to. But I won't just be a mannequin you wheel out at events. If this marriage is supposed to last a year, then I deserve at least some respect."
His hands stilled. Slowly, he looked up, his gaze sharp. "Respect?"
"Yes." Her chin lifted. "I'm not asking for love. I'm not even asking for friendship. But I want to be treated as more than a convenient prop."
The room fell into heavy silence.
For a long moment, Chenxuan said nothing. His eyes, dark and piercing, searched her face as though weighing every word. Finally, he exhaled, setting his cufflinks aside.
"You're right."
The admission startled her. "What?"
"You're right," he repeated, his voice low. "I've been… careless. This arrangement is business, but that doesn't excuse disrespect."
For the first time since their marriage, his tone carried a trace of sincerity. It disarmed her more than his indifference ever had.
Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his jaw tightening. Without another word, he picked it up and strode out of the room, his voice clipped as he spoke into the receiver.
Yuexi watched him go, frustration and confusion twisting inside her.
He admitted she was right. But he still walked away.
Later, she wandered through the mansion, restless. Passing by the study, she caught his voice—lower now, almost pained.
"…I said I'll handle it. Don't call me again."
A pause. Then the sharp sound of a phone slamming down.
Yuexi hesitated, her hand hovering near the doorframe. Something about the rawness in his voice tugged at her. He sounded nothing like the unshakable CEO the world adored.
But before she could step closer, the door opened. Chenxuan stood there, his expression shuttered, his mask firmly back in place.
"What are you doing here?" His tone was calm, but his eyes held a flicker of something—warning, maybe fear.
"I… was just walking by," she said quickly.
He studied her for a heartbeat, then nodded. "Go get some rest. We leave early tomorrow."
As he walked past, Yuexi felt the distance between them stretch wider than ever.
And yet, beneath that distance, a crack had appeared.
A crack in his facade. A crack in hers.
And cracks, she knew, only widened with time.