It was a sunny November day, yet the chilly winds whispered that winter had begun.
In a majestic mansion nestled in the capital's elite district—where only the upper class resided—a quiet breakfast was underway.
At the long dining table, meant for a large family, only two people sat: a graceful young girl and an elderly man occupying the head seat. Despite the grandeur of the room, the atmosphere felt cold and lonely—devoid of any liveliness.
Upon closer look, the girl appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen. She possessed a delicate, almost ethereal beauty—a face so flawless it seemed as if God had taken extra care sculpting her. Yet, despite her perfection, something was missing. Her expression was calm, distant; she carried an invisible wall that made others hesitant to approach.
What she lacked was a genuine smile.
Since the moment she came downstairs for breakfast, her face had remained impassive. She only spoke occasionally, replying politely to the old man—her grandfather.
The old man was none other than Master Bai, the head and founder of the Bai Empire—one of the five most influential families in all of Asia.
Who would have thought that such a powerful man would spend his mornings telling silly jokes he'd found online, all in hopes of making his granddaughter smile? Yet every time, all he received was a perfunctory, faint smile—something she gave only to ease his heart.
Seeing her indifferent expression once again, he sighed inwardly.
When will my Lulu smile from her heart? Who will be the one to make her happy? he wondered.
"Lulu," Master Bai began gently, "today Gu Chen will be starting high school at your school. Remember to meet him and—" he hesitated as the girl lifted her cold gaze toward him, waiting for him to finish, "—and help him look around the campus. As his fiancée, you should make him feel comfortable."
He wanted to tell her to open her heart to Gu Chen since their wedding was only a month away. But he held back. He knew that forcing her would do no good.
I hope you'll open up to Chen, Lulu, he thought. I won't be here forever. You deserve someone who will make you happy.
"I'll show him around," Bai Lu replied simply, standing up. She picked up her school bag and left without looking back.
Master Bai's smile faded as he watched her slender figure disappear through the door.
"I hope Chen will change your life," he murmured softly. "He'll give you everything you deserve. That's why I engaged you to him when you were young."
"Master? Master?" came a voice. It was Butler Zhou, calling gently to break his master's daze.
"Hmm, Zhou," Master Bai said, turning to him. "Do you think I made a mistake by arranging their engagement?"
The butler, who had served him since birth, shook his head. "No, Master. You made that decision for the young miss's sake. You would never do anything to harm her."
"I just hope she won't blame me for marrying her off so early," Master Bai sighed.
"She won't, Master," Butler Zhou reassured. "Once she learns the reason behind your decision, she'll understand. Why not tell her the truth now?"
"It's not the right time yet, Zhou," Master Bai said, his eyes sorrowful. "When she's married into the Gu family… then I'll tell her."
It had all begun when Bai Lu—the eldest miss of the Bai family—was only three years old. Her mother had divorced her father and vanished without a trace, as if she had never existed, leaving Bai Lu behind in the Bai household. Master Bai had used every resource to search for her, but she was never found.
After her mother's disappearance, Bai Lu neither cried nor smiled again. It was as though she had locked her heart away from the world.
A year later, her father remarried. Her stepmother gave birth to twins—a boy and a girl—and soon the family was filled with joy again. Everyone slowly forgot the woman who had left, and Bai Lu was pushed into the shadows, receiving little attention.
When Bai Lu's twelfth birthday approached, Master Bai suddenly decided to hold a grand celebration. Nobody understood why he wanted such extravagance when her birthdays had never been celebrated since her first. Even Bai Lu protested, saying it wasn't necessary, but he insisted.
The celebration resembled more of a business gala than a birthday party. The top five families of Asia attended, along with several media representatives.
In her room, hurried knocks echoed on the door. Bai Lu, dressed in a beautiful blue gown that highlighted her porcelain skin, looked like a figure carved from moonlight—elegant and distant.
Frowning slightly, she spoke in her cool, quiet tone, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and a girl peeked inside. Her eyes were similar to Bai Lu's, though her features carried a unique charm of their own. It was Bai Juyi, Bai Lu's younger stepsister.
Bai Juyi stepped inside, her smile bright and mischievous—completely opposite to her sister's demeanor. "You look so pretty, sister! What am I going to do if someone steals you away, huh?" she teased playfully.
Bai Lu glanced at her. "What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean, why am I here? Can't I come visit my sister?" Juyi pouted dramatically.
"What have you done this time, Juyi?" Bai Lu asked dryly, already guessing her sister's motive.
Before Juyi could reply, a loud voice roared from outside, "Juyi! How many times have I told you not to enter my room?"
The voice belonged to Bai Chongxi, their half-brother.
Startled, Juyi hid behind Bai Lu. The elder girl shot her a questioning look as if to say, What did you do now?
Clasping her hands together, Juyi pleaded in a hushed voice, "Please, save me this time! Please, my lovely, kindest sister!"
Bai Lu sighed and turned to face her brother, who was marching toward her, red with anger. "What happened, Chongxi?"
Chongxi froze for a moment, momentarily distracted by his sister's composed expression, but soon his fury returned. "Luly, she broke my game console—the one Father just gave me for doing well on my exams! I told her not to touch my things, but this stupid girl never listens!"
"I've told you not to call me Luly," Bai Lu said calmly. "If she broke it, she'll give you her pocket money this month as compensation. Now both of you, leave my room."
Chongxi huffed but muttered, "I'll call you Luly whether you like it or not. Hmph!"
"Suit yourself," Bai Lu replied, turning back to her mirror and adjusting her hair. "Now, please leave."