Zhen pushed open the bedroom door, expecting to see the woman he had been married to …
But the moment his eyes landed on An Ruo, his breath froze.
The woman sitting on the edge of his bed was not the wife he knew.
Her posture was timid, her lashes trembling as she looked up at him like he was a stranger.
A soft gasp escaped her lips, perfectly timed—too perfect.
Zhen: "Who are you?"
An Ruo blinked innocently, clutching the bedsheet to her chest as if afraid.
An Ruo: "I… I don't remember."
Her voice quivered like a frightened doe.
Zhen's jaw tightened.
Anger, confusion, betrayal—everything flickered in his eyes.
He stepped closer, slowly, studying every inch of her face.
Zhen: "Don't lie. My wife doesn't look like you."
An Ruo lowered her eyes just enough to hide the calculating glint behind them.
She bit her lip, forcing a tear to fall.
An Ruo: "I… I woke up here. I don't remember my name… I don't even know who you are…"
Zhen's shock grew.
His heartbeat pounded painfully in his chest.
Zhen: (whispering) "What the hell is happening?"
He reached out, as if to test whether she was real, and Ruo flinched dramatically—
So dramatic that for a second, he almost believed her.
Almost.
Zhen's shoulders finally dropped a little.
The woman in front of him… she looked terrified.
Too fragile.
Too lost.
Even if something felt wrong, his instincts to protect kicked in.
Zhen: "You don't remember anything at all?"
An Ruo shook her head slowly, letting her hair fall messily around her face.
She looked small… harmless… breakable.
Then she whispered, barely audible—
An Ruo: "I… I woke up and everything was dark.
I don't know where I belong…
Please don't push me away."
Zhen inhaled sharply.
His real wife never sounded this helpless.
He knelt slightly to meet her eyes.
Zhen: "You're safe here. I won't let anything happen to you."
A flicker of victory passed through Ruo's eyes, gone in less than a heartbeat.
She extended a trembling hand.
An Ruo: "C-Can I stay here for a while? Until… I remember?"
Zhen hesitated.
Logic screamed that something was off.
His wife disappearing… and this woman appearing in her place…
But emotionally, he couldn't bring himself to push her away when she looked like this.
Zhen: "Alright. Rest here for now. I'll call the doctor."
A small smile tugged at the corner of An Ruo's lips—soft, grateful, dangerously believable.
She lowered her gaze, pretending to wipe a tear.
An Ruo: "Thank you, sir… You're very kind."
Zhen's chest tightened, a strange mixture of duty, pity, and curiosity swirling inside him.
He gently pulled the blanket around her shoulders.
Zhen: "Don't move. I'll make sure you're taken care of."
As he walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him…
An Ruo's entire expression changed.
Her innocent eyes sharpened.
Her trembling lips curled upward.
An Ruo: (whispering to herself)
"Perfect."
The storm had finally eased, leaving the world washed in cold silence.
Lu Yichen sat in the living room, long fingers tapping lightly on the laptop keyboard.
His posture was perfect.
His expression unreadable.
But the faint tightness in his jaw showed he was still furious about the earlier mix-up.
Behind him, bodyguards stood stiffly, terrified of breathing wrong.
Just then—
A soft sound echoed from the staircase.
Footsteps.
Light.
Hesitant.
Yichen didn't look up immediately.
He already knew it was her—the wrong bride.
Only when the footsteps reached the final step did he lift his eyes.
Lin Xinyi stood there, still in the wedding dress, her veil removed, her hair slightly messy from the chaos.
She looked shy, unsure, trying to understand her place in this mansion that wasn't supposed to be hers.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, the world paused.
Yichen's gaze sharpened… then softened by a fraction.
Not affection.
Not anger.
Just… awareness.
Respectful. Controlled.
Yichen (calmly):
"You're awake."
Xinyi lowered her eyes.
"...Yes."
Before Yichen could say anything more—
The front door burst open.
Madam Lu rushed in, her face pale with panic.
Madam Lu:
"Yichen! I heard there was a mistake with the bride—did someone hurt you? Are you alr—"
She froze.
Her eyes landed on Xinyi.
Her breath caught.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Shock.
Then—almost instantly—her eyes softened, filled with relief and something like admiration.
Because Lin Xinyi didn't look like trouble.
She looked… gentle.
Pure.
Innocent.
Not a schemer.
Not someone who would dare enter the Lu family through deceit.
Madam Lu grabbed Yichen's arm.
Madam Lu (whispering anxiously):
"She's… she's the girl they sent by mistake?"
Yichen didn't take his eyes off Xinyi.
Yichen:
"Yes."
Madam Lu slowly approached Xinyi, her fear melting into a warm, motherly look.
Madam Lu (softly):
"Child… are you hurt?"
Xinyi blinked, surprised by the kindness.
She shook her head.
"N-No… I'm fine."
Madam Lu exhaled in relief, gently holding her hand.
Madam Lu:
"You must have been terrified. Come sit. You're safe here."
Yichen watched silently, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
Respect.
Responsibility.
A strange pull he didn't fully understand.
He closed his laptop slowly.
The wrong bride had walked into his life…
And even his mother had accepted her without a single question.
This mistake wasn't going to be easy to undo.