The first night of their marriage passed without ceremony.
Yue Lianrui stood in the guest bedroom, suitcase unopened, listening to the quiet hum of the penthouse. Somewhere beyond the wall, Shen Kaizhe was moving—measured footsteps, deliberate, as if even the air had to follow his rules.
She exhaled slowly.
A marriage contract. One year. Two signatures.
That was all this was.
Her phone vibrated.
Shen Kaizhe: Master bedroom is mine. You may choose any other room. We will maintain distance.
She stared at the message, then typed calmly.
Yue Lianrui: Understood. I don't like crowded spaces anyway.
A pause.
Then another message came.
Shen Kaizhe: Good. We won't interfere in each other's lives.
Lianrui smiled faintly.
If only that were true.
Too Close to Pretend
Three days later.
Lianrui slipped in the bathroom.
It was stupid—careless. The marble floor was wet, and her heel slid before she could catch herself.
Pain shot up her ankle.
Before she could even inhale, the door slammed open.
Shen Kaizhe caught her mid-fall, one arm locked around her waist, the other gripping the doorframe. The impact pushed her against his chest—solid, warm, steady.
Too steady.
"You're careless," he said coldly.
Her breath hitched—not from pain, but from how close he was. His heartbeat was loud. Controlled. Human.
"So are you," she replied quietly. "You came in without knocking."
Silence.
He didn't let go.
For half a second too long, his hand remained at her waist. His thumb pressed unconsciously against her side.
Then he stepped back abruptly.
"Don't misunderstand," he said, turning away. "I won't let my wife injure herself. It reflects badly on me."
Lianrui lowered her gaze to hide her smile.
Liar.