The unpleasant confrontation in the study a while ago felt like a sudden cold snap, completely freezing the nascent, inappropriate warmth in Lin Wei's heart. She retracted herself back into her hard shell, more silent than ever, and even more deliberately keeping her distance from Gù Yèchén.
The solarium remained her only sanctuary, but the colors on her canvases had, unknowingly, become tinged with a layer of gray. She no longer speculated about the meaning behind his actions, nor did she get flustered by his seemingly "caring" gestures. He fulfilled the contract, and she adhered to her duties. That was all.
Gù Yèchén seemed to have noticed her deliberate distancing. He still left early and returned late, and became even more silent at mealtimes. The occasional glance he cast her way was deeper and more inscrutable than before, carrying a scrutinizing, and perhaps even… displeased, coldness.
This silent standoff lasted for several days. Until one Friday evening.
Lin Wei was in the solarium, retouching a still-life sketch, when Steward Zhāng appeared silently at the doorway.
"Miss Lin, Mr. wants you to go to the study."
Lin Wei's hand, gripping the pencil, tightened slightly. The study… that place that made her feel humiliated and cold.
She put down her pencil, took a deep breath, and composed herself before following Steward Zhāng up to the second floor. The study door was ajar. Gù Yèchén stood with his back to the door, by the floor-to-ceiling window, talking on the phone.
"…Mm, arrange it for next Saturday evening… the old residence… I understand." His voice was still businesslike, revealing no emotion.
He hung up and slowly turned around. The afterglow of the setting sun shone in from behind him, casting a faint golden halo around his tall figure, but failing to illuminate his deep-set eyes.
He didn't beat around the bush. His gaze fell directly on Lin Wei, and he calmly dropped a bombshell.
"Next Saturday evening, go back to the Gu family's old residence. Grandpa wants to see you."
The old residence? Grandpa?
Lin Wei's heart gave a sudden lurch, almost leaping out of her chest. Grandpa Gu, the one mentioned in the background of the contract, the true power of the Gu family, an elderly man who, while gravely ill, wished to see his grandson married. She had always known of his existence but had never imagined that she, the "contract wife," would actually have to face him, face the true core of the Gu family.
What did this mean? Was it a formal test of her identity? Or an unpredictable banquet with hidden dangers?
Panic, like a cold tide, instantly engulfed her. She instinctively wanted to refuse, to escape. That world, the family belonging to Gù Yèchén, full of unknowns and dangers, was not a place she should set foot in.
"I…" Her voice trembled almost imperceptibly, "Do I have to go?"
Gù Yèchén took a few steps forward, stopping at his desk, hands casually tucked into his trousers pockets. His posture seemed relaxed, yet it carried an invisible pressure. He looked down at her from above, his eyes sharp, as if able to penetrate all her pretense and see the fear in her heart.
"What do you think?" he retorted, his tone carrying a hint of icy mockery. "Mrs. Gù."
The three words "Mrs. Gù" struck Lin Wei's last sliver of hope like a heavy hammer. Yes, she was Mrs. Gù, at least for the duration of the contract. This was an identity she couldn't avoid, and one of the "obligations" she had to fulfill.
She lowered her head, avoiding his penetrating gaze, her fingers secretly curling at her sides, her nails digging into her palm.
"Do I need… to prepare anything?" she heard herself ask, her voice dry.
"You don't need to prepare anything," Gù Yèchén's voice remained devoid of warmth. "Show up on time, behave properly, speak less. Remember your identity, and remember the role you are to play."
His requirements were simple, yet each word carried immense weight. Behave properly, speak less, play the role of "Mrs. Gù" well. This sounded easy, but in a place like that den of dragons and tigers, every step could land on a landmine.
"Grandpa…" Lin Wei mustered her courage, wanting to learn more about this key figure.
"Grandpa likes quiet," Gù Yèchén interrupted her, seemingly unwilling to elaborate. "You just need to know that he is the only person in the Gu family you need to care about. As for the others…" he paused, his tone carrying undisguised disdain, "pay them no mind."
Pay them no mind? Easy for him to say. How could she, a "Cinderella" with no background, suddenly intrude into a top-tier wealthy family without causing ripples?How could she not be scrutinized and made difficult?
In the following days, Lin Wei was plunged into unprecedented anxiety. She replayed countless possible scenarios in her mind, imagining what kind of picky and disdainful glances those unseen, supposedly wealthy and noble Gu family members would cast at her.
She even secretly searched for information about the Gu family online, but there was very little public data. She could only piece together the family's vastness and complexity from scraps of information. This did not reassure her; instead, it added to her fear.
Gù Yèchén saw her unease but remained a detached observer, offering no comment. It was as if bringing her to the old residence was merely a work task that needed to be completed.
On Friday, the day before going to the old residence, Lin Wei was restlessly flipping through an art magazine in the living room when the doorbell rang.
Steward Zhāng went to open the door and, moments later, led in several people carrying several large, exquisitely wrapped gift boxes.
"Miss Lin, these are for you, prepared by Mr. for tomorrow evening's banquet – the dress and accessories," Steward Zhāng explained calmly.
Lin Wei stared blankly at the gift boxes placed on the sofa. He had even prepared this?
She walked over and hesitantly opened one of the largest boxes. Inside was a neatly folded dress made of smoke-gray silk. It felt cool to the touch, flowing with a soft, noble luster under the light. Just looking at it, one could imagine how elegant and extraordinary it would be when worn.
Another box contained a matching pair of high heels.The heel height was just right, enhancing her temperament without making it difficult to move. There was also a matching handbag, and… a velvet jewelry box that looked quite valuable.
She opened the jewelry box. Inside lay an extremely simple diamond necklace. The main diamond was not ostentatious, but its cut was perfect, sparkling with a pure, cold light on the velvet lining.
Everything was impeccably perfect, befitting the identity of "Mrs. Gù."
But was his preparing these for her because he was afraid she would embarrass him? Or… was it, in a sense, silent support?
As soon as this thought arose, Lin Wei forcibly suppressed it. Don't overthink it, Lin Wei, she admonished herself. These were just props, to make the "performance" more realistic.
On Saturday evening, the styling team arrived on time. Lin Wei was like an exquisite doll, placed before the makeup mirror, dressed in the smoke-gray gown, and adorned with the cold diamond necklace.
When everything was done, she looked at herself in the mirror and barely recognized the figure. Her makeup was exquisite, her gown magnificent. She was polished to a radiant, flawless appearance. But in the eyes reflected in the mirror, there was still an undisguised anxiety and bewilderment.
When Gù Yèchén came downstairs, his steps faltered almost imperceptibly the moment he saw her. His gaze lingered on her for a full three seconds. A faint, almost imperceptible hint of astonishment seemed to flash in his eyes, but it quickly reverted to his usual deep and calm expression.
He said nothing, merely raised his arm slightly.
Lin Wei knew this meant she should link arms with him. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the panic in her heart, and extended her hand, lightly placing it on his firm arm.
Through the thin fabric of his shirt, she could feel the tautness of his muscles and the warmth emanating from him. This subtle sensation made her already nervous heart skip another beat.
He led her towards the door, his steps steady. Once in the car, he remained silent, closing his eyes to rest, as if what awaited him was just an ordinary family gathering.
The car drove smoothly towards the outskirts, towards the Gu family's old residence, a symbol of the pinnacle of power and wealth.
Lin Wei watched the lights outside become sparser and the night darker, feeling her heart sink little by little as the distance shortened.
This unavoidable trial, what kind of storm awaited her?