A Maybach sped through the rainy night along the asphalt road. The car was silent, save for the sound of shallow breathing. Wen Xuyu lay half-reclined in the backseat, finally regaining her composure. She hadn’t been dragged back by Wen Qianyu; she had been saved by a stranger.
At this thought, she moved gingerly, suppressing her pain as she slowly sat upright.
The man beside her seemed equipped with radar; he turned his gaze toward her instantly. "Don't move," he said, his voice low and cold. His fingers were laced together on his knees, as if he were enduring something.
Wen Xuyu lowered her head slightly. Her wedding dress was soaked through, staining the seat, and a small pool of water had formed on the upholstery, which looked expensive. She felt awkward, her heart fluttering with anxiety; she instinctively assumed the man was annoyed by her presence.
A moment later, his cold, deep voice broke the silence of the cramped space, and a clean towel was tossed toward her. "Bian Xunzhou. That's my name."
Wen Xuyu was stunned for a moment, but when she collected herself, she introduced herself in return. A partition rose between the front and back seats. Wen Xuyu took the towel and, with eyes cast down, began to dry herself slowly.
Time ticked by. Wen Xuyu could feel the man’s intense gaze upon her. His presence was so overwhelming that it made her movements grow stiff.
"Thank you for saving me today..." she said, her voice so soft it brushed against the heart like a feather. Even though she didn't know his intentions, she decided it was best to be clear.
Bian Xunzhou sat with his long legs crossed, his index finger tapping rhythmically against his silver wristwatch. He didn't respond. The silence was agonizing for Wen Xuyu. She bit her lip and looked out the window, inadvertently spotting a small clinic by the roadside. She was covered in injuries and needed them treated immediately.
"Mr. Bian, if you could just drop me off here..."
Before she could finish, he interrupted with an authoritative, uncompromising tone. "The events of half a month ago—do you really not remember them?"
Wen Xuyu narrowed her eyes, her thoughts drifting back to that time. Half a month ago, because the Wen Family had been dragging its feet on a decision, they held a banquet at the suggestion of the Lu Family, intending for the third young master of the Lu Family to choose a wife. It was the first time she had been brought along by Mrs. Wen—her biological mother, Jiang Lihua—who had paraded her around the banquet and introduced her to everyone. Later, she had made an excuse to get some air and gone up to the hotel rooftop. Distraught, she had drunk a few glasses of wine, and then… then she fell into the pool. It seemed a man had saved her, and she had spent a full week in a coma at the hospital.
After a moment of reflection, a guess formed in her mind. She frowned and asked, "...Are you the man who saved me?"
"You still have a conscience, then," Bian Xunzhou nodded faintly, then continued, his tone leading. "So, didn't you notice anything strange?"
"...Strange?" Wen Xuyu didn't understand what he meant. She lifted her beautiful phoenix eyes; there was still some dried mud on her cheeks. "For example?"
Bian Xunzhou’s thin lips curled into a faint arc. He suddenly reached out and pinched his own forearm.
At the exact same moment, Wen Xuyu gasped, a sharp intake of breath.
"Still don't get it?" Bian Xunzhou watched her, a dark gleam flashing in his peach-blossom eyes.
"You... I... we..." Wen Xuyu was incoherent. Was the pain she just felt an illusion?
But the next moment, the man’s airy words confirmed her suspicions.
"You aren't hallucinating. We have synesthesia."
Wen Xuyu’s mouth fell open, but no words came out. She was completely stunned. She actually had synesthesia with a stranger?
*
Once Wen Xuyu had fully processed this, Bian Xunzhou spoke again.
"I realized something was wrong a week ago," he said, turning his head. His black eyes were deep, his tone playful. "Miss Wen, you've certainly had quite an eventful week!"
Wen Xuyu: "..."
To prevent her from running away before the wedding, the Wen Family had locked her up. She was already unpopular in that house, and the servants were opportunists who would do whatever was convenient; there were times she went two days without a meal. Realizing they were linked by synesthesia, Bian Xunzhou had naturally suffered the same misfortune.
The rest of the story didn't need to be told; Wen Xuyu knew exactly what had happened, which explained why he had appeared there today.
"Do you know the reason for this?" If they could figure it out early, they wouldn't have to be bound to each other.
"I’m not entirely sure yet," Bian Xunzhou said, retracting his gaze. He folded his arms and closed his eyes, appearing unwilling to converse any further. Wen Xuyu bit her lip; she knew her place and didn't disturb him.
*
Not knowing where he was taking her, Wen Xuyu took out her phone. It was waterlogged and the screen was cracked, but after fiddling with it for a while, she managed to turn it back on.
As soon as it booted up, notifications poured in like a tide. Wen Xuyu’s heart sank. She swiped through them—dozens of calls, mostly from her father and mother. Beyond the calls were messages full of interrogation, abuse, and threats.
[Get back here immediately!]
[Wen Xuyu, are you feeling bold now? Daring to run away in secret? If I don’t see you here tomorrow night, you can watch that person get thrown out of the hospital!]
The plan had failed, and the Wen Family still held her leverage; they would never let this go. She felt a wave of sadness. Just as she was about to turn off her phone, a few breaking news headlines popped up.
#Wen Family’s second daughter flees on the eve of her wedding, leaving the Lu Family’s third young master in an awkward position# (Trending)
#Lu Family head’s face ashen, scene extremely awkward# (Trending)
#Can the alliance between the Lu Family and the Wen Family continue?# (Trending)
Her temples throbbed. The moment she finished reading the headlines, her phone screen went black; it had run out of battery.
Outside, it was still raining. Fine droplets hit the window, sliding down to leave winding trails. Wen Xuyu looked out, clutching her phone tightly, worry etched into her features. The wedding had been attended by many in high society. Her flight wasn't just a slap in the face to the Lu Family; it had brought shame upon both families.
Most importantly, if the Wen Family couldn't secure the Lu Family's capital, their company wouldn't be able to turn over its funds and might even face bankruptcy due to mismanagement. That was what they were really worried about.
Thinking of her own plight, Wen Xuyu’s eyes turned red and her heart ached with sharp, pulling pain. She felt as if she were lost in a fog, unable to see the way forward.
Beside her, Bian Xunzhou slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the woman’s lonely, desolate silhouette, his thoughts unreadable.
Half an hour later, the car slowed to a stop. Lu Zhao got out first and opened the door.
Bian Xunzhou walked to the other side. Seeing the cumbersome, filthy wedding dress the woman was wearing, he waved a hand and tore off the hem. Even if he said nothing, Wen Xuyu could see his disgust.
But she was under someone else's roof and had to bow her head. Her body ached all over, so she let the man pick her up.
The surroundings were quiet. Wen Xuyu looked around until she saw the sign on the wall, realizing they were at the First Hospital of Beijing City.
It was nine o'clock at night, and the hospital was relatively quiet. It seemed arrangements had already been made; Bian Xunzhou carried Wen Xuyu through the doors with no obstruction, heading straight to the examination room.
The doctor was already waiting. Seeing them, he quickly began to X-ray and treat Wen Xuyu.
"Her ankle is sprained. She needs plenty of rest and must avoid strenuous exercise. Apply this ointment on time. The injuries on her hands are just abrasions; no bones are broken."
The doctor then reached for alcohol and iodine, preparing to clean and dress the wounds. As the cool alcohol touched her skin, pain shot through her tendons and bones. Wen Xuyu bit her lip hard, not making a sound, though cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
Bian Xunzhou leaned against the desk, watching her with deep black eyes, feeling the pain as if it were his own. This level of pain was nothing to him, but to this woman, it seemed enough to take half her life. *Delicate,* he thought—his second impression of her.
Bian Xunzhou didn't linger; he walked out of the examination room. Lu Zhao was standing outside, having already settled the bill.
"Sir, here are the marriage agreement and the property notarization papers."