Yuxi woke up to the sharp vibration of her phone buzzing relentlessly on the nightstand. The dim morning light filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the room. She rubbed her temple before picking up the device, only to be greeted with an overwhelming flood of messages.
Some were from former classmates, their words dripping with sarcasm.
"Jiang Yuxi, how did you manage to hook the cold and untouchable Gu Zeyan? Did you sell your soul?"
"Wow, Yuxi, going from a broke waitress to the future Mrs. Gu overnight? You must have some tricks up your sleeve."
Others were from distant acquaintances suddenly feigning concern and friendliness.
"Yuxi, congratulations! I always knew you were meant for great things. We should catch up soon!"
She scoffed, scrolling past the insincere words. They didn't care about her—only about their curiosity and what they could gain by associating with her now.
Her fingers hesitated when she saw a message from an unknown number.
"Be careful who you trust. The higher you climb, the harder you fall."
A chill ran down her spine.
Meanwhile, at the Gu Corporation, Gu Zeyan sat behind his expansive glass desk, flipping through a document with practiced indifference. Outside his office, his employees whispered among themselves.
"Did you see the news? CEO Gu is engaged!"
"But wasn't he seeing Qin Ruo?"
"This is an arranged marriage. No way he loves her."
Gu Zeyan remained unbothered by the speculation. He never cared about rumors, and this engagement was nothing more than a contract to him.
Later that evening, Jiang Haotian arranged an official engagement dinner between the Jiang and Gu families. Yuxi barely had time to process everything before she was swept into a whirlwind of preparations.
She was forced into an elegant, off-the-shoulder evening gown, her makeup polished to perfection. As she stared at herself in the mirror, she felt like a doll—dressed up to play a part.
At the grand banquet hall, the atmosphere buzzed with high-society elites. Glittering chandeliers cast a golden glow over the tables, adorned with fine china and expensive wine.
Yuxi entered the room, her back straight, head held high. If she was going to be put on display, she would make sure no one saw her falter.
Zhao Liying and Qin Ruo were among the guests, their eyes narrowing at her presence.
"Miss Jiang, you're so lucky," Zhao Liying said with a sweet but cutting smile. "To be engaged to Gu Zeyan just like that. It must feel like a dream."
"Or a miracle," Qin Ruo added, swirling her wine. "Considering how quickly it all happened. Who knew fate could be so generous?"
Their words were laced with underlying mockery, but Yuxi refused to rise to the bait. She simply smiled and responded, "Fate works in mysterious ways, doesn't it?"
Gu Zeyan arrived shortly after, his tall frame commanding attention. His cold gaze swept across the room before settling on Yuxi.
He approached her but didn't offer so much as a greeting. His presence alone was enough to silence the whispers around them.
Throughout the evening, Gu Zeyan remained distant, treating the engagement dinner as nothing more than a business meeting.
When guests asked about their relationship, he answered with vague, polite responses.
"Miss Jiang is quite remarkable," he said, but his tone was indifferent, making it clear that he was simply fulfilling his obligations.
Yuxi felt the weight of the stares around her, people watching to see how she would react. But she refused to let them see any weakness.
She picked up her glass, taking a sip of wine to steady herself.
If Gu Zeyan wanted to act like she was insignificant, she would show him that she could play this game just as well.
Halfway through the evening, Qin Ruo raised her glass and smiled at Yuxi.
"Since this is a celebration, why don't we hear a few words from the future Mrs. Gu?"
The room went silent, all eyes turning to Yuxi.
She could feel their anticipation, waiting for her to stumble, to make a fool of herself.
But Yuxi simply stood, meeting Qin Ruo's gaze with unwavering confidence.
"It's an honor to be standing here tonight, engaged to someone as accomplished as Gu Zeyan," she said, her voice steady. "But more than that, it's a privilege to be surrounded by such… well-wishers."
A few chuckles rippled through the crowd at her subtle jab.
Qin Ruo's smile tightened, but she said nothing.
Gu Zeyan, who had been watching in silence, raised an eyebrow. For the first time, something like amusement flickered in his gaze.
After the dinner, Gu Zeyan and Yuxi finally had a moment alone.
"Are you satisfied with how you treated me tonight?" Yuxi asked, arms crossed.
Gu Zeyan leaned against the doorframe, his expression unreadable. "Did you expect me to act differently?"
"If we have to pretend, then at least don't humiliate me in public," she said, her voice sharp.
Gu Zeyan regarded her for a long moment before speaking. "You handled yourself well tonight."
It wasn't an apology, but it was the closest thing to a compliment she would get from him.
Yuxi didn't respond. She knew this arrangement would never be easy, but she hadn't expected it to be this exhausting.
The drive back to the Jiang estate was silent.
Yuxi sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window. The city lights blurred past, but she couldn't focus on anything.
Gu Zeyan drove with one hand on the wheel, his other resting on the armrest. Though he seemed unaffected, she noticed how his fingers tapped idly—a rare sign of restlessness.
She thought about everything that had happened. The engagement, the dinner, and the way people looked at her as if she were nothing more than an accessory to Gu Zeyan's success.
Finally, she let out a quiet breath.
"Gu Zeyan," she said.
He didn't turn his head, but she knew he was listening.
"Do you regret this engagement?" she asked.
There was a pause before he answered. "Regret is a waste of time."
Yuxi closed her eyes.
The road stretched ahead, and their future remained uncertain. But one thing was clear—this contract marriage was going to be far more complicated than she had imagined.