Jiang Yuxi's fingers curled into fists as she stood in the lavishly decorated room, her sharp gaze scanning the elegant yet suffocating environment. The Gu family had spared no expense in ensuring that the place reeked of aristocracy—chandeliers cast golden light over the polished marble floors, and the faint scent of jasmine filled the air. Everything about the place screamed refinement, yet to Yuxi, it felt like a beautifully decorated cage.
Her stomach twisted as she faced Madam Wei, the renowned etiquette instructor personally chosen by Madam Gu. The elderly woman stood with perfect posture, her graying hair styled into an immaculate bun, and her sharp eyes assessing Yuxi with unmistakable disapproval.
"You are far from suitable to be a wife of high society," Madam Wei said curtly, her voice carrying an air of absolute authority. "Your manners are crude, your posture is unrefined, and your overall presence lacks grace. It is no wonder you were deemed unworthy of the Gu family name."
Yuxi bit down on her tongue, refusing to react. This wasn't the first time someone had tried to humiliate her, and she doubted it would be the last.
"From this moment forward," Madam Wei continued, pacing in front of her, "you will undergo rigorous training to correct your inadequacies. Your posture, your speech, your dining habits—everything must be molded into perfection. You are no longer just Jiang Yuxi. You are Gu Zeyan's wife, and that means you represent the Gu family."
Yuxi lifted her chin slightly. What representation? I'm only here because of a contract.
Madam Wei clapped her hands, and two assistants brought out a stack of books and a pair of high heels.
"Balance these on your head," the instructor ordered. "Walk from one end of the room to the other. If a single book falls, you start over."
Yuxi inwardly scoffed. So this is how they want to break me?
She placed the books on her head, took a deep breath, and started walking.
The first few steps were easy. But by the time she reached the middle of the room, the weight of the books pressed against her skull, making it difficult to move without swaying. The heels only made it worse—each step felt like walking on stilts, requiring every ounce of focus she had.
A book slipped.
Madam Wei's sharp voice rang through the air. "Start again."
The cycle continued. Over and over. By the tenth attempt, sweat beaded on Yuxi's forehead, but she kept going.
Her jaw tightened. I won't let them see me falter.
As Yuxi prepared for yet another attempt, a presence at the doorway made her pause.
Her heartbeat stuttered when she noticed Gu Zeyan standing there, arms crossed, watching her.
His expression was unreadable, but the slight quirk of his brow suggested amusement. Is he enjoying this?
Yuxi straightened her posture, ignoring the burning in her calves. She wouldn't give him—or anyone else—the satisfaction of seeing her break.
She forced herself to walk as gracefully as possible, ignoring the soreness in her legs. The books teetered dangerously, but she made it to the other side without dropping them.
Madam Wei, however, remained unimpressed. "Again."
Yuxi clenched her fists, but before she could step forward, Gu Zeyan spoke.
"That's enough for today."
Madam Wei's eyes widened slightly, clearly displeased by the interruption, but she didn't protest.
Yuxi turned to him, searching for an explanation.
Gu Zeyan simply smirked. "You lasted longer than I expected."
Her frustration flared. "So you came just to watch me struggle?"
His eyes glinted. "I came to see how much fight you have left in you."
After the lesson, Yuxi was granted a short break in the sitting room, where she was served tea. The warmth of the drink did little to ease her exhaustion.
Before she could fully relax, Jiang Roulan's voice cut through the air.
"Well, well, you lasted the day?"
Yuxi turned to see her stepsister standing at the entrance, her lips curled into a smirk.
Jiang Roulan strolled inside, feigning innocence as she looked around. "I was just passing by and thought I'd check on you. I heard from Madam Gu that you're getting proper training now. It must be exhausting, considering where you came from."
Yuxi set down her teacup. "And yet, I don't recall inviting you here."
Jiang Roulan gasped dramatically. "Oh, how rude! I came to see my dear sister, and this is the greeting I get?"
She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "Do you think Gu Zeyan is going to tolerate this for long? You're just a placeholder, Yuxi. A contract wife. Don't start believing that you belong here."
Yuxi's hands clenched into fists beneath the table, but she refused to take the bait.
"Don't waste your breath, Roulan. You and I both know why you're here."
Jiang Roulan gave her a sickly sweet smile before walking away.
That night, after enduring hours of relentless training, Yuxi sat by her bedroom window, her body aching from the day's lessons.
Her phone buzzed.
Lin Cheng's name appeared on the screen.
She hesitated before answering.
"Yuxi," his voice came through softly. "Are you okay?"
She let out a quiet sigh. "Define 'okay.'"
A pause. Then, "What happened?"
Yuxi hesitated before speaking. "It's just… They're trying to mold me into something I'm not."
Lin Cheng's voice turned gentle. "You don't have to let them change you."
She scoffed. "That's easy to say when you're not the one stuck in this position."
Lin Cheng exhaled. "Yuxi, if things get too unbearable… you don't have to stay."
His words hung in the air.
Did she have a choice?
The next morning, Yuxi was summoned to Madam Gu's private sitting room.
She stepped inside, immediately feeling the tension in the air.
Madam Gu sat gracefully on the sofa, her gaze sharp. "Sit."
Yuxi did.
"You lasted the first day of training," Madam Gu observed. "Good. But I hope you don't misunderstand what this means."
Yuxi kept her expression neutral. "And what does it mean?"
Madam Gu's smile was cold. "That you are still replaceable."
Silence stretched between them.
"If you ever bring shame to the Gu family, this arrangement will end, and you will walk away with nothing," Madam Gu continued. "Your status here is temporary. You should not forget that."
Yuxi's grip on her dress tightened.
This wasn't a warning. It was a threat.
But instead of cowering, she lifted her chin and met Madam Gu's gaze head-on.
"If you expect me to break, Madam Gu, then you'll be waiting for a very long time."
A flicker of surprise passed through Madam Gu's eyes before she smiled—this time, with a hint of approval.
"Good. We'll see how long that confidence lasts."
Yuxi left the room more determined than ever.
They thought she would bend. They thought she would break.
They were wrong.