The conference room hummed with quiet tension as Su Wanwan and Lu Shiyan stepped inside, their hands still loosely clasped. Heads turned, eyes widening at the subtle intimacy of their gesture—something no one at Lu Group had ever witnessed from their notoriously aloof CEO. The board members exchanged knowing glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and skepticism, while Lin Zhou stood near the door, his lips twitching into a barely perceptible smile.
Lu Shiyan released Su Wanwan's hand only when they reached the head of the table, pulling out her chair with a gentleness that made her heart flutter. "Thank you," she whispered, sliding into the seat beside him, her fingers brushing the cool leather of the armrest as she tried to steady her racing pulse. The kiss in her office still lingered on her lips, warm and electric, a tangible reminder of the fragile truth they'd dared to acknowledge.
"Let's begin," Lu Shiyan said, his voice regaining its usual authoritative edge as he flipped open the folder in front of him. "First order of business: the Starlight Media joint venture. Lin Zhou will walk you through the revised projections."
As Lin Zhou launched into his presentation, Su Wanwan tried to focus on the graphs and figures flashing on the screen, but her mind kept drifting back to Lu Shiyan's confession. I want to be your husband—for real. The words played on a loop, both thrilling and terrifying. They'd crossed a line, shattered the carefully constructed boundaries of their contract, and now there was no going back. But what if Jiang Yiyi was right? What if this was just a moment of weakness, a fleeting infatuation that would fade once the chaos died down?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp cough from the end of the table. Mr. Zhang, the oldest and most influential board member, leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as they fixed on Su Wanwan. "Before we proceed, I have a question," he said, his voice gravelly with age. "Mr. Lu, your marriage to Ms. Su has been the subject of much discussion lately—especially after Ms. Jiang Yiyi's arrival. Many of us are concerned about how this… arrangement will impact the company's reputation."
Su Wanwan felt her cheeks grow warm under the weight of the board's stares. She'd known this would happen—her presence here, a nobody with no family connections or business experience, was an anomaly. She started to speak, to defend herself, but Lu Shiyan's hand covered hers under the table, his thumb brushing her knuckles in a silent reassurance.
"My marriage to Su Wanwan is not an 'arrangement,'" Lu Shiyan said, his tone cold and unyielding. "She is my wife, and her presence has no bearing on the company's operations. If anything, her perspective as a design student has already contributed valuable insights to the entertainment complex project—insights that have improved our initial plans." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the table. "Unless any of you have a legitimate business concern to raise, I suggest we return to the matter at hand."
The room fell silent. Mr. Zhang's lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded, gesturing for Lin Zhou to continue. Su Wanwan squeezed Lu Shiyan's hand, grateful for his defense. It wasn't just for show this time—she could feel the sincerity in his words, the quiet pride with which he'd spoken of her contributions.
When the meeting adjourned an hour later, the board members filed out one by one, most offering perfunctory nods to Lu Shiyan and ignoring Su Wanwan entirely. Mr. Zhang lingered, stopping beside their table to fix Lu Shiyan with a stern look. "Be careful, Shiyan," he said, his voice low enough that only they could hear. "Emotions have no place in business. Don't let this marriage cloud your judgment—especially with Jiang Yiyi's father circling the joint venture. We can't afford to alienate a potential partner."
Lu Shiyan's jaw tightened. "I appreciate your concern, Mr. Zhang, but I assure you, my judgment is sound. And as for the Jiangs—if their partnership depends on me choosing their daughter over my wife, then it's a partnership we don't need."
Mr. Zhang sighed, shaking his head. "You're young. You'll learn." With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps heavy with disapproval.
Su Wanwan watched him go, a knot forming in her stomach. "Do you think he's right?" she asked quietly. "Are we making a mistake?"
Lu Shiyan turned to her, his eyes softening. "No," he said firmly. "The only mistake would be pretending we don't feel what we feel. But…" He trailed off, his gaze darkening. "We need to be careful. The board is already on edge, and Jiang Yiyi won't stop until she gets what she wants. If she can't win me back, she'll try to destroy what we have—even if it means hurting the company."
Before Su Wanwan could respond, Lin Zhou hurried over, his expression urgent. "Mr. Lu, Ms. Su—there's a problem. The press has gathered outside the building. They're asking about Ms. Jiang, the engagement rumors, and… your marriage."
Su Wanwan's heart sank. She'd feared this—Jiang Yiyi's return had stirred up old gossip, and now the media was circling like sharks. "How did they find out?" she asked.
"Ms. Jiang gave an interview to a tabloid this morning," Lin Zhou said, his voice grim. "She talked about her 'three-year engagement' to Mr. Lu, implied that your marriage is a sham, and hinted that Mr. Lu is only with you to make her jealous. The reporters are demanding a statement."
Lu Shiyan cursed under his breath. "She's playing dirty. Trying to pressure me into choosing her by making a spectacle." He stood up, grabbing his suit jacket. "We can't avoid them. The longer we wait, the worse it will get." He turned to Su Wanwan, his hand reaching for hers. "Are you ready?"
She hesitated. The thought of facing a horde of reporters, of having their private lives dissected in public, terrified her. But she looked at Lu Shiyan's determined face, at the trust in his eyes, and nodded. "I'm ready," she said. "As long as we're together."
Hand in hand, they walked toward the lobby, the sound of camera shutters growing louder as they approached the main doors. When they stepped outside, a sea of microphones was thrust in their faces, voices overlapping in a chaotic din.
"Mr. Lu! Is your marriage to Su Wanwan a contract?"
"Ms. Jiang says you're still in love with her—true or false?"
"Did you marry Su Wanwan to avoid getting back together with Ms. Jiang?"
Su Wanwan felt her grip on Lu Shiyan's hand tighten, her knees weakening under the onslaught. But Lu Shiyan stood tall, his arm slipping around her waist to pull her close, a protective gesture that silenced the crowd for a moment.
"Let me be clear," he said, his voice booming over the noise. "Su Wanwan is my wife, in every sense of the word. Our marriage is not a contract, not a game, and not a way to make anyone jealous. I chose her because she is the person I want to spend my life with—someone who sees me, not just the CEO of Lu Group." He paused, his gaze locking with Su Wanwan's, his voice softening. "She is kind, intelligent, and brave. She has faced more hardship than most people will in a lifetime, and she does it with grace. I am the luckiest man alive to have her."
Tears pricked at Su Wanwan's eyes as she listened to him, her heart swelling with love. He was laying it all on the line—his reputation, his standing with the board—for her.
As for Jiang Yiyi," Lu Shiyan continued, his voice hardening again. "Our engagement ended three years ago because we were not right for each other. Her claims are nothing but a desperate attempt to cling to a past that no longer exists. I have no interest in rekindling our relationship, and I ask that the press respect my wife and me by leaving our private lives alone."
With that, he turned and led Su Wanwan through the crowd, his body shielding her from the cameras as they walked to the waiting car. Lin Zhou followed close behind, fending off any remaining questions. When they finally slid into the backseat, Su Wanwan let out a shaky breath, leaning against Lu Shiyan's shoulder.
"That was terrifying," she whispered.
"I know," he said, wrapping his arm around her. "But you were amazing. You didn't back down."
She looked up at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Neither did you. Calling me the love of your life in front of all those reporters… that was bold."
He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "It was the truth. I meant every word." He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "But we need to be prepared. Jiang Yiyi won't take this lying down. She'll try something else—something worse."
Su Wanwan's smile faded. "What else can she do?"
Before Lu Shiyan could answer, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening as he answered. "What is it?" He listened for a moment, his jaw tightening. "I see. Handle it—don't let it get out. I'll be there in ten minutes."
He hung up, his knuckles white as he gripped the phone. "That was the head of security at the hospital," he said, his voice tight. "Someone leaked your mother's medical records to the press. They're asking about her condition, about the money I've been paying for her treatment. Jiang Yiyi is behind this—she's trying to paint you as a gold digger, someone who married me for my money to pay her mother's bills."
Su Wanwan felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Her mother's illness was her most vulnerable secret, something she'd fought so hard to protect. To have it exploited like this, to have her motives questioned… it was unbearable. "No," she whispered, her voice breaking. "How could she do that? My mother is sick—this is beyond cruel."
Lu Shiyan pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as she fought back tears. "I'm so sorry," he said, his voice gentle. "I should have anticipated this. I should have protected you better."
"It's not your fault," she said, burying her face in his chest. "It's mine. I never should have agreed to this contract. I never should have let myself get involved with you—now look what's happening."
"Don't say that," he said, pulling back to look at her. "None of this is your fault. Jiang Yiyi is the one who's being cruel, not you. And as for the contract—yes, that's how we started, but it's not who we are now. I love you, Su Wanwan. Not because of your mother's medical bills, not because of a contract, but because of you. And I'm not going to let anyone—Jiang Yiyi, the board, the press—destroy what we have."
His words were a lifeline, pulling her back from the edge of despair. She nodded, wiping her tears. "What do we do now?"
"We fight back," he said firmly. "I'll have Lin Zhou issue a statement confirming that I'm covering your mother's medical bills—not because of a contract, but because I care about her, because she's family. And as for Jiang Yiyi—we need to find a way to stop her before she hurts anyone else."
He called Lin Zhou, instructing him to handle the press statement and launch an investigation into how the medical records were leaked. When he hung up, he turned to Su Wanwan, his gaze soft. "I need to go to the hospital—to make sure your mother is okay, to talk to the staff about tightening security. Will you come with me?"
She nodded. "I need to see her anyway. The nurse said her fever has gone down, but I want to be there."
The drive to the hospital was quiet, the tension in the car thick with unspoken fears. Su Wanwan stared out the window, watching the city pass by in a blur, her mind racing. She thought about her mother, lying in a hospital bed, unaware of the media circus surrounding her. She thought about Jiang Yiyi, and the lengths she was willing to go to win Lu Shiyan back. And she thought about Lu Shiyan, about the way he'd stood up for her, about the love in his eyes when he'd kissed her.
When they arrived at the hospital, they were met by the chief of staff, who looked flustered and apologetic. "Mr. Lu, Ms. Su—I'm so sorry about what's happened," he said. "We've launched an internal investigation to find out who leaked the records. We take patient confidentiality very seriously, and this is a breach of our most sacred trust."
"Just make sure it doesn't happen again," Lu Shiyan said, his voice cold. "And do whatever it takes to keep the press away from Ms. Su's mother. She doesn't need this stress."
"Of course, sir. We've already increased security on her floor. No one without authorization will be allowed to see her."
They followed the chief of staff to Su Wanwan's mother's room, where the nurse was checking her vitals. "Ms. Su," the nurse said with a smile. "Your mother's fever has broken, and her breathing is much better. The tests showed no serious complications—she just needs rest."
Su Wanwan let out a sigh of relief, walking to the bed and taking her mother's hand. "Mom," she whispered. "I'm here."
Her mother's eyes fluttered open, a weak smile spreading across her face. "Wanwan… you're here. And this must be… Mr. Lu." She looked up at Lu Shiyan, her eyes warm with approval. "Thank you. For everything you've done for me. For my daughter."
Lu Shiyan nodded, his expression softening. "It's my pleasure, Mrs. Su. I care about Wanwan—and that means I care about you."
Su Wanwan's mother squeezed her hand, her gaze moving between them. "I can see that," she said gently. "You two… you look happy. That's all I've ever wanted for you, Wanwan. Happiness."
Tears filled Su Wanwan's eyes again. Her mother had always been her rock, her biggest supporter, even when she didn't understand her choices. To have her approval, to see her happy for her, meant more than anything.
They stayed for an hour, talking to the doctor, checking on her mother, and reassuring her that everything would be okay. When they finally left, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange.
As they walked back to the car, Lu Shiyan took Su Wanwan's hand, lacing his fingers through hers. "Your mother is a wonderful woman," he said.
"She is," Su Wanwan agreed, smiling. "She's been through so much, but she never loses her kindness."
They reached the car, and Lu Shiyan opened the door for her. As she slid inside, he leaned down, his face inches from hers. "I meant what I said earlier," he whispered. "I love you. And I'm not going anywhere."
She looked up at him, her heart full. "I love you too," she said.
He kissed her then, a slow, tender kiss that made her forget about the press, about Jiang Yiyi, about the board. For a moment, it was just the two of them, bound by a love that had grown from a lie, strengthened by adversity, and now felt unbreakable.
When they pulled apart, Lu Shiyan smiled. "Let's go home."
That night, as they lay in bed together—for the first time, not as contract partners, but as lovers—Su Wanwan felt a sense of peace she'd never known. The world outside was chaotic, filled with threats and challenges, but in Lu Shiyan's arms, she felt safe. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy—Jiang Yiyi would continue to fight, the board would continue to question their relationship, and the past would always linger. But for the first time in her life, she wasn't facing it alone.
Lu Shiyan wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. "What are you thinking about?" he asked, his voice sleepy.
"Us," she said, snuggling into his chest. "About how far we've come. About what the future holds."
He kissed the top of her head. "Whatever the future holds, we'll face it together. I promise."
She closed her eyes, listening to the steady beat of his heart. "I believe you."
Just as she drifted off to sleep, Lu Shiyan's phone buzzed on the nightstand. He picked it up, his eyes narrowing as he read the message. It was from Lin Zhou: Jiang Yiyi's father has withdrawn his company's bid for the joint venture. He's threatening to sue Lu Group for "breach of implied contract" and is spreading rumors that we're mismanaging funds. The board is calling an emergency meeting tomorrow morning.
Lu Shiyan set the phone down, his jaw tightening. Jiang Yiyi had upped the ante, dragging her father into the fight, putting the entire company at risk. But as he looked down at Su Wanwan, her face peaceful in her sleep, he knew he wouldn't back down. He'd fight for her, for their love, for the company he'd worked so hard to build.
He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I won't let her hurt you," he whispered. "Not now, not ever."
Outside, the moon rose high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the mansion. Somewhere in the city, Jiang Yiyi plotted her next move, her heart filled with anger and jealousy. But inside, in the quiet of their bedroom, Su Wanwan and Lu Shiyan slept, their arms wrapped around each other,