The party lights shimmered like scattered diamonds on the marble floor. Even after the announcement, Xinyi still felt as if her heart was not in her chest but somewhere near her throat.
Everyone had congratulated her politely, yet she still felt out of place—too ordinary, too simple, and too nervous to stand beside Lu Yichen, who looked like he was carved from elegance itself.
She tried to escape to a quiet corner, holding her small clutch tightly.
But someone found her anyway.
Lu Yichen.
He approached slowly, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable but eyes… eyes that lingered on her just a bit too long.
"Running away from your own celebration?" he asked lightly.
Xinyi looked away. "I wasn't running. I was… breathing."
"Mm." He stepped closer. "You always hide when you're nervous."
"I am not nervous—"
He raised a brow. "Your hands are shaking."
Xinyi instantly hid her hands behind her back.
Yichen's lips curved. Just a small, teasing, refined curve.
Not possessive.
Not aggressive.
Just… enough to make her heartbeat turn into a drum.
"You know," he said softly, leaning a little closer, "you handled everything better than I expected."
Xinyi blinked. "…Is that a compliment?"
"Take it however you want."
His voice brushed over her ear like warm silk.
She took a step back, flustered—and almost tripped on her dress.
Yichen's hand instantly caught her wrist before she could fall.
"Careful," he murmured, steadying her. "If you fall again, the media will think your husband bullied you."
"H-Husband…?" She whispered the word like it was dangerous to say out loud.
Yichen didn't release her wrist immediately.
His thumb brushed lightly over her skin—barely there, like a question he wasn't ready to fully ask.
"That's what they think you are," he said gently. "My… wife."
Xinyi looked away quickly. Her cheeks burned.
Yichen smirked very softly at her reaction.
Not teasing harshly.
Just observing, enjoying the way she reacted to him.
A waiter passed by offering drinks, but Yichen took the glass first and handed it to her.
"For you," he said simply.
Xinyi accepted it with both hands.
Her fingers accidentally touched his.
She froze.
Yichen didn't.
He leaned slightly forward, voice quiet so only she could hear—
"Relax. I'm not eating you."
Xinyi coughed on her drink, flustered.
Yichen laughed under his breath.
A soft, rare sound.
"Stop teasing me," she muttered under her breath.
"But you're too easy to tease," he replied calmly.
Their eyes met.
The room felt louder, yet somehow, she only heard his voice.
Before she could respond, Yichen stepped back and looked away first—giving her space, not trapping her, not pushing, not forcing.
Just… there.
Close enough to feel but not enough to overwhelm.
"Finish your drink," he said. "After that, I'll send you home."
Xinyi nodded silently.
But as he walked ahead, she caught the faint curve on his lips—
The CEO was clearly enjoying making his mistaken bride blush.
The Lu mansion was unusually quiet that night.
After the party, Xinyi changed into a soft cotton dress and stood outside Yichen's study door, her fingers nervously twisting the hem.
A faint warm light glowed from inside.
She could hear the soft sound of typing—steady, calm, powerful.
The sound that belonged only to him.
She took a deep breath and knocked.
"Come in."
His voice was cool, focused.
Xinyi opened the door slowly.
Yichen sat at his large black desk, dressed in a casual white shirt with sleeves rolled to his elbows. His hair was slightly messy—he clearly had been working for hours.
But when he lifted his head and saw her—
The typing stopped.
His eyes softened just a fraction. "What are you doing awake at this hour?"
Xinyi hesitated, clutching the edge of the door.
"I… wanted to talk to you. Something important."
Yichen leaned back slightly, studying her.
"About?"
She entered quietly and stood in front of his desk.
"My… groom."
The air froze.
Yichen's fingers paused mid-air as if he forgot how to move.
"…Your groom?" he repeated slowly.
"Yes." She nodded nervously. "The one I was supposed to marry. I want to find him. I want to know who he really was… and why that mix-up happened."
A long silence.
Yichen looked down briefly, his jaw tightening just a little—so subtle even Xinyi almost missed it.
When he finally spoke, his tone was calm… too calm.
"So you're… still thinking about him."
Not a question.
Not jealousy.
But something heavier. Something he quickly buried.
Xinyi didn't notice.
She sat on the chair opposite him.
"I thought… maybe you could help me investigate."
He closed his laptop gently.
"Xinyi," he said slowly, his eyes unreadable, "you want me to help you find another man?"
The way he said "another man" made her breath catch.
She nodded innocently. "Yes. Only you have that kind of power."
Yichen exhaled through his nose, almost a laugh—but not really.
More like disbelief.
"You're unbelievable," he murmured.
She blinked. "Did I say something wrong?"
He stood up, walked around the desk, and leaned against it—close enough she could feel the warmth radiating from him.
"No," he said quietly. "You didn't say anything wrong."
His fingers tapped the desk beside her, slow and rhythmic.
Just once, his gaze dropped to her lips…
Then shifted away instantly.
"But before I help you find this mysterious groom…" He bent slightly, lowering himself to her eye level.
"…tell me something, Xinyi."
Her heart skipped.
"…W-What?"
Yichen's eyes locked onto hers.
"If you find him… what then?"
His voice was soft. Deep. Almost a whisper.
"Will you… leave this house?"
Xinyi froze.
She hadn't thought that far.
"I—I don't know…" she whispered.
Yichen straightened slowly, pushing away from the desk.
"Think about it."
His tone returned to controlled neutrality.
"When you're sure you want to find him, tell me. I'll help you."
Xinyi stood up as well, confused by the shift in his mood.
She walked toward the door…
But just before stepping out, she turned.
"Yichen…"
He looked up.
"Thank you… for listening."
He didn't smile.
But his eyes softened—just a little.
"Go to sleep, Xinyi."
As she left, he leaned back in his chair, expression dark and thoughtful.
He whispered to the empty room—
"Real groom? You're already here… isn't that enough?"