Zhao Mei woke to a silence so gentle it felt unreal.
No shouting.
No cold slap of morning wind.
No thin mattress digging into her spine.
Just warmth.
She blinked slowly, the East Wing room glowing with soft winter sunlight. Her fingers clutched the blanket, half expecting it to disappear if she touched it too long.
I'm still here...
memory flickered:
The courtyard.
The crowd.
His voice slicing through chaos...
"From now on, she is my woman."
Her face flushed so hard she pressed both palms against her cheeks.
A knock.
Soft.
Polite.
"Good morning, Miss Zhao," Qiao Qiao called gently. "I brought fresh clothing for you. If you need anything... you may ring the service bell."
She stepped inside and bowed slightly, placing a neatly folded set of clothes on a chair.
Zhao Mei stood awkwardly, still clutching the blanket around herself.
"Qiao Qiao..." she whispered, embarrassed, "...could you... show me how to use the bathroom?"
Qiao Qiao's eyes widened briefly,
then softened into a warm, reassuring smile.
"Of course, Miss Zhao. Please don't feel shy."
The bathroom felt like stepping into a dream.
Golden fixtures.
Glass walls.
A tub deep enough to drown in luxury.
Warm light reflecting off marble.
Zhao Mei swallowed hard.
"I don't... know how to use anything here," she admitted, voice tiny.
Qiao Qiao didn't laugh.
Didn't judge.
She simply showed her gently
"This controls hot water. Here is the pressure.
This fills the bathtub.
And these are shampoo and body wash."
Zhao Mei nodded, cheeks burning.
"I'm sorry... I used to bathe behind our house... with cold water... every morning..."
Qiao Qiao bowed again.
"There is no need to apologize, Miss Zhao. You will get used to this. Take your time."
She placed a silver bell on the counter.
"If you need me, ring this."
Then she left quietly.
Zhao Mei turned the gold knob.
Mixed hot water rushed into the tub, steam curling around her face.
She stepped in slowly
And her entire body melted.
A soft gasp escaped her lips.
Her muscles loosened.
Her bones warmed.
Her back sank into comfort she had never felt in her life.
So this is... what a real bath feels like...
She washed her hair slowly, fingers trembling as expensive soap slid down her skin.
Her heartbeat settled.
Her breathing softened.
For the first time since everything fell apart
She felt safe.
Alive.
Human.
Outside the door, Zhang Wei stood with his arms crossed, eyes narrowed slightly.
She hadn't rung the bell.
She hadn't stepped out of the East Wing.
Something tightened in his chest.
He knocked once.
No response.
Again.
Still nothing.
A flicker of concern sharpened his face.
He opened the door.
Empty room.
But the sound of running water drifted faintly from the bathroom.
She's bathing.
He turned toward the door to leave
Just as Zhao Mei stepped out.
Naked.
Wet.
Steam brushing her skin like a veil.
She froze.
He froze.
Time stopped.
Then...
She SCREAMED.
A tiny, startled, dramatic sound,
cut off instantly when she slapped a hand over her own mouth.
Zhang Wei spun around so abruptly his shoulder nearly hit the dresser.
"I...apologize," he said, voice strained and low.
"I knocked. You didn't answer. I shouldn't have entered."
Zhao Mei snatched a towel, nearly tripping, her entire face red.
"I...I'm sorry, sir...I forgot...I didn't think...I was too relaxed..."
Her voice quivered.
She wrapped the towel tightly around herself, mortified.
He kept his back turned, trying and failing to erase the image of her fragile, pale, form from his mind.
"It's my fault," he said quietly.
"I'll leave."
He stepped toward the door
"Wait!"
Her voice was soft, shaky.
"...Did you come to check on me?"
He froze.
A long pause.
"Yes."
Her breath caught.
She clutched the towel a little tighter.
Zhang Wei composed himself, finally turning his head slightly only enough to look at her reflection in the glass, not at her directly.
"I also came to remind you about the contract, change into something formal.
We will finalize the marriage contract today.
Qiao Qiao will prepare your clothes."
"Oh"
She murmured
He left without another word, shutting the door gently behind him.
Zhao Mei pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.
Why does he make the air feel different?
Qiao Qiao returned minutes later, bowing.
"Miss Zhao, may I help you dress?"
She held a cream knit dress, warm stockings, and soft indoor shoes.
Zhao Mei let her dress her carefully.
Her hands still trembled.
When she looked in the mirror
She barely recognized herself.
Soft.
Gentle.
Alive.
Not a girl from a slum courtyard.
A woman standing at the edge of a new world.
As she walked down the East Wing corridor, staff whispered discreetly:
"She looks different today..."
"Is she the one marrying Young Master?"
"She seems so... soft."
"She doesn't look like someone who belongs here."
"But Young Master supports her..."
"That makes her dangerous."
Butler Li silenced them with a stern look.
Qiao Qiao followed closely behind her like a guardian.
Zhang Wei stood waiting at the base of the stairs.
Black sweater.
Hands in pockets.
Expression unreadable.
When she stepped down...
Their eyes met.
Heat sparked between them
unexpected, sharp, breath-stealing.
Zhao Mei looked away instantly.
"Follow me," he said softly.
Her heart flipped.
He led her into a private office
Warm wood.
Tall windows.
A long table with papers neatly arranged.
Lawyer Chen stood waiting, bowing respectfully.
"Good morning, Miss Zhao," he said kindly.
"These are the marriage contract terms. Please review them once more before signing."
He laid out the documents:
One-year duration
Full protection under Zhang family status
No physical expectations
Annulment option
Confidentiality clause
Financial and legal support
Zhao Mei swallowed.
Her hands trembled.
Zhang Wei watched her quietly.
"Before you sign," he said, voice low,
"I need to ask you something."
She looked up nervously.
"Why were you at the hotel that night?"
Her breath caught.
She looked down, twisting her fingers.
"I... I don't want to talk about it."
His tone softened.
"You don't have to.
But truth will help me protect you."
Her throat tightened.
Slowly... painfully... she opened up.
"Chen Rong..."
Her voice cracked.
"My ex-boyfriend... he invited me out. I wanted to leave the house for a little while. I felt trapped."
Her eyes shimmered.
"He offered me a drink. After that... everything became blurry.
He said we should get fresh air... then he handed me to a bellboy... and I...I don't remember anything else..."
Tears slipped down her cheek.
"I didn't go there willingly.
I didn't go there for anything shameful.
I didn't..."
"I know," Zhang Wei said quietly.
Her breath shook.
"You' just solved one of my biggest puzzles."
She blinked through tears, confused.
Lawyer Chen cleared his throat gently.
"Miss Zhao... when you're ready."
She nodded.
Hands trembling
She signed her name.
Zhang Wei signed next.
The seal pressed down with a firm, echoing click.
A contract binding two strangers...
...into a fate neither expected.