Shen Yichen arrived before the scheduled time.
Not out of anxiety, but out of habit. Punctuality was a silent form of control—arriving early, observing the surroundings, choosing the best position. He sat facing the restaurant entrance, his back against the upholstered chair, his posture relaxed just enough not to appear rigid.
The place was discreet. Refined without being ostentatious. A place chosen by adults who knew exactly what they were doing.
An arranged marriage didn't need romance. It needed functional compatibility.
He was thinking about this when the door opened.
It wasn't immediate. There was no theatrical impact, nor that exaggerated moment when the world seems to stop. Still, something shifted in the air. An almost imperceptible adjustment, like when a room suddenly becomes silent without anyone asking for it.
Lin Yue entered.
The first thing Shen Yichen noticed wasn't her beauty—though she was undeniably beautiful. It was her presence. There was a naturalness in the way she walked, as if the space already belonged to her before she even crossed the threshold. There was no hesitation, no hurry. No attempt to draw attention.
She didn't need to.
The dress was elegant, yet simple. Nothing flashy, nothing that seemed like a desperate choice for approval. Her hair was carefully styled, her features delicate, her expression serene. When her eyes scanned the room, it was with restrained attention—not curiosity, not nervousness.
She recognized him almost immediately.
And she smiled.
It wasn't a broad smile. Nor a shy one. Just polite, precise, as if he knew exactly how much to show. That made Shen Yichen straighten his posture slightly without realizing it.
When Lin Yue approached the table, he stood up reflexively. A learned, automatic gesture.
"Mr. Shen," she said, nodding slightly. "I apologize for the delay."
The voice was calm. Firm. There was no trace of insecurity.
"I arrived early," he replied. "There were no delays whatsoever."
Lin Yue sat down across from her with a fluid movement, without nervously adjusting her chair, without fidgeting with her cutlery to occupy her hands. She was comfortable there. This was… unusual.
As she settled in, Shen Yichen watched her more closely.
She bore no resemblance to the women he had known in the past—and, curiously, she didn't seem to be trying to be different on purpose either. There was none of the defensive rigidity he had learned to associate with forced independence. Nor the silent effort to prove her worth.
She simply was.
"I'm grateful you accepted this meeting," Lin Yue said, crossing her hands on the table. "I know situations like this can be... uncomfortable."
Shen Yichen nodded in agreement.
"They are practical," he replied. "And necessary."
She wasn't offended. On the contrary, she seemed to appreciate the honesty.
The waiter approached, and both placed their orders with ease. Lin Yue didn't hesitate, didn't ask for suggestions, didn't feign indecision. That caught Shen Yichen's attention more than it should have.
When they were alone again, the silence wasn't awkward.
"Our families believe this union is beneficial," Lin Yue began. "I imagine you think the same."
Straightforward. No beating around the bush.
"Yes," he replied. "I see no reason to disagree."
She nodded slowly, as if that answer confirmed something she already expected.
"I also believe that a marriage can be... functional," she said. "I don't expect immediate romance. Nor empty promises."
Those words surprised him more than he cared to admit.
"So what are you waiting for?" he asked.
Lin Yue stared at him with genuine attention.
"Respect. Clarity. A space where we both know what we can offer," he replied. "And where we're not forced to feign feelings that don't exist."
Something loosened in Shen Yichen's chest. An unexpected relief.
"I agree," he said. "I have no interest in illusions."
She smiled again, this time a little more gently.
So we're on the same page.
When the dishes arrived, the conversation drifted to neutral topics: work, travel, social events. Nothing too personal. Nothing intrusive. Still, Shen Yichen realized he was speaking more naturally than he had expected.
Lin Yue listened with genuine attention. She didn't interrupt him. She didn't compete. She didn't try to impress.
And, strangely, that impressed him.
At the end of the dinner, when the inevitable topic returned to the purpose of the meeting, there was no tension.
"I believe our families will be satisfied," said Shen Yichen. "As far as I'm concerned, I see no problem."
Lin Yue held his gaze for a second longer than necessary.
— From mine as well — she replied. — I'm willing to continue.
When they stood up, Shen Yichen realized something that he would only understand much later:
For the first time in years, I didn't feel like I was taking on an obligation.
I felt I was making a rational—and dangerously comfortable—choice.
He didn't know yet.
But that first impression would be hard to erase.
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