When Gu Anran slowly opened her eyes, she was met with an unfamiliar ceiling.
For a brief moment, confusion clouded her mind.
She pushed herself up and looked around.
The room was spacious, elegant, and dominated by dark tones—black, grey, and muted silver. The design was cold yet luxurious, carrying a strong sense of control and authority.
It felt… familiar.
Her heart skipped a beat.
This looks just like his office…
Realization dawned on her almost instantly.
This was Lu Zhenyu's room.
The door opened just then.
Lu Zhenyu walked in.
But today—
He wasn't wearing his usual sharp suit.
Instead, he had on a simple white shirt paired with black trousers. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, and his sleeves were rolled up casually, revealing his firm forearms.
He looked… different.
More relaxed.
More approachable.
And dangerously attractive.
Gu Anran unconsciously gulped, her eyes lingering on him longer than she intended.
"Since you're awake," Lu Zhenyu said calmly, "wash up and come downstairs."
His voice snapped her out of her daze.
By the time she reacted—
He had already turned and left the room.
It took her about twenty minutes to get ready.
When she finally walked downstairs, she saw Lu Zhenyu seated at the dining table, a newspaper in his hand, his posture straight and composed.
The maids standing nearby immediately bowed respectfully as she approached.
"Madam."
The title made her steps falter for a second.
Before she could process it, Lu Zhenyu had already folded the newspaper and handed it to one of the maids.
"Serve the food."
"Yes, Young Master," the housekeeper, Aunt Qin, responded promptly.
Within moments, the table was filled with a variety of dishes.
They began eating in silence.
The atmosphere was calm… yet slightly tense.
Gu Anran picked at her food absentmindedly, her appetite nowhere to be found.
Too many thoughts weighed on her mind.
"I'm full. Thank you for the food," she said softly, placing her utensils down and standing up.
Lu Zhenyu frowned slightly.
"This is your new home," he said. "There's no need to be polite."
The words new home struck her deeply.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
Since her mother's death… she had long lost the meaning of that word.
Seeing her lost in thought again, Lu Zhenyu's expression darkened slightly.
"Sit down."
His tone left no room for refusal.
She hesitated for a second before sitting back down.
"You barely touched your food," he continued, his gaze sharp. "Are you trying to starve my child?"
His words snapped her back to reality.
Before she could respond, he picked up a spoon, scooped some food, and held it in front of her.
"Eat."
Gu Anran froze.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she looked at the spoon… then at him.
Slowly, she opened her mouth.
She thought he would stop after that.
But he didn't.
One spoonful turned into another.
And another.
He fed her patiently, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
By the time she realized it, she had eaten more than she usually would.
Her heart felt strangely full… in a way she couldn't explain.
When he finally stopped, he reached out and gently wiped the corner of her mouth.
"There's no need… I can do it myself," she said, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
But Lu Zhenyu acted as if he hadn't heard her.
After a moment, he spoke again.
"Since you like painting, there's a room on the second floor prepared for you. You can go there whenever you're bored."
Gu Anran's eyes widened slightly in shock.
Very few people knew about her passion for painting.
How did he know…?
"I have things to attend to," Lu Zhenyu continued, standing up. "I'll be back by nightfall."
He paused, then added in a firm tone—
"Eat dinner on time. Don't wait for me. And make sure you don't starve yourself… and my child."
Before leaving, he reached out and gently patted her head.
The simple gesture made her freeze.
Then—
He turned and walked away.
At the door, he cast a meaningful glance at Aunt Qin.
She nodded immediately, understanding his silent instruction.
The room fell quiet once again.
Gu Anran sat there, still processing everything that had just happened.
From the moment she woke up—
To being fed like a child—
To being told this was her home—
To him… knowing about her painting.
It all felt unreal.
She lowered her gaze, her hand unconsciously resting on her stomach.
Lu Zhenyu had stepped into the role of a husband…
And a father…
So naturally.
So effortlessly.
And yet—
Her heart felt more complicated than ever.
After Lu Zhenyu left, Aunt Qin approached Gu Anran with a gentle smile.
"Young Madam, if there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to inform me. I will make sure it's taken care of."
Gu Anran returned the smile, her expression softening.
"I'll keep that in mind. How should I address you?"
Aunt Qin's eyes warmed slightly. "Young Master calls me Aunt Qin, but you may address me however you like."
"Then I'll call you Aunt Qin," Gu Anran said with a small, sincere smile.
Deep down, she understood—
This was her new home now.
And if she wanted things to feel even remotely comfortable, she needed to build a good relationship with the people here… to create something that resembled a family.
"Please take me to the painting room," she added.
"Of course, Young Madam."
Aunt Qin immediately stepped forward to guide her upstairs. Her movements were careful and attentive, as though she was guarding something precious.
Every step Gu Anran took, Aunt Qin watched closely.
There was no room for carelessness.
Lu Zhenyu had already informed her about the pregnancy.
Gu Anran quickly noticed the extra caution.
It didn't take her long to understand.
He told her…
A strange feeling settled in her chest—complicated, unfamiliar.
The Painting Room
When the door opened, Gu Anran stopped in her tracks.
Her eyes widened slightly.
The room was… perfect.
Spacious and well-lit, with large windows allowing natural light to pour in. Canvases of different sizes were neatly arranged, and shelves were filled with high-quality paints, brushes, and tools.
Everything—
From the layout to the smallest detail—
Was that of a professional studio.
She walked in slowly, almost afraid that she was imagining it.
Just one glance was enough for her to recognize the quality of the materials.
These weren't ordinary supplies.
They were top-tier.
Her fingertips brushed lightly over a set of brushes, her eyes gradually lighting up.
For the first time since everything happened—
There was genuine excitement in her expression.
Aunt Qin stood quietly at the side, observing.
When she saw the sparkle in Gu Anran's eyes, she couldn't help but smile inwardly.
It seems Young Master's efforts were not in vain.
That Night
Lu Zhenyu did not return early.
As night fell, the villa grew quiet.
Gu Anran had her dinner alone before heading back to the bedroom.
The bed felt unfamiliar… but she was too tired to think much.
Soon, she drifted off to sleep.
She didn't know how long she had been asleep—
But sometime in the middle of the night, she stirred.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she slowly opened her eyes.
For a moment, she was disoriented.
Then she realized—
She wasn't alone.
Her body was pressed against a firm chest, warmth surrounding her from behind.
A strong arm was wrapped securely around her waist.
Lu Zhenyu.
Her breath hitched softly.
She tried to move, wanting to put some distance between them—
But his grip tightened instinctively, as if even in his sleep, he wasn't willing to let her go.
She froze.
There was no escaping.
After a brief struggle, she gave up.
Carefully, she relaxed back into his hold.
Her heart beat faster than usual, but she didn't push him away again.
Slowly, her eyes closed.
And once again—
She drifted back to sleep.
What she didn't see—
Was that the moment she stopped resisting—
A faint smile appeared on Lu Zhenyu's lips in the darkness.