After the contract was finalized. Lin Yue had to take the couple's pictures alone. Even though she was shot with a questioning and mocking gaze, she smiled brightly as if she were the happiest bride in the world.
After the picture was taken and her marriage certificate was stamped, the driver who had driven her to the building where she signed the contract brought her back to a penthouse.
The car stopped in front of the white penthouse, and Lin Yue pushed the door open herself before the driver could come around, stepping out into the vast walkway lined by street lights on both sides.
At the entrance, a woman in a black skirt and shirt stood waiting as if she had been there for some time with a polite and welcoming smile.
"Madam Gu," She greeted.
Lin Yue gave a nod in greeting too.
She had never been greeted by an elderly woman before and she wondered if she would live long enough knowing it should be the other way around. 'But rich people live long… or the rules don't apply to them?' She thought as she walked past her into the house.
The floor inside was so polished that it caught the light reflecting from the golden chandelier hanging in the ceiling.
She walked further in, and a staff member carrying a tray passed by, pausing just enough to acknowledge her presence before continuing on without saying anything, while further down the hallway two others greeted her briefly and then lowered their heads, their attention returning to their work as if she were something expected but not important enough to interrupt anything for, and Lin Yue noticed it.
She wondered if this was the new way of living for her.
"Your room is ready," the woman said, turning to lead the way, and Lin Yue followed her down the hallway without asking any questions, her steps echoing through the hallway. Her gaze moved briefly over the surroundings without lingering, until they reached a door at the end of the corridor and the woman opened it for her before stepping aside.
Lin Yue stepped inside and immediately noticed that everything had already been arranged, with clothes hanging neatly in the closet, shoes lined up below, and a suitcase placed beside the bed as though someone had already decided what she would need before she even arrived, and she walked over to the closet and touched one of the sleeves, feeling the new fabric under her fingers before letting it fall back into place.
'Expensive.' She thought inwardly.
"I see you have prepared everything, thank you very much," she said.
"You shouldn't thank us Madam Gu, you should thank your husband Mr. Gu. He made everything possible… and he also ordered us to ask you if everything is to your taste and if there is anything you want to change." the woman replied.
"Please inform him that everything is to my taste, and that I really appreciate the effort." Lin Yue said with a polite smile.
"Yes, madam. Dinner will be ready in one hour. President Gu will be waiting."
Lin Yue turned slightly. "Really?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
The woman bowed politely before leaving, closing the door behind her, and Lin Yue stood there for a moment before walking to the mirror, looking at her reflection.
Her long dark hair cascaded down her back gracefully, her light brown eyes carried both anticipation and anxiety. The light reflecting on her skin was like sunlight falling on pearls.
She let out a sigh before walking into the bathroom, she turned on the water without too much thought, perhaps she was afraid of acknowledging the fact that she was truly married… not for love but for money.
The water ran hot as she stepped under it, letting it fall over her shoulders and down her back, her eyes closing for a brief moment as she tried to focus on something simple, something that would make her relax, but her thoughts kept circling back anyway to her mother in that hospital bed, the doctor's voice, the bills, and then the contract, the signature she had written so cleanly it hadn't even trembled.
'It was the right thing to do… no need to beat yourself up.' She thought inwardly.
The thought made her press her lips together.
She stayed there longer than she needed, her hand flat against the wall, the heat building around her until it became almost uncomfortable, and only then did she turn the water off, reaching for a towel and drying herself quickly, as if moving faster would stop her from thinking too much.
Back in the room, she paused in front of the mirror.
Her face was slightly flushed from the heat, her hair damp, falling loosely over her shoulders, and for a moment she just looked at herself.
She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
She looked away before stepping closer to the closet. She ran her fingers over the clothes, the fabric smooth, expensive, nothing she would have chosen for herself, and she picked a dress without thinking too much, something simple enough not to stand out, but fitted enough that it didn't look careless, because the last thing she wanted was to give anyone a reason to correct her.
As she changed, she adjusted the sleeves once, then again, smoothing the fabric down her sides, her movements slower than usual, and when she finished, she stood there for a second, her hands hovering briefly at her waist before dropping to her side.
Then she stepped out of her room when she noticed it was already an hour time. She met the woman from earlier and she immediately led her to the dining room.
"You are late." A cold voice tore through the air sharply, like a blade.
Lin Yue who was just entering the dining room stopped in her spot, her eyes narrowing slightly at the condescending tone.
When she lifted her gaze to the dining area.
A man sat at the table, his sharp chiseled jaw clenched subtly, his dark brows relaxed as if untouched by the fury in his eyes. His dark brown eyes were menacing in a way that made her knees weak.
His white ceaseless sleeve fitted his well-chiseled frame perfectly. His lashes were long and full which would make any woman jealous, and underneath his left eye was a tiny black dot.
"Can't speak? Cat got your tongue?" His voice came again, hoarse and more annoyed.