Chapter 1
Gu Yanqiu and Lin Yuewei’s wedding was to be held at the largest church in B City.
The union between the Lin and Gu families was the biggest event the business world had seen in recent memory.
It was a brilliant sunny day. Colorful balloons floated against a deep blue sky, and much of the political and business elite had turned out. On the manicured lawns, celebrities gathered in clusters, drifting gracefully through the crowd.
Even before the ceremony began, whispers had already started.
“Honestly, that Second Miss Gu is pitiful. Her mother hadn’t even been dead long before President Gu brought his mistress home as the main wife—and even came back with a cheap son in tow. Have you heard? That illegitimate son is two years older than her. President Gu had already sown his seed before he was even married. Tsk, what a playboy.”
“I heard Gu Yanqiu has been studying abroad this whole time. She only heard about it after graduating and coming home, and she didn’t shed a single tear. She kept vigil at Madam Gu’s memorial hall for three days and three nights, then happily started calling that man ‘brother.’”
“I used to carry Yanqiu in my arms when she was little. Now she’s all grown up and..."
“You think she really accepted that stepmother and that cheap brother? She’s here to fight the illegitimate son for the family fortune. Would a daughter of Old Fox Gu be easy to deal with?” Someone let out a mocking laugh, the dark red wine in their glass trembling at the bottom. “Just you wait. Gu Yanqiu has climbed onto the Lin family’s high branch now; the Gu family is probably about to turn upside down.”
In the back of the wedding venue.
The person at the center of the gossip, Gu Yanqiu, sat upright before the mirror with a report titled "XXX Feasibility Plan" spread across her knees. Her posture was so proper it was almost stiff. Her long black hair fell in cloudlike waves, loosely draped over the back of her slender swan neck.
The satin wedding gown was of excellent quality; under the lights, it reflected a soft pearly sheen. The meticulous tailoring hugged her graceful figure. The woman in the mirror looked about twenty-five, her features sharp and cool.
In Gu Yanqiu’s hand, hanging by her side, was a string of Buddhist prayer beads. Her thumb moved over them unhurriedly, one bead at a time. She seemed like a piece of agarwood burning in a Boshan censer; no matter how exquisite the makeup or how lavish the dress, she still appeared quiet and plain, utterly out of step with the festive atmosphere of celebration around her.
Her assistant knocked and came in, reminding her respectfully, “Miss Gu, it’s almost time.”
“Got it.” Gu Yanqiu closed the folder. Her assistant took it and put it into a briefcase.
The makeup artist gave her a final touch-up. Her features were already outstanding; with only a light application of makeup, she looked breathtaking. The makeup artist had already stared at her in a daze several times that day, but Gu Yanqiu never said anything, simply waiting patiently each time until the other woman recovered. She was impeccably well-bred.
It was the makeup artist who kept blushing and apologizing.
“It’s fine.” Her voice was low and calm, cool and smooth like moonlight over stones in water.
The makeup artist lifted the veil and studied her carefully. Her painstakingly drawn features were half-hidden beneath the white gauze, making her even more bewitching. The makeup artist had done makeup for so many people, including stars and big-name celebrities, yet in private she felt that beauties with Gu Yanqiu’s looks and temperament could be counted on one hand.
“The wedding is starting,” someone came to remind them again.
The movement of Gu Yanqiu’s fingers over the prayer beads paused. She slipped them onto her wrist and gave a brief smile. “I’m coming.”
***
The doors of the sanctuary stood wide open. The hall was packed with guests, and the two brides walked in together beneath a floral arch. Their layered white skirts were soft and flowing; the pure white wedding dress was sacred and immaculate. Wisteria swayed wherever they passed, and petals danced through the air. The ring bearer, doll-like and delicate, stood beside them holding a bright red tray.
The kindly priest faced the two radiant brides and asked his solemn question in a warm voice.
“Miss Lin Yuewei, whether in poverty, sickness, pain, wealth, health, joy, or happiness, are you willing to stand by Miss Gu Yanqiu’s side, never leaving her, and love and protect her for all your life?”
Lin Yuewei answered without hesitation. “I do.”
“Miss Gu Yanqiu, whether in poverty, sickness, pain, wealth, health, joy, or happiness, are you willing to stand by Miss Lin Yuewei’s side, never leaving her, and love and protect her for all your life?”
Gu Yanqiu also answered without the slightest delay. “I do.”
Gu Yanqiu knew someone below must be grinding their teeth. It was all thanks to the Miss Lin in front of her that she had agreed to marry.
Lin Yuewei noticed Gu Yanqiu looking at her and lifted her brows slightly beneath the veil.
Priest: “In the name of God, I now declare you officially wife and wife. You may exchange rings.”
Both rings were women’s rings; simple bands set with a circle of tiny diamonds, chosen by Lin Yuewei. Since she had agreed to the marriage, Gu Yanqiu had no objection to any of her suggestions.
With a hand in lace gloves, Gu Yanqiu took Lin Yuewei’s and selected a ring from the tray, slowly sliding it onto the base of her ring finger. The diamond caught the light in fragments; against her slender fingers, it looked exceptionally beautiful.
It was said that the ring finger on the left hand was connected to the heart. Even if this was only a contract, some inexplicable feeling still rose in Gu Yanqiu’s chest. She glanced at the beads on her wrist; they seemed to be gazing back at her in silent warmth.
She lowered her eyes slightly, hiding the faint stirrings in her expression and the hazy moisture in her gaze.
Lin Yuewei did the same and put the ring on her. When she leaned close, there was a faint, pleasant scent about her. Lin Yuewei came rather near, almost brushing her cheek. As they parted, she praised her softly, “Your hands are really nice.”
Gu Yanqiu replied politely, “So are yours.”
Lin Yuewei smiled a little.
That was some pretty solid business flattery.
Priest: “Now the brides may kiss.”
At the same time, both of them lifted their veils and froze.
No one here would believe it if it were said aloud: before their wedding, they had never met.
Gu Yanqiu had a pair of textbook phoenix eyes, their shape naturally flowing like water. The corners of her eyes were gentle and slightly downturned, while the outer ends stretched long and lifted faintly upward. Her pupils were dark and deep; when she looked at someone, it felt as though she could hook their soul. Her pale lips were pressed lightly together, giving her an inborn air of restraint and abstinence.
She was so beautiful it was impossible to look away.
But those people did not include Lin Yuewei.
The priest repeated, “Now the brides may kiss.”
Gu Yanqiu looked at Lin Yuewei, but Lin Yuewei was thinking about something else and didn’t look back.
Priest: “Ladies?”
Lin Yuewei looked up and ran straight into those beautiful, cold black eyes. “Ah?”
A warmth touched her lips; Gu Yanqiu had already leaned in and kissed her first.
...
After the wedding ended and they came down from the stage, once they were out of sight of others, Gu Yanqiu took the initiative to say to Lin Yuewei, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Lin Yuewei asked, not understanding.
“For kissing you without your consent just now.” Gu Yanqiu looked at her. Her eyes were bright and black as ink, utterly sincere.
“Oh, it’s fine. I zoned out myself.” Lin Yuewei shrugged, not caring. It was all just procedural anyway.
“...”
“...”
The two of them fell into an awkward silence.
Gu Yanqiu cleared her throat and suggested, “The banquet is about to start. Should we go change?”
Lin Yuewei finally escaped the near-suffocating awkwardness and smiled. “Sure.”
Gu Yanqiu moved a little faster and waited for her at the dressing room exit, her expression calm and composed. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she was considering some major life issue.
“Over here.” Lin Yuewei came out afterward. Following the sound, she looked toward Gu Yanqiu, and a flash of amazement swept quickly across her eyes.
The wedding dress was grand, the formal outfit elegant; both looked good on her, whether with light makeup or heavy. It was just that the prayer beads on her wrist were a bit of an eyesore. Didn’t she know what occasion this was?
Gu Yanqiu bent slightly and extended a hand. Lin Yuewei placed her hand in hers, and the two walked forward arm in arm, close enough to brush against each other, looking for all the world like an affectionate couple. Gu Yanqiu was four years older than Lin Yuewei and, in her own view, had married up into the Lin family; naturally she ought to take better care of her.
So she said, “I heard from Auntie that you’re not very good at socializing. Later, if people ask you questions, you don’t have to answer. I’ll handle it.”
“I’ll drink for you too. I can hold my liquor.”
“After the toasts, you can go play with your mother first. I’ll come find you.”
She glanced at Lin Yuewei’s bare shoulders and asked, “Aren’t you cold? Should I go back and get you a shawl?”
Her voice had a cool timbre; when she spoke, it was like a sword striking stone beneath water, clear and chilly.
It would have been fine if she hadn’t said it. The moment she did, Lin Yuewei’s shoulders instinctively drew in: “...”
Gu Yanqiu understood at once and said gently, “Wait here for me. I’ll go get it.”
Lin Yuewei: “...”
The slender figure of the woman receded farther and farther away. Lin Yuewei licked her upper lip. She seemed to think of something amusing, tapping the railing beside her with her long fingers as a playful smile curved at her mouth.
Gu Yanqiu returned very quickly. The wool shawl draped over her shoulders was indeed much warmer than before. Lin Yuewei lowered her chin lazily and thanked her with polite distance: “Sorry to trouble you, Miss Gu.”
“Miss Lin is too courteous.”
At the banquet, Gu Yanqiu brought Lin Yuewei around to each table to toast the guests. Everyone called her “dear niece” with enthusiasm, and from time to time someone would rest a hand on her bare shoulder. Lin Yuewei watched Gu Yanqiu from the corner of her eye and found that she remained completely unmoved the entire time.
Lin Yuewei didn’t drink a single drop of wine. What was in her glass was actually water, and not even Gu Yanqiu knew.
Quite a few people tried to toast her, after all; she was the treasured daughter of the Lin family. Gu Yanqiu kept her word and blocked every one of them for her. Otherwise, drinking at that pace—even if it was only water—Lin Yuewei would still have been in trouble.
At last they sat down at the table with both sets of parents and the in-laws. Gu Yanqiu called out, “Dad.”
Gu Huai answered with an “Mm” and gave both her and Lin Yuewei two large red envelopes, saying with stern but affectionate authority, “May your marriage be happy, harmonious, and beautiful.”
Her stepmother and that cheap brother each gave one too, along with a few lucky words.
Lin Yuewei’s mother was much more enthusiastic. She held Gu Yanqiu’s hand and chatted aimlessly, asking how things had been abroad and whether she was used to being back home. Gu Yanqiu answered each question one by one, obedient and sensible.
Forever proper, forever knowing where to draw the line, when to advance and when to retreat, forever exuding that detached, haughty air of distance. Lin Yuewei had watched long enough, yet her evaluation of her new wife was still not very good: she was like a robot built to a precise program, running step by step according to plan.
With her slender fingers, Lin Yuewei absentmindedly picked up a piece of pale milk-white pastry from the porcelain plate. Using the food as cover, she lifted a hand to her lips; no one saw the faint, amused smile at the corner of her mouth.
What would such a person look like when she lost her composure?
When the banquet ended, under the gaze of both families, the two of them got into the same car and drove off into the deepening night.
After about half an hour, the pure black Maybach stopped in front of a brand-new three-story villa. The driver turned back and said, “Miss, Madam, the bridal home has arrived.”
Author’s note: This is a sweet story; I specialize in little sugar-sweet fluff forever. Mutual teasing, two cool older sisters, two tops—who tops whom later, we’ll each use our own methods. I’ll be taking bets on it in the future, hahaha.