The abandoned daughter of the Lu family turns around and marries a celibate tycoon.

Gu Yanxu's gaze swept over Jin Qiqi's clearly wary face, then swept over her slender arm blocking the door. He chuckled, and instead of backing away, he moved closer, lowering his voice: "How 'important' is it? More important than the wedding?"

"Changing clothes, touching up makeup, private conversations between husband and wife." Jin Qiqi remained expressionless, counting on her fingers, her eyes wide open. "Which one are you saying isn't important? If Second Young Master Gu really has something extremely urgent, I can pass you a note?"

As she spoke, she actually pretended to reach for a notepad that didn't exist at all. Her movements were charming and innocent, but her eyes clearly said, "Get away from me."

Gu Yanxu was amused by her feigned ignorance, a low chuckle resonating from his chest. He suddenly raised his hand, not to push open the door, but to swiftly and lightly brush a stray curl from her temple with his fingertips—a movement so fast it seemed like an illusion. "Miss Jin," he said, his voice even lower, almost breathy, his gaze fixed on her momentarily stunned eyes, "the last collaboration was quite pleasant. This time… blocking my way, shouldn't you offer some compensation?"

Jin Qiqi's heart skipped a beat at his sudden closeness and slightly ambiguous actions, but she couldn't let her young lady's airs falter. She immediately straightened her face, took a small step back to create some distance, and put her hands on her hips: "Gu Yanxu! Who said we were having a pleasant working relationship? It was a strategic mutual sabotage! Besides, this is the bride's dressing room. I'm both the bridesmaid and the gatekeeper; it's my duty, and there's no room for leniency!"

Gu Yanxu watched her flustered yet forced composure, his smile deepening. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, but the posture looked utterly frivolous. "Alright, alright, Goalkeeper Jin," he drawled, "I'll come back to 'pay my respects' later. Tell my brother we need to head back to the venue."

He turned around, took a couple of steps, then turned back and waved his phone at her. "Oh right, I forgot to add you on WeChat last time. Next time we're 'strategically sabotaging each other,' we can communicate more easily, okay?"

After saying that, without waiting for her reaction, he swaggered away with his long legs, his back view elegant, but leaving behind a lingering, unsettling scent of snow and pine.

Jin Qiqi made a small face at his retreating figure and snorted, "Who wants to add you on WeChat!"

This person is really... annoying!

But it seems...

—It's not that boring?

By the end of the ceremony, Lu Xiran could barely stand. Her high heels felt like torture devices, each step tugging at her nerves. Gu Yanshen's hand, which had been steadily supporting her waist, was nowhere to be seen—he was surrounded by a group of business partners, his profile appearing particularly distant under the crystal chandeliers of the banquet hall.

"Ranran, your face is so pale." Jin Qiqi held her arm, her voice full of concern. "I'll take you back to the rest room to rest."

A figure blocked their way.

Gu Yanxu leaned against the wall in the corridor, his suit jacket casually draped over his shoulders, two buttons of his shirt undone. "Miss Jin, have you forgotten something?"

Jin Qiqi looked at him warily: "What?"

"WeChat," Gu Yanxu drawled, then suddenly reached out and lightly patted Jin Qiqi's hand.

"Ah!" Jin Qiqi exclaimed softly as her phone slipped from her palm.

Gu Yanxu caught it precisely and held it high: "Maintain friendly communication, understand?"

Jin Qiqi stood on tiptoe to grab it: "Gu Yanxu! Give it back to me!"

He stepped aside, raising his arm higher, and looked down at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes: "Add me on WeChat first. Otherwise..." He waved his phone, "I'll just use your phone to send myself a friend request."

"You dare!"

"See if I dare." Gu Yanxu turned and walked away, taking small steps that Jin Qiqi couldn't catch up with.

Jin Qiqi stomped her foot in anger, then turned to Lu Xiran and said, "Ranran, go back to your room first. I'll come find you as soon as I get my phone!"

Lu Xiran watched Jin Qiqi chase after Gu Yanxu's retreating figure and shook her head helplessly.

The stinging pain in her ankle became more and more pronounced, and she quickly walked towards the lounge.

"That was truly amazing."

Lu Xueyan's voice came from behind, like a fine ice needle piercing the air.

Lu Xiran turned around and saw that the smile on her face was sickeningly sweet, but her eyes were as cold as a poisoned knife.

"Lu Xiran, I've been thinking..." Lu Xueyan slowly approached, "What makes you think you can get close to Gu Yanshen?"

She stopped in front of Lu Xiran, her gaze sweeping over her face, scrutinizing every inch from her eyebrows to her lips. "Only today do I understand—"

Lu Xueyan paused.

"So, you were just a substitute after all."

Lu Xiran's breath hitched.

"What, you still don't know?" Lu Xueyan chuckled, leaning closer. "Gu Yanshen has someone he cherishes dearly, someone he wouldn't want to see suffer even the slightest hardship. And you..."

She paused deliberately, admiring Lu Xiran's gradually paling face.

"You're nothing but a smokescreen he uses to protect that woman. A shield, a decoy."

Lu Xiran clenched her fist, her nails digging into her palm: "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You don't know?" Lu Xueyan's eyes shone with unusual excitement, the kind that comes from seeing prey fall into a trap. "Then you're truly pathetic. The main character was right there at the wedding, watching you put on your wedding dress, watching you exchange rings with Gu Yanshen, and you could still act so convincingly? The three of you are truly a bizarre bunch!"

"Three people..." Lu Xiran's voice trembled, "Who else?"

Lu Xueyan tilted her head, as if considering whether or not to tell her this cruel secret.

Finally, she laughed, a laugh tinged with undisguised malice: "Go ask Gu Yanshen. But I doubt he'll tell you—after all, who would explain the existence of the real person to a substitute?"

She took a step back: "Seeing you like this, I feel like I've finally gotten my revenge. Lu Xiran, you've finally met your match."

After saying that, she turned around and prepared to leave.

Lu Xiran stood still, the pain in her feet seemingly disappearing, replaced by a chill that spread from her heart.

Three people?

So, Song Zhihe is here today!

—I was there to witness the entire wedding!

"Wait!" Lu Xiran snapped back to reality, almost staggering as she rushed forward and grabbed Lu Xueyan's arm. "Where is she?" Her voice was hoarse, trembling without her even realizing it. "You know where she is, don't you?"

Lu Xueyan was forced to stop and slowly turned around.

She lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on Lu Xiran's tightly gripping hand, a mixture of undisguised disgust and pleasure curving her lips. Slowly and deliberately, she pried Lu Xiran's fingers apart one by one, her movements as gentle as brushing away dust.

"It seems," Lu Xueyan raised her eyes, her gaze like poisoned silver needles, piercing Lu Xiran's face, "that you really don't know." She deliberately dragged out her words, each one wrapped in honeyed malice, "Lu Xiran, just how little Gu Yanshen cares about you?"

She took a half-step forward, her voice low and menacing:

"Let your so-called ex-girlfriend be there the whole time..." She paused, admiring Lu Xiran's bloodless face, her smile deepening, "When he held your hand, when he kissed you—do you dare to guess, with his eyes closed, whose face was he thinking of?"