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

Gu Yanshen's burning kiss, imprinted with an almost desperate force, was heavy and disordered. His kiss was haphazard, more like a clumsy declaration and a futile attempt to use the force of his lips and tongue to block all the cracks in her heart and cover the coldness in her eyes that made him panic.

Lu Xiran turned her head, her slender neck forming a fragile arc, and pressed her hands against his hard chest, using all her strength to push him away, her nails almost digging into the fabric of his pajamas.

"Don't look at me..." Gu Yanshen squeezed out a hoarse growl from deep in his throat, almost in a sorry state. One hand gripped her chin more tightly, the fingertips sinking into her soft skin, forcing her to face him; the other hand, however, hurriedly and tremblingly covered her eyes, blocking out the shattered light that made his heart clench.

—It was as if by blocking that view, he could continue this "ritual" that had long since gone astray, yet which he stubbornly insisted on.

His kisses traced the corners of her resisting lips, down to her trembling neck, leaving a wet and burning mark. His movements lost all composure, becoming urgent, even somewhat rough. The expensive silk nightgown made a slight tearing sound under his force, buttons popping off to reveal her pale yet taut shoulders. His bare chest, with its clearly defined muscles, taut like a fully drawn bow, every inch brimming with long-suppressed desire and a near-uncontrollable, domineering power.

"I want you..." His burning forehead pressed against hers, his breathing heavy, each word seemingly ground from his scorching chest, carrying an undeniable domineering authority, yet also concealing a panic he himself was unaware of, "Lu Xiran, I want... only you!"

These words, almost like a vow, carrying his fiery aura, struck down like the coldest icicle, piercing Lu Xiran's last shred of hope.

Is the "only her" he wants Lu Xiran, or is it another soul he sees through her face and her identity as a "substitute"?

The hand that had been pressing against his chest finally released its grip.

Lu Xiran stopped struggling.

Her body was completely suppressed by his heavy strength, and she felt his burning body temperature and irresistible sense of plunder where their skin touched. But her heart was cooling and sinking silently, inch by inch. Hot tears silently and surgingly overflowed from between his fingers covering her eyes, sliding down her temples, disappearing into her hair, and soaking the dark pillowcase.

The temperature of those tears finally scalded Gu Yanshen's almost obsessive senses.

He felt as if he had been scorched by flames, abruptly releasing his grip, propping himself up, and staring blankly at her face covered in cold tear tracks and her tightly closed eyes that were still trembling and weeping, all under the dim light of the night lamp.

"You...you're really that unwilling?" His voice was terribly hoarse, carrying a hint of hurt that was barely perceptible, even to himself.

"...Yes." She answered very softly, but with unwavering certainty, without opening her eyes.

Gu Yanshen stood frozen in place, the burning desire and restlessness surging in his chest seemed to be extinguished by the cold tears and the word "yes," leaving only a patch of damp, cold ashes and an empty void with nowhere to turn.

He took a deep breath, the sigh so heavy it seemed to drag a thousand pounds.

From childhood to adulthood, he has hardly ever had a day that truly belonged to himself.

Family responsibilities, the gaze of the outside world, a pre-planned life trajectory... that's why he was almost obsessively determined to have this wedding, a day that belonged entirely to the two of them. He tolerated Ling Xue's various transgressions simply to maintain a semblance of peace, not wanting any old shadows to ruin this "perfect" moment that he secretly cherished.

But things didn't go as planned.

"...Go to sleep." In the end, he could only utter these two dry words, filled with unvented resentment and deep helplessness.

He rolled over and lay down, his back to her, with an invisible yet vast distance between them.

That night, we slept in the same bed but dreamed different dreams.

The next morning, silence filled the air between them. Gu Yanshen drove in silence, while Lu Xiran gazed silently out the window. He tried to speak several times, his Adam's apple bobbing, but ultimately he couldn't utter a word.

Upon arriving at the Lu family mansion, everything had changed. The once vibrant courtyard, filled with the warmth of Lu Xiran's mother, had been completely transformed by Lin Li, leaving no trace of Lu Xiran's childhood. At the lunch table, Lu Hao and Lin Li maintained a facade of politeness, their conversation meticulously crafted yet rife with distance and calculation. Lu Xueyan's gaze, like a searchlight, lingered around Lu Xiran's slightly swollen eyes, which even powder couldn't conceal her weariness, a smug smile playing on her lips.

On the return trip, Lu Xiran remained leaning against the car window, shrinking herself into a silent silhouette. Gu Yanshen gripped the steering wheel, his frustration tightening like vines binding his heart.

cold war.

This damn, suffocating Cold War.

He was used to being in control, but at this moment he was helpless against her cold silence, and this sense of powerlessness was almost driving him crazy.

That night, Lu Xiran's room door was locked from the inside.

Gu Yanshen stood outside the door, holding the spare key in his hand.

He stood there for a long time, then finally turned away dejectedly and returned to his empty and cold master bedroom.

On the third day, the two tacitly threw themselves into their respective work.

Yunyuji's takeout business is progressing smoothly, but the suburban redevelopment project is taking a long time, making the search for a new physical store location urgent. Lu Xiran arrived at Lu's headquarters early and knocked directly on Lu Hao's office door.

"Ranran?" Lu Hao looked up from the pile of documents, his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses sharp and scrutinizing. "What's wrong? You couldn't say it at home yesterday, so you have to come to the company today?"

Lu Xiran met her father's gaze and said in a clear and calm voice, "I want the shopping mall in the east of the city."

Lu Hao seemed to have heard a joke, leaning back in his large leather chair and letting out a short, sneer: "What... what did you say? The East City Shopping Mall is one of the Lu family's pillar businesses, how could we possibly give it to you? This isn't something I can decide on my own; it requires a board resolution."

"Really?" Lu Xiran remained calm, taking two steps forward and lightly placing her hands on the edge of the gleaming desk. "That project in the suburbs, isn't it progressing a bit slowly? Is the cash flow... a little tight?"

Lu Hao's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "This is a normal operational adjustment for the company, and it's not something you should be concerned about."

"Instead of selling the East City Mall as a package to tide us over, why not just transfer it to my name and let me run it?" Lu Xiran looked directly at him. "Of course, don't even think about touching my dowry. Without my personal cooperation, you won't be able to access a single penny of the agreements and account settings."

This was the trump card that Bai Fang had secretly hinted at to her.

Lu Hao's face finally darkened. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and after a long while, he slowly said, "The East City Shopping Mall is out of the question. The one in the West City, I can give it to you, but on the condition that you bear all the profits and losses, and the group will not provide any additional support."

"Okay." Lu Xiran agreed very readily, without even haggling.

Lu Xiran turned and left.

Her original goal was the West City Shopping Mall—it was close to the old Yun Yu Ji store and even closer to the planned suburban new plot's catchment area.

However, when she actually stood in front of the West City Shopping Mall, she was completely stunned.

The desolate and dilapidated scene before her eyes was completely different from the "old but still operational" state she remembered and even the documents showed.