The black car waited at the curb like a silent beast.
Its windows were tinted dark, reflecting the orange glow of the setting sun. The engine purred softly, steady and patient, as if it knew it would not be kept waiting for long.
Chu Yunyun stood on the sidewalk, her phone still warm in her hand.
Liang Group.
Even Yu Chen's shallow memories recognized that name.
A business empire.
A family of power and wealth.
A man rumored to be cold enough to freeze the stock market with a glance.
She hesitated for only one second.
Then she walked toward the car.
The driver got out and opened the rear door respectfully.
"Miss Yu Chen, please."
The interior smelled faintly of leather and cold air.
She stepped in.
The door closed behind her with a soft click that sounded like a lock.
The city disappeared.
For a moment, only the hum of the engine and her own heartbeat existed.
She sat stiffly, her hands folded on her knees.
"So this is what it feels like," she thought, "to enter another person's territory."
The car began to move.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
The driver replied, "To Liang Group's private residence."
Her breath tightened.
A residence.
Not an office.
Interesting.
They drove in silence.
Streetlights passed like slow blinking eyes.
Her reflection appeared faintly in the glass—pale face, dark eyes, hair tied loosely.
She looked nothing like someone who should be riding in a billionaire's car.
And yet…
Her phone vibrated.
A new message.
Unknown:
Don't be nervous. I just want to talk.
Her fingers paused.
"Talk," she whispered. "Of course."
The car stopped in front of tall iron gates.
They opened automatically.
Inside was a mansion that looked more like a fortress—stone walls, cold lights, tall windows glowing faintly.
The car parked near the entrance.
The driver opened the door again.
"This way, Miss Yu."
Chu Yunyun stepped out.
The ground was smooth marble beneath her shoes.
Every step echoed softly.
She followed the driver into the building.
Inside, the house was quiet.
Too quiet.
A servant led her through a long hallway to a sitting room.
"Please wait here."
She was left alone.
The room was wide and minimalistic.
Dark furniture.
Large windows.
One black leather sofa.
She sat carefully.
Her heart beat fast.
She had survived prison.
She had survived death.
But this…This was unknown.
Footsteps approached,Slow, Steady.
The door opened.
A man walked in.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Sharp jawline.
He wore a dark coat, and his eyes were deep and unreadable.
He did not smile.
He did not look surprised.
He simply looked at her.
And the air seemed to grow heavier.
"So this is him," she thought.
The business tycoon.
Liang Jinhai.
He sat opposite her.
No greetings.
No small talk.
"You refused a blood transfusion today," he said.
Her fingers tightened.
"You investigated me."
"I watch interesting things," he replied.
"Am I interesting?" she asked.
He studied her face.
"A girl who almost died yesterday walked into an audition today," he said. "That's unusual."
She said nothing.
He leaned back slightly.
"Why did you refuse?"
"Because I didn't want to die."
He raised an eyebrow. "Simple."
"Simple things are hardest to do," she replied.
A faint pause.
His lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.
More like acknowledgment.
"You acted today," he continued. "Where did you learn that?"
"I lived it," she said.
His gaze sharpened.
Silence stretched.
Then he said, "I need a woman for a role."
Her eyes narrowed.
"What kind of role?"
"My wife."
The word hit like thunder.
"What?" she blurted out.
"A contract marriage," he added calmly. "Temporary."
Her mind raced.
This was absurd.
Dangerous.
Ridiculous.
"You don't even know me," she said.
"I know enough," he replied. "You're poor. You're sick. You have a family that drains you."
Her jaw clenched.
"You stalked me."
"I observed," he corrected. "There's a difference."
"Why me?" she demanded.
"Because you won't fall in love," he said. "And you won't cry easily."
Her eyes darkened.
He continued, "I need a shield from marriage pressure. You need money and protection."
"Protection from what?" she asked.
"From people like your family," he replied.
Her chest tightened.
"How much?" she asked.
He slid a card across the table.
The number printed on it made her pupils shrink.
This amount…
It could buy her freedom.
Her fingers hovered above the card.
"And what do you get?" she asked.
"Peace," he replied. "And a woman who can stand in public without breaking."
She laughed softly.
"Do I look strong to you?"
"No," he said. "You look like someone who already broke once."
Her throat tightened.
Silence fell again.
She stared at the card.
With this money, she could leave her family.
With his name, no one would dare touch her.
With this deal…
She could survive.
"What about my acting?" she asked.
"I can invest," he replied. "I don't interfere with your work."
"And if I say no?"
He shrugged. "I will find another woman."
The calmness of his voice made her angry.
"You're using me," she said.
"Yes," he agreed.
"And I would be using you," she replied.
"Yes," he said again.
For some reason, that honesty unsettled her more than lies.
She picked up the card.
Cold.
Smooth.
"This is dangerous," she whispered.
He looked at her quietly.
"So is being weak."
Her breath caught.
Those words…
They were cruel.
And true.
She stood.
"I'll think about it."
He nodded.
"I expected that."
The driver reappeared.
"I'll send you home," he said.
Home.
What home?
She followed him back to the car.
As it drove away, she looked back at the mansion.
The man inside was dangerous.
But so was her future without him.
Her phone vibrated again.
Yu Li:
Sister, please come back. I'm scared.
She closed her eyes.
"Everything is afraid of me now," she thought.
And she wasn't sure if that was good or bad.
When the car stopped near a small rented apartment Liang Jinhai had arranged for her temporarily, she got out.
The driver handed her a key.
"Mr. Liang said you can stay here."
She held it.
Her reflection in the car window looked unfamiliar again.
Not Yu Chen.
Not Chu Yunyun.
Someone in between.
Someone dangerous.
She entered the apartment.
It was clean.
Quiet.
Empty.
She sat on the bed and stared at the card again.
"Contract wife," she whispered.
Her lips curved faintly.
"Fine."
"If fate wants to use me…"
"…I'll use fate too."
Somewhere in the city, Liang Jinhai stood by a window, watching traffic below.
"Interesting," he murmured.
The girl who refused blood…
Had just walked into his life.
And neither of them knew yet they had just started a war.