No one answered on the other end of the phone, only static crackling through the line. Li Huiling urged impatiently, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
The house she had her eye on was going on sale in a few days, and she was still short fifty thousand for the down payment. She needed the money urgently, but Gu Nianyi hadn’t replied at all.
Lu Jin’an stood leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, his brow slightly furrowed and his gaze deep. “Yi Yi’s in the shower.”
He kept his ears attuned to any sounds from the bathroom, worried something might go wrong.
Li Huiling paused for two seconds, pulled the phone away to double-check the number, then switched to a completely different tone. “Oh, it’s Jin’an. I’ll call back later, then.”
“Alright.” The call ended just like that. His mother-in-law hadn’t outright asked him for money.
Gu Nianyi emerged from the bathroom. The power was still out in their apartment, and the neighboring buildings were dark too.
The world around them was no longer ablaze with lights; everything had plunged into equal darkness.
“It was your mom on the phone just now,” Lu Jin’an said simply. Smart people didn’t need everything spelled out.
Gu Nianyi dried her hair with a towel. “Got it. Thanks for handling that.”
The property management group chat announced that road construction had severed a power line, and repairs were underway.
In the 21st century, a blackout felt like a distant memory.
She turned off her phone’s flashlight. The half-full moon hung in the sky, its clean, silvery light pouring in.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was fast approaching.
In the dim light, with only the occasional whisper of wind from afar, the tranquil, gentle air waited quietly for the return of brightness.
Gu Nianyi sat on the edge of the bed, fiddling with her phone as if by accident. “What did my mom say?”
Lu Jin’an looked down at the girl before him. Whenever she was nervous or stirring up trouble for no reason, her fingers would pick at this or that.
“She asked when you’d send the money,” he relayed truthfully, his voice carrying no personal bias.
Gu Nianyi froze for a moment, her fingers picking at the bedsheet. “I don’t want to send it. I don’t have the money.”
Her tone was utterly flat, as if it had nothing to do with her.
She didn’t want to play the role of the perfect, masked good girl. Even if she didn’t tell Lu Jin’an and kept refusing to transfer the money, Li Huiling would find every way to play the pity card and guilt-trip her.
Gu Nianyi looked up, her gaze earnest. “If they ask you for money, I beg you—please don’t give them any.”
She had no idea what her parents might do, whether they’d come to South City. The bulk of the Lu Family’s bride price had gone to her, and her parents had already pocketed nearly a million.
But it still wasn’t enough; they wanted to squeeze every last penny from her.
Her marriage to Lu Jin’an was fragile, built on straw—it would scatter at the slightest breeze.
That bride price was only temporarily in her hands.
Lu Jin’an nodded slightly. “Alright. I’ll do as you say.”
Even though she couldn’t make out the expression in his eyes, his smooth, rich voice inexplicably put her at ease.
Gu Nianyi looked up. “You’re not curious why?”
A gust of wind blew into the room, pushing the door shut. The moonlight sliced through the floor-to-ceiling windows, forming jagged diamond shapes.
Lu Jin’an spoke deliberately, word by word: “No need to ask.”
The man’s figure finally shifted. He took two steps forward, stopping in front of Gu Nianyi. “Follow your own thoughts. Do what you want to do. Don’t worry about what others think or how they see you. You’re the most important.”
He didn’t pry for reasons or dig deeper. Instead, he respected her, understood her, and told her not to care about anyone else.
“Thank you, Lu Jin’an.”
Just then, the severed power line was fixed. Lights flickered on, flooding the room with brightness.
The moment seemed frozen. Lu Jin’an and Gu Nianyi’s gazes met perfectly, colliding and lingering without pulling away.
The crystal chandelier’s brilliant light shone on her porcelain-smooth face, the gentle smile in her eyes impossible to hide.
The dry towel wrapped around her long hair, exposing her slender neck, where a mole on the side peeked in and out of view.
Like a drop of ink on soft rice paper, writing a one-of-a-kind story.
Lu Jin’an unobtrusively stepped back, echoing her words. “You’re welcome, Gu Nianyi.”
A faint curve touched the corner of his mouth.
The smile was so subtle, like a snowflake melting into a lake—impossible to spot without close scrutiny.
Gu Nianyi’s eyes widened in disbelief. “So you do know how to smile.”
Lu Jin’an walked around the foot of the bed, murmuring, “I’m not paralyzed or anything.”
Such a lame joke; she could practically hear the crows cawing overhead. Gu Nianyi covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. “I’m going to blow-dry my hair.”
Before bed, Gu Nianyi sent Li Huiling a message: 【I just graduated and have no money. Buy something smaller or put down less for the down payment.】
Then she silenced her phone, flipped it screen-down, and went to sleep with peace of mind.
On the other nightstand, Lu Jin’an’s phone screen kept lighting up. He could guess what was happening.
The blatant favoritism toward sons over daughters was obvious. How had she comforted herself all these years?
She refused to accept it but didn’t complain to the heavens either. She swallowed all that sadness on her own.
Lu Jin’an gazed at the girl’s slender, lonely back in the darkness. Separate blankets felt a bit superfluous.
With their different work schedules, they didn’t need to leave together. Lu Jin’an headed out first, gently closing the door behind him.
When Gu Nianyi woke, she was surprised to find no calls from Li Huiling. Maybe her mother was too furious and already on her way to South City.
Outside the window, the sky was a pure, brilliant blue. Autumn’s oranges, yellows, and greens splashed like a spilled palette, painting a vibrant canvas.
She’d never liked fall before—it meant winter’s approach, the withering of all things.
Today felt different, though. She couldn’t quite pinpoint why.
Maybe it was just a feeling. This winter, she’d have someone with her.
He Ruiyan arrived at the office ten minutes early, with Shen Lingyun right behind her. She glanced around; no one else had shown up yet—just the three of them.
Shen Lingyun whispered, “Heard some gossip: The higher-ups praised our summaries, but Director Cheng took all the credit. Especially Yi Yi’s part—it got special mention for being clear and spot-on. Now everyone thinks he wrote it.”
He Ruiyan spread her hands. “Normal. Our mistakes are ours; the praise is his.”
“Greasy middle-aged creep,” Shen Lingyun spat.
Gu Nianyi soothed them. “Come on, don’t look so down. I’ll treat you all to milk tea.”
Shen Lingyun shook her head. “Thanks, Yi Yi, but no need. Our salaries aren’t that high.”
She knew Yi Yi’s husband was loaded. They lived in one of South City’s top luxury complexes, where the property fees were sky-high—higher than her monthly wage.
But Yi Yi dressed plainly, no designer labels anywhere, not even her bag, which was some niche brand for a few hundred bucks. Maybe it wasn’t a marriage of convenience; maybe she had no choice.
Plus, Yi Yi often treated them to fruit and snacks.
Gu Nianyi ordered their favorite milk teas and posted on her alt Weibo account: “Feeling a bit down.”
No one disliked praise, especially for work you’d slaved over late into the night. When someone else claimed it, you needed an outlet.
Half an hour later, X replied in a DM: 【What’s up? Y.】
X was the only person she mutually followed on that account. They interacted often. At first, she’d thought they might be a creep, but X never bothered her—just kept her company in chats.
In the vast internet, she’d found someone who spoke her language. They’d agreed to call each other X and Y online. Gu Nianyi assumed X was a girl.
Because the chats were so thoughtful and patient.
Y: 【My boss stole the credit.】
X: 【Then your boss is scum. Play it smart—hold back a bit and shine for the higher-ups later.】
Y: 【Feeling way better now. I’ll bide my time.】
X: 【How’s it going with your husband?】
Y: 【Better than strangers. Pretty good, actually. We don’t bother each other.】
X: 【…That’s good, then. Gotta run.】
Once work started, Cheng Fanglin announced in the group chat that Gu Nianyi would mentor Chi Wenjing, and He Ruiyan would mentor Shen Lingyun.
They’d been there a while, and suddenly it was one-on-one pairings out of nowhere.
Who knew whose idea it was? Total whimsy.
In their girls-only group chat, the messages flew.
Shen Lingyun: 【Are they planning another newbie training push? Intern showdown at year-end?】
He Ruiyan: 【Different roles—how to compare?】
Gu Nianyi: 【They’ll figure it out. Test expertise or presentation skills.】
He Ruiyan: 【Officially it’s intern vs. intern, but really it’s about the boss’s face. Yunyun, do your best—don’t embarrass your big sis.】
Shen Lingyun: 【Don’t worry. But what about Yi Yi?】
Gu Nianyi: 【I’m fine. Just normal mentoring.】
She’d only been there three months herself. Anyone a day ahead was a veteran.
She closed the group chat and sent Chi Wenjing a bunch of reports.
【Here’s some specialized knowledge they don’t teach in school, plus local weather case studies and data that’s hard to find online. Take a look.】
At the office, Gu Nianyi deliberately kept her distance from Chi Wenjing. He tried every trick to give her snacks and little gifts, claiming they were from family and he, a big guy, had no use for them.
But she wasn’t oblivious; she could tell real from fake.
Chi Wenjing: 【Yi Yi Master, let me buy you dinner tonight. Looking forward to your guidance.】
Gu Nianyi: 【No need. Family dinner tonight.】
A man and a woman dining alone wasn’t appropriate. Gu Nianyi wasn’t good at lying, but she had to.
The first thing Gu Nianyi did when she got home from work was check on Nian Gao. She played with the cat for a while, washing away the worries of the day. “Little Nian Gao, did you miss me?”
Nian Gao hopped into her arms and rubbed her head against Gu Nianyi’s stomach. “Meow, meow.”
The housekeeper poked her head in. “Mrs. Lu, has Mr. Lu not come home yet?”
Gu Nianyi answered casually, “He texted me that he had an emergency surgery and couldn’t make it back for dinner. No need to wait for him.”
She wasn’t sure when Lu Jin’an had started giving her updates on his schedule, but by now it had become routine.
The housekeeper looked troubled. “I simmered some soup today. What if it goes to waste? Why don’t you bring some to Mr. Lu? It’s not good for him to always eat cafeteria food. And when he gets busy, he skips meals altogether. Long term, that’ll ruin his stomach. You can go watch him eat it.”
Gu Nianyi thought for a couple of seconds and nodded. “Sure, I’ll eat quickly and take it over.”
The housekeeper beamed. “No rush, take your time eating.”
Back in the kitchen, Gu Nianyi sent a message to Ruan Zhixu. 【Mrs. Lu, mission accomplished.】
Downstairs at the inpatient building, Gu Nianyi texted Lu Jin’an but got no reply. She didn’t dare call, worried it might interrupt his surgery.
She took the elevator up to the sixteenth floor, Cardiovascular Surgery ward.
A few lights in the hallway were off, making the space dim. Steeling her courage, Gu Nianyi walked over to the young nurse on duty.
“Excuse me, which office is Dr. Lu in?”
The nurse asked routinely, “Are you here to see a patient? Or a family member?”
Gu Nianyi shook her head. Neither.
The nurse said apologetically, “Sorry, we can’t disclose that.” Her gaze fell on the lunchbox in Gu Nianyi’s hand, and she had her suspicions.
Gu Nianyi gave a faint smile. “That’s fine. I’ll just sit here and wait a bit.”
Her demeanor was so gentle, her voice soft—nothing like the other girls who chased after Dr. Lu. She didn’t make a fuss; she just sat there quietly and gracefully.
The nurse took pity on her and warned, “Miss, Dr. Lu is married. I’d advise you not to bother. Last time, a girl used an excuse to bring him food and ended up crying as she left. I think he gave her a real talking-to. I’m not sure of the details, but Dr. Lu is pretty scary when he gets stern.”
Gu Nianyi pictured the scene. “Thanks, but I’m not…”
The nurse gave her a knowing look. “We get it. You’re just shy.”
They had completely misunderstood her, but it did look that way.
Coming to the hospital at night, not to see a patient, carrying a lunchbox—it screamed ulterior motives.
Gu Nianyi sat down in a nearby chair. The two young nurses whispered to each other.
“Another one chasing Dr. Lu. She’s so pretty—why bother? Plenty of fish in the sea. No need to pine after Dr. Lu, that eternal iceberg.”
“People always want to tackle the tough challenges.”
“Sigh, I wonder who Dr. Lu’s wife is.”
Gu Nianyi had mild nearsightedness, which somehow sharpened her hearing. Even at their low volume, she caught every word the nurses said.
But she didn’t mind. No point explaining—nobody would believe her anyway.
She waited quietly for a reply on her phone.
Zhou Ziyu passed by the nurses’ station and doubled back. “Sister-in-Law, are you here for Dr. Lu?”
Facing this unfamiliar face, Gu Nianyi furrowed her brow slightly, full of confusion.
“I’m Zhou Ziyu, groomsman at your wedding.” He introduced himself and pulled up a photo from the wedding day, pointing to himself.
To her embarrassment, she hadn’t even saved the wedding photos.
Gu Nianyi looked apologetic. “Sorry, I’m a bit face-blind.”
Zhou Ziyu waved it off. “No worries at all. I’ll take you to Dr. Lu’s office.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Gu Nianyi picked up the lunchbox and followed Zhou Ziyu’s steps to the office at the far end of the hall.
“Here we are. I’ve got to get back to work—you can head in.”
“Thanks.”
Gu Nianyi raised her hand to knock, but she heard Lu Jin’an chatting with a friend inside.
She didn’t want to interrupt, so she stood aside to wait.
Perhaps it was the quiet of the night, or maybe they just didn’t care who heard—their voices carried clearly to her ears.
“I came straight from the airport to find you. What’s the deal? Getting married out of nowhere.”
It had to be one of Lu Jin’an’s friends who hadn’t attended the wedding.
Gu Nianyi started to leave, but then they mentioned her—the marriage—and her feet felt rooted to the spot.
She held her breath, listening intently for Lu Jin’an’s response.
After a brief silence, Lu Jin’an said carelessly, “Grandpa wanted it that way. Just fulfilling an old man’s wish.”
Lin Qianyu replied, “Yeah, that makes sense. When have you ever been into girls? No surgery tonight, and it’s late—why stay at the hospital instead of going home?”
A man who refused to take over the family business to pursue medicine—how could he take marriage seriously? How could he fall for any woman?
Lu Jin’an didn’t want to dwell on it. “Come on, let’s go eat. I’ll treat you and welcome you back.”
So it wasn’t the surgery. He just didn’t want to go home.
Gu Nianyi clenched her fists, took a deep breath, pressed her lips together, and immediately knocked on the office door.
The door opened quickly from inside. Seeing her, a flicker of surprise passed through Lu Jin’an’s deep eyes.
“Why are you here?”
In those short few seconds, Gu Nianyi had already steeled herself. She curved her lips into a smile, her tone gentle. “The housekeeper made soup. Your friend’s here, so I won’t disturb you two. Carry on chatting.”
She swiftly shoved the lunchbox into Lu Jin’an’s hands and turned to leave without looking back.
In that instant, Lu Jin’an grabbed her wrist and stepped closer. In a low voice, he asked, “You heard that?”