Late summer had arrived, and the sweltering heat was finally starting to fade.
In the spacious duplex penthouse on the sixth floor of Cypress View Pavilion, Gu Nianyi woke up. She stared at the unfamiliar ceiling and furnishings for a few seconds before realizing where she was.
An opulent crystal chandelier hung overhead, its snowflake shades cascading like a breathtaking work of art.
She picked up her phone from the nightstand. It was nearly seven o’clock—her third night here, and she still hadn’t adjusted.
Just like she hadn’t adjusted to being married.
Suddenly, her gaze landed on the wedding photo beside her. The two strangers in it looked perfectly matched and blissfully in love. She couldn’t tell if it was the photographer’s skill or their acting that made it so convincing.
At a glance, the photo gave the illusion that they were an ideal couple.
The elegant, refined man standing next to her was her husband.
Staring at his unfamiliar features, Gu Nianyi felt nothing—no ripple of emotion stirred inside her.
She set the frame back down neatly. The photo was just a reminder of one fact: she was married.
But in this massive master bedroom, she was alone. Where was the other person?
Gu Nianyi glanced at the smooth, wrinkle-free sheets and undisturbed thin quilt. They were exactly as they’d been before she went to sleep.
There was only one bed in the house, and she was a light sleeper. She would have noticed if he’d come back.
She hadn’t been disturbed last night, so he was probably on duty at the hospital and hadn’t returned. Other than their wedding night, he hadn’t come back at all.
That was for the best—no need to face the awkwardness head-on.
Her phone’s messages were empty. She scrolled down to the very bottom of the chat list and found an avatar that could have been either a sunrise or a sunset.
She tapped it. Nothing there. Her chats with Lu Jin’an were sparse and mechanical: “What time tomorrow?” “Okay.” “Mm.”
Simpler than talking to a client.
No check-ins. No real conversation. That was laughable.
Not bothering each other was the norm.
Gu Nianyi stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows and drew back the curtains. Sunlight spilled onto her feet, casting intricate patterns.
This had originally been a bay window. The first time she’d come, she’d frowned slightly at it. But on their wedding night, she’d discovered it had been removed and replaced with flooring.
The alarm went off at seven sharp, snapping her out of her thoughts.
At the top of her WeChat was a new message: 【Baby, how was last night?】
It was from Ming Yue, her best friend bar none.
Gu Nianyi applied a light layer of makeup and gave a quick rundown of the past couple of days. Other than their wedding night, she’d been alone in the house both evenings.
They’d shared the bed on their wedding night, but nothing had happened. Lying next to a stranger for the first time, she’d barely slept.
Ming Yue: 【Hugs! Kick him to the curb and come live with me. Grab all of Dr. Lu’s valuables—they’re marital property anyway.】
Getting more outrageous by the second, Gu Nianyi played along. 【Sounds good. Two o’clock this afternoon, South City International Airport. Don’t be late.】
Ming Yue: 【First one there buys the other a hot dog.】
Gu Nianyi: 【Heading out now. Talk later.】 She wasn’t familiar with the area yet and needed to leave half an hour early.
At the top of the stairs, her eyes fell on a crystal chandelier that dangled all the way to the floor, its butterfly motifs fluttering as they caught the light.
It complemented the butterfly chandelier in the open-plan living room below, creating an almost surreal beauty.
Amid the prismatic glow, her mind drifted back three months to early summer. Cicadas had been chirping loudly that afternoon when she’d gotten a call from her mom, asking her to come home.
Her grandfather had fallen. She’d brought him to South City for surgery, and afterward, she’d gained a marriage pact.
Now she had her own little family, but her parents’ words echoed in her ears: “Once you’re married off, you’re part of someone else’s family.”
Gu Nianyi pushed aside the unwelcome emotions and the faint prick in her heart. She grabbed an umbrella from the entryway cabinet.
The weather forecast had predicted rain today.
The smart elevator was already at the top floor. Gu Nianyi pressed the button for the first floor, paused for two seconds, then hit the basement level instead. She could drive now—Ming Yue had crash-coursed her and taken her out on the road.
As usual, she was the first to arrive at the office. The morning routine started with the standard meeting at the Meteorological Bureau. Afterward, Director Cheng Fanglin called out to her. “Little Gu, there’s a malfunction at the weather station. Take Shen Lingyun out to the observation field. I was going to send Chi Wenjing, but the kid’s got something at school.”
Gu Nianyi smiled faintly. “Got it, Director Cheng.”
Summer hadn’t quite given way to autumn yet, and the midday heat was still brutal. The grunt work had landed on their laps.
The weather station kept getting relocated farther out, and the old-timers joked that the office hadn’t changed, but the commute had gotten longer.
It took over an hour to drive from the Meteorological Bureau to the station. In the car, Shen Lingyun scrolled through short videos and suddenly sighed. “Yi Yi Sis, this doctor’s so hot—broad shoulders, long legs, rocking that white coat like a total aloof heartthrob.”
She skimmed the comments and nearly jumped out of her seat. “His credentials are insane! Leading surgeries at twenty-eight, from a prominent family. Aaaah, hot and rich!”
Gu Nianyi glanced over. “He’s alright.” The clip flashed by too quickly for her to see clearly, and she had no interest anyway. She gave a polite, neutral response.
Shen Lingyun was genuinely impressed. Facing a guy like that and staying completely unfazed, her emotions rock-steady.
With a sidelong glance, she took in Gu Nianyi’s low ponytail, minimal makeup—just sunscreen and a soft bean-paste lip color. She wore a white ruffled blouse with black straight-leg pants: gentle, poised, with a touch of cool detachment.
Her beauty was the enduring kind—not a jaw-dropper at first sight, but one that grew more striking the longer you looked.
At the bureau, Shen Lingyun had never heard Gu Nianyi complain. She never raised her voice, always spoke gently and patiently.
Even unreasonable demands from the bosses? She handled them with calm composure.
Like this errand today—anyone else could have gone, but it always fell to them. No power, no connections.
Shen Lingyun sighed inwardly and studied Gu Nianyi’s fingers: slender as spring onions, clean and bare—no ring.
She’d never seen a guy pick up Gu Nianyi or send flowers or order her bubble tea.
The light turned green. Shen Lingyun’s attention shifted to the row of cute figurines on the passenger-side dashboard—characters from an animated show she’d watched in elementary school.
The car pillows and stickers were all from the same cartoon, a quirky contrast to Gu Nianyi’s refined vibe.
Chatting idly, Shen Lingyun asked, “Yi Yi Sis, you really like this cat, huh?”
Gu Nianyi kept her eyes on the road. “Yeah, it’s adorable. I’ve loved it for years.”
Her phoenix eyes curved into a beautiful smile, a gentle ripple at her lips. The sunlight turned her eyes into sparkling gems.
More excited about a cat than a hot guy.
Shen Lingyun hugged a pillow, beaming at the cute kitty face. “Waaah, so adorable!”
The scorching summer air hung heavy. The observation field on the outskirts of South City offered no shade whatsoever. The two women checked the instruments one by one.
Shen Lingyun griped, “Old man Cheng just thinks you’re a pushover. And Chi Wenjing? As if he’d dare boss that kid around—his uncle outranks him.”
Gu Nianyi focused on the equipment and replied softly, “Maybe he really had something come up. Let’s finish quick and head back. I’ll treat you to bubble tea.”
Shen Lingyun’s expression brightened instantly. “Yay!”
A sudden downpour hammered the sky. Dust kicked up as fat raindrops danced wildly on the ground.
Gu Nianyi and Shen Lingyun dashed back under the eaves, a bit damp but not soaked.
South City had seen a lot of rain this year.
Shen Lingyun grumbled, “Anyone who says weather forecasts are inaccurate? Spot on today.”
It had called for midday rain, and here it was.
Gu Nianyi handed her a tissue. “Wipe off. Careful not to catch a cold. We’ll head back once it lets up.”
“Thanks.” Shen Lingyun took it, catching a faint magnolia scent. Staying longer was music to her ears.
Going back meant dull data entry and oily bosses nitpicking her.
The shower had come fast and furious, pounding the ground into splashing pearls. It wouldn’t stop anytime soon.
Shen Lingyun asked, “Sis, how do you stay so chill all the time?”
Gu Nianyi smiled, lips curving. “I’m not always. I vent internally or go on a shopping spree—plushies, snacks, clothes, you name it. Like those figurines you saw. I’ve got a whole cabinet full at home.”
Throwing tantrums wasn’t her style. Crying never solved anything—a lesson learned young.
Shen Lingyun burst out laughing. “Sis, you’re pretty cute yourself.”
A whole cabinet of plushies? That was a lot.
Hearing “cute” threw Gu Nianyi for a loop. She’d been called quiet, gentle, aloof plenty of times, but never cute.
“You’re cuter.”
They chatted under the eaves, jumping from topic to topic. In under half an hour, the rain eased. They headed along the uneven stone path toward the parking lot.
Shen Lingyun’s thin heel caught on a rock. She stumbled, toppling sideways by momentum.
Gu Nianyi reacted swiftly, grabbing her arm. They crashed into a nearby pillar with a thud.
Forgetting her own state, Gu Nianyi checked the girl in her arms first. “Yunyun, you okay?”
With her cushy landing, Shen Lingyun felt no real pain. “I’m fine. What about you, Sis?”
Gu Nianyi shook her head.
Straightening up, Shen Lingyun winced and flexed her foot. “Ow, my ankle kinda hurts.”
Gu Nianyi knelt down and felt it—slightly swollen and warm. “I’ll call Director Cheng for time off. We’re going to the hospital.”
Uncertain about the severity of Shen Lingyun’s ankle injury, Gu Nianyi didn’t dare to take it lightly. To be safe, she drove straight to the best hospital in South City.
Halfway there, the rain began to ease, and the sky gradually revealed a freshly washed blue.
“Yi Yi Sis, look, there’s a double rainbow!”
Through the rearview mirror, Shen Lingyun spotted the rainbow at the horizon, hanging in the sky like a colorful macaron.
Gu Nianyi gazed at the distant rainbow, and the corners of her mouth tugged upward unconsciously, blending perfectly with the arc of the seven colors.
The rainbow faded soon after, brief yet brilliant, and her mood lifted without her realizing it.
After three chaotic months, Gu Nianyi had forgotten what her original life even looked like.
Once, she had loved taking photos and documenting her days, but everything changed with a single report.
The photo of the rainbow suspended in midair became her first Moments post in three months.
The first like appeared quickly, from an avatar showing a girl’s back.
Whenever she posted on Moments, this person was almost always the first to like it. Yet Gu Nianyi didn’t know them; they were just an online friend.
In such a vast world, having someone care about your shares was a kind of happiness in itself.
The rain outside the city scattered with the wind, but the downpour inside the city showed no signs of stopping.
A white sedan sliced through the rain curtain and pulled up in front of the hospital. Two young women stepped out.
Gu Nianyi held an umbrella as she supported Shen Lingyun toward the lobby. Fortunately, there was a new pair of flat shoes in the car, which came in handy.
The emergency hall buzzed with activity—hurried footsteps from people rushing to appointments, the incessant crying of children filling the air.
There was only one empty seat. Shen Lingyun sat down to wait for her number to be called, while Gu Nianyi stood beside her. Because of the rainy day, there were more patients than usual.
Chi Wenjing arrived before the doctor. Dressed in a white T-shirt, the tall, lean young man stood out vibrantly in the crowd.
He spotted Gu Nianyi in the corner and looked her up and down. “Yi Yi, are you okay?”
He had gone to the office that afternoon and heard about the situation from his colleagues. After getting the details, he rushed over immediately.
Gu Nianyi took a step back, putting some distance between them. “I’m fine. It’s Yunyun who twisted her ankle.”
Shen Lingyun shot him a glance. “Your eyes are only on Yi Yi Sis. I’m still right here, you know.”
They had both started work on the same day. Chi Wenjing was free-spirited, with sword-like brows and starry eyes.
But he had fallen in love with Gu Nianyi at first sight.
Chi Wenjing ignored Shen Lingyun’s remark, his gaze fixing on Gu Nianyi’s left arm. His brows furrowed. “What happened to your arm?”
Gu Nianyi lowered her eyes and only then noticed the tear in her white shirt, a faint trace of blood seeping through. It must have happened when she bumped into the pillar.
It was just a scrape, nothing serious. Gu Nianyi dropped her arm. “It’s nothing. I’ll disinfect it with iodine when I get home.”
“That’s not okay. It could get infected. I’ll find a nurse.” Chi Wenjing strode off toward the nurses’ station with his long legs.
At the same moment, the emergency reception desk grew noisy.
“Dr. Lu, here for a consultation again?” The Head Nurse smiled as she greeted the doctor who had just walked in.
“Yes.” Suddenly, Lu Jin’an caught sight of a familiar figure. “I’ll head over there for a bit.”
With that, he made his way into the crowd.
A few young nurses whispered behind him, openly admiring Lu Jin’an’s broad shoulders and narrow waist. His black suit pants hugged a pair of long legs, and even his back view was enough to spark endless fantasies.
“Dr. Lu is so handsome. I wish he’d come over more often to give my eyes a treat.”
“Quit your fangirling. I heard he’s married.”
“No way! That’s impossible. I refuse to believe it.”
Suddenly, a tall shadow fell over Gu Nianyi. Looking down, she saw a pair of spotless black leather shoes exuding a subtle air of pressure.
She lifted her head and met a face that was both strange and familiar. Her eyes widened in momentary shock.
His features were chiseled and noble, with an air of detached calm. The black shirt beneath his white protective gear evoked the words “austere celibate” in her mind.
His dark eyes stared straight at her, serene and unruffled, true to his usual steady demeanor.
A question surfaced in Gu Nianyi’s mind: Why was Lu Jin’an here?
She answered it herself right away. His badge read: 【Cardiovascular Surgery, Attending Physician.】
He worked at this hospital—the best in South City, ranked in the national top ten.
She hadn’t expected to run into him in the emergency room.
Lu Jin’an lifted his eyelids. “What are you doing here?”
His tone was quite cold, like the first autumn rain outside a window, carrying a faint chill.
Receiving no answer, Lu Jin’an’s gaze shifted to Gu Nianyi’s arm. He frowned almost imperceptibly, then strode back to the nurses’ station. “Teacher Zhang, could you please get a nurse to help disinfect it?”
The Head Nurse glanced at the young woman in the distance. What a coincidence—two handsome men here for the same person. She instructed a nearby young nurse to handle it.
Chi Wenjing turned his head to glance at Lu Jin’an. The two men’s eyes met for a moment, both filled with confusion.
The nurse carried the disinfection tray toward the corner. Since people were already there, Gu Nianyi saw no point in refusing. She sat in the empty chair, rolled up her shirtsleeve, and examined the wound—a long scrape.
Normally, she’d just slap on a Band-Aid.
The nurse dipped a cotton swab in iodine, first cleaning the wound thoroughly. Gu Nianyi’s delicate brows furrowed. “Hiss.”
She quickly flashed a serene smile to reassure the nurse. “It doesn’t hurt. I just wasn’t prepared for it.”
She was clearly in agony, yet still thinking to comfort others.
Lu Jin’an checked the time on his watch and said flatly, “Give it to me.” His tone brooked no argument, leaving the nurse no chance to refuse.
He hiked up his black suit pants and half-squatted in front of Gu Nianyi, grasping her wrist.
His palm was warm, scorching her skin. Gu Nianyi instinctively tried to pull back, but he held her tighter.
“Don’t move.”
His distinctively jointed hand gently wiped the wound, circle after circle.
A tenderness at odds with his tone.
Gu Nianyi and Lu Jin’an were too close. The scent of cedarwood mixed with disinfectant assaulted her nose, impossible to ignore.
To distract herself, Gu Nianyi’s gaze darted around before settling on Lu Jin’an.
His profile was sharply defined, his eyes somewhat cold when he looked down.
At the wedding, she had stared into those same eyes, equally calm and undisturbed.
His disinfection technique was practiced; she felt no sting.
Gu Nianyi’s eyes couldn’t linger in one spot. They slowly drifted to his lips—thin and slightly pink.
She recalled the hand she had just seen, veins prominent on the back. This hand, which wielded a scalpel, had blocked between their lips during the wedding kiss.
Lu Jin’an applied the Band-Aid and said indifferently, “All done.”
Gu Nianyi pulled down her sleeve. “Thank you.”
A pair of newly certified spouses, encountering each other by chance in the hospital—their exchange was curt and polite, as if they were strangers.
They weren’t much better than strangers, if not worse.
After Lu Jin’an left, Shen Lingyun, who had witnessed the entire scene, could no longer contain her excitement.
“Yi Yi Sis, who is he? What’s your relationship?”