The man in front of her furrowed his brow, his voice laced with concern. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Chen Lin's gaze dropped, her face flushed, her heart thundering in her chest.
She opened her mouth to answer, but the words seemed to vanish before they could form.
She wanted to say no, that he hadn't hurt her—not at all. But the sting in her chest was not from the collision. It was the crushing weight of betrayal.
Wu Yuxuan watched her, his eyes narrowing slightly, sensing the tension.
When he saw her head lower, his concern deepened, assuming that perhaps he had struck her harder than he realized.
But then, without warning, Chen Lin's head snapped up, her eyes flashing with something far more intense than pain.
It was as if she had made a decision, one that couldn't be undone.
And then, the words tumbled from her lips, raw and unsteady. "Wu Yuxuan, marry me."
Her voice trembled with the weight of the request, but there was an undeniable determination in her eyes.
She had said it.
And in that moment, despite the storm in her heart, she felt more resolute than ever before.
Wu Yuxuan blinked, his mind scrambling to process her words. He stared at her, the air thick with confusion.
Chen Lin wasn't sure what had possessed her to say it.
Maybe it was the rawness of her emotions, the bitterness that burned in her chest.
Maybe it was the desire to reclaim control over a life that had been taken from her.
Whatever it was, she pressed on, her voice steadier now.
"I want to marry you for two reasons," she continued, her voice clear but tinged with vulnerability. "First, I want revenge on Wu Changming for betraying me. And second..." Her voice softened, her hands balling into fists. "I know Grandpa is worried about me. I can only think of marrying someone he trusts to ease his mind."
Wu Yuxuan's silence hung heavy in the air. He didn't respond right away, simply watching her as if trying to unravel her motives. His eyes, usually so steady, flickered with something unreadable.
Chen Lin's courage began to crack under his silence. Every passing moment felt like a weight pressing down on her, threatening to shatter her resolve.
She opened her mouth, but her words caught in her throat.
"What do I gain from this?" Wu Yuxuan's voice cut through the tension, blunt and pointed.
His question hit her like a wave, and for a moment, she was left stunned.
Right, what could I offer him?
Wu Yuxuan was a businessman—he wouldn't entertain this arrangement unless there was something in it for him.
Her mind raced, and then, an idea struck her like a bolt of lightning. "I'll give you everything I have," she said, the words pouring out before she could stop them. When she saw his brow lift, her determination surged. "You know my Grandpa is planning to let me inherit the company. I'll give all my shares to you."
The Chen Company was worth billions, a cornerstone in the industry.
It wasn't as large as his empire, but it was still a fortune. And she, as his wife, would be a prize in her own right—an influential figure, a connection in the world of entertainment.
She waited for his response, breath held in anticipation. But Wu Yuxuan's response was a slow, deliberate one.
"What's yours would be mine, and what's mine would be yours once we're married. That doesn't count."
"Ah?" Chen Lin's voice faltered.
She didn't know how to respond.
If he didn't want her company or her wealth, then what did he want from this union?
What was left to offer?
Desperation curled in her chest, and her next words were almost frantic. "Then what do you want?"
Wu Yuxuan met her gaze. "I want your heart."
Chen Lin blinked, thrown off balance by the simplicity of his answer.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, as though she were afraid the answer might shatter something fragile within her.
For a long moment, Wu Yuxuan was quiet, his eyes searching hers. Then, he spoke, the words cutting through the haze. "I don't want a marriage of convenience. I want a marriage built on trust, on something real."
Chen Lin's heart skipped a beat.
She had expected him to be like everyone else—a man of ambition, seeking only business advantages in their union.
But this was different.
This was about feelings.
About wanting something genuine.
Her lips parted, her mind swirling with confusion and revelation. "You... you want a real marriage?"
He nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes. And I need to know that you're not marrying me for convenience, or for revenge. I need your heart, Chen Lin. All of it."
Chen Lin took a breath, her thoughts spinning.
She had always believed that marriage, especially in their world, was nothing more than a transaction, a means to an end. But Wu Yuxuan was asking for something entirely different.
Something she wasn't sure she was capable of giving right now.
But she knew one thing for certain: She had no choice but to try.
She hesitated for a moment, then looked him square in the eyes. "Then let's get to know each other after the marriage. Give me time. I've just been betrayed, and it won't be easy for me to feel anything immediately." Her voice softened, but there was a steel edge to it. "As long as you don't hurt me, I will give you my heart. In time."
Wu Yuxuan was quiet for a long moment, his gaze never leaving hers.
Then, with a slight nod, he spoke again, his voice low and sincere. "I'll help you get back at them for what they did to you, but I won't let hatred consume you. I won't let my wife live her life driven only by revenge."
Chen Lin felt a warmth spread through her chest, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she believed that maybe, just maybe, this could work.
"When do you want to get married?" Wu Yuxuan asked, his voice steady, unwavering.
Chen Lin didn't hesitate. "Now."