The silence in the car stretched as Wu Yuxuan guided the vehicle through the dimly lit streets. Chen Lin leaned her head against the window, her mind still racing with everything that had happened. The marriage certificate felt heavier in her hand than it should have been.
Wu Yuxuan's voice broke through the quiet. "Do you want to stay at my villa or my apartment?"
Chen Lin turned her head, brows slightly furrowed. "Where are you staying?"
He glanced at her briefly before returning his eyes to the road. "The apartment."
"Then I'll stay there too." Her voice was firm, but there was a flicker of hesitation in her gaze.
Wu Yuxuan's lips curved into a faint smile, one she almost missed. "Alright then."
The elevator ride up to his apartment was quiet, save for the faint hum of machinery. Chen Lin shifted her weight from one foot to the other, clutching the certificate tightly in her hand. When the doors slid open, Wu Yuxuan stepped out first, unlocking the door to his apartment and holding it open for her.
"Come in."
She stepped inside, her eyes sweeping across the space.
The apartment was modern and sleek, with dark furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city lights. It felt expensive but oddly lived-in—small personal touches hinted at someone who spent more than just occasional nights here.
Chen Lin stood awkwardly near the couch, unsure of what to do next. Wu Yuxuan tossed his keys onto a nearby table and turned to her.
"Make yourself comfortable. Do you want water? Tea?"
"No, I'm fine." Her voice came out softer than she intended.
Wu Yuxuan nodded and unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt, rolling them up to his elbows. The casualness of the gesture made Chen Lin glance away quickly, her face feeling strangely warm.
After a beat of silence, she cleared her throat. "Uh… where am I sleeping?"
Wu Yuxuan's hand paused mid-roll on his sleeve, and he raised an eyebrow at her. "In the bedroom."
Chen Lin blinked, her cheeks heating up. "But… there's only one room."
His lips quirked upward, a sly glint in his eyes. "What did you expect? We're married."
Her eyes widened slightly, and she stammered, "I—I didn't think that far…"
Wu Yuxuan chuckled under his breath, the sound low and brief. "Relax. I'll sleep on the couch if it bothers you that much."
"No!" Chen Lin blurted out quickly, then immediately regretted her loud reaction. She cleared her throat, trying to recover. "I mean… it's your bed. I can sleep on the couch."
Wu Yuxuan tilted his head, studying her. "Do I look like someone who'd let his wife sleep on the couch while I take the bed?"
The word 'wife' made Chen Lin's stomach flip in a way she wasn't prepared for. She bit her lip, unable to meet his gaze.
"Fine… we'll figure it out later," she muttered.
Wu Yuxuan didn't press the issue. "There are fresh towels in the bathroom if you want to shower. I'll grab some clothes for you."
Without waiting for her reply, he walked into the bedroom, leaving Chen Lin standing in the living room with her thoughts spiraling.
'We're married,' she repeated silently in her mind.
It wasn't just a legal document—it was real now, tangible in the way his voice carried weight when he said it.
When Wu Yuxuan returned, he handed her a neatly folded set of clothes—his clothes. An oversized button-up shirt and a pair of drawstring pants.
"They might be a little big, but they're clean."
Chen Lin hesitated before taking them. "Thank you."
"Do you want to change in the bedroom's bathroom or the one close to the kitchen?"
"The one close to the kitchen." She answered.
He gestured toward the bathroom. "Go ahead. I'll wait out here."
As she stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her, Chen Lin leaned against it.
Her heart was racing.
She hadn't expected to feel this nervous around a man, especially after being with so many actors in the past—actors who were just as handsome, if not more so, than Wu Yuxuan.
And yet, she had done far more with those men than she ever had with him.
Her fingers trembled as she reached for the zipper of her gown, trying to pull it down. It was tight, and no matter how hard she tugged, she only managed to get it halfway undone. The gown clung to her, almost as if it refused to let go. Frustrated, she discarded the veil from her hair and set it gently on the sink.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath when she realized she really couldn't take it off on her own.
It was just her and Wu Yuxuan in the apartment now, so he was the only one she could ask for help. But the thought made her even more self-conscious—this was embarrassing.
But then, as her mind raced, she bit her lip.
We're married now, weren't we?
So why should I feel so shy?
It wasn't like it was a big deal.
Resolute, she grabbed the hem of her gown and stepped out of the bathroom.
Not finding him in the living room, she made her way to his bedroom and opened the door—only to stop dead in her tracks.
There, in front of her, was Wu Yuxuan, topless and just about to slip into his shirt.