Jiang Chenyu had always been a man of few words, but his actions spoke volumes. His cold demeanor toward Gu Nuannuan on their wedding night made it clear—he disliked her presence in his life. The marriage was nothing more than a transaction, an obligation he had been forced into, and he wasn't going to hide his resentment.
Gu Nuannuan, fully aware of her strained position, sighed deeply as she returned to her new room. The vibrant red decorations, meant to symbolize joy and love, seemed more ironic than ever. In a house filled with cold stares and silent judgments, the contrast between the lively colors and her own emotions only heightened her sense of isolation.
Without much thought, she tidied up the sofa, leaving the rest of the room untouched, and laid down, closing her eyes in an attempt to shut out the weight of the day. Sleep, however, did not come easily.
Meanwhile, back in another part of the mansion, Mayor Jiang entered his bedroom, finding his wife, Wei Aihua, already settled in for the night. He let out a sigh, knowing the tension in the house was mounting.
"Aihua," he started, "you should go and check on Nuannuan. She's alone, and Chenyu didn't even stay with her tonight. If word gets out that our Jiang family treated the new bride like this on her first night, people will think poorly of us."
Wei Aihua's lips curled in disdain as she turned her head slightly. "I warned everyone. I said this marriage wasn't right, but no one listened to me. Now you want me to go comfort her? I can't even keep my own husband in line, how do you expect me to take care of her?"
"Aihua, you are the sister-in-law, and the mistress of this household. It's your responsibility."
"Responsibility? She had the nerve to marry into this family with such shamelessness, and now you think she's worthy of my attention?" Wei Aihua's voice was sharp, her frustration evident. With a flick of her hand, she turned off the table lamp, signaling the end of the conversation. "Go to sleep."
Back in his car, Jiang Chenyu drove through the night, heading toward the only place that ever felt like home to him—Yenan Villa. The old Jiang family mansion never suited him, with its heavy atmosphere of tradition and family obligations. Yenan Villa, where he lived alone most of the time, offered him a sanctuary from the weight of the Jiang family name. He could only stand being in the old house for a few days out of the year, and tonight, of all nights, he felt the need to escape.
Upon arriving at Yenan Villa, the sight that greeted him was unexpected. Sitting at the entrance, her figure barely illuminated by the house lights, was a woman clutching a bottle of wine. Her head drooped slightly, and her eyes, though glassy from tears, seemed to sparkle with confusion and hurt. It was Gao Rouer.
The car lights dimmed as Jiang Chenyu stepped out, approaching her with a frown. "Why are you here?" he asked, his voice calm but distant.
Gao Rouer raised her head, her tears flowing uncontrollably. "Why, Chenyu? Why did you marry her?" Her voice trembled, carrying the weight of her anguish.
Her question cut through the air, heavy with years of unspoken emotions. Gao Rouer had been by Jiang Chenyu's side for over a decade. She had been with him through his highs and lows, always silently hoping that one day, she would be the one he chose to spend his life with. But now, her hopes had been shattered, and the man she had loved for so long was married to someone else.
"You've drunk too much," Jiang Chenyu replied, his tone indifferent as he bent down and picked her up, carrying her into the villa.
"I'm not drunk!" she insisted, her words slurred with emotion, not alcohol. "You know how I feel, Chenyu. Fifteen years. I've loved you for fifteen years. I thought if you ever got married, it would be to me. But why her? Is it because she's younger than me?"
Jiang Chenyu carried her inside, gently placing her on the sofa. Her words didn't stop, her pain too deep to hold back. "You don't love her. You can't love her. You love me, right? I've been with you for so long. Tell me, Chenyu, why did you marry her?"
Ignoring her pleas, he coldly instructed, "Wake up and leave."
But Gao Rouer refused to leave, her desperation showing. "No! You're avoiding the truth. If you loved her, you wouldn't be here tonight. You'd be with her on your wedding night. You wouldn't have left her at the old house and come here alone."
Her tears fell faster, her heartbreak on full display. "I've waited for you for fifteen years, Chenyu. I know you. The woman who stays in this villa, in this home of yours, is the one you truly love. It's me, isn't it? I was supposed to be the one. But then she—she came and ruined everything. Why did you marry her? Why?"
Her voice cracked, and for a moment, Jiang Chenyu could feel her agony reverberating in the room. He didn't have an answer. He didn't even understand why he had gone through with the marriage himself. It had been nothing more than a means to an end—a solution to a problem. But explaining that to Gao Rouer would only cause more pain.
Unable to bear seeing her in such a state, Jiang Chenyu took out his phone and called the Gao family. "She's at my place. She's drunk. Come and pick her up."
He didn't say much after that, hanging up the phone and stepping back as Gao Rouer continued to cry, her heart seemingly broken beyond repair.
The reality of the night settled in for Jiang Chenyu—this marriage, this union that had been forced upon him, was already causing ripples of pain, not just for himself but for those around him. And yet, the path forward was already set, and there was no turning back.