Lixue stared at her reflection, adjusting the delicate gown that clung to her frame. The deep red of the silk seemed to burn against her skin, a stark contrast to the icy detachment she had learned to wear over the years. Everything in this room felt suffocating, the walls closing in around her as the memories of a life lost surged within her.
No. This time, I won't let them win. I will take everything back.
Her thoughts were heavy with the weight of her rebirth. She would not repeat the mistakes of her past. Not the silence, not the sacrifice of her talent, nor the quiet acceptance of the injustices that had been heaped upon her.
She turned, moving swiftly to the door, her heels tapping softly against the floor.
As she stepped into the hallway, the cool air of the house seemed to stifle her with its stillness. But that silence was soon broken by a familiar voice.
"Lixue."
She paused, her heart skipping a beat at the sound of his voice. Mo Ran.
Lixue hadn't expected him to be the one waiting outside her door. She hadn't planned on seeing him so soon, especially not after their brief encounter earlier.
Her gaze flickered to him as he stood a few paces away, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, looking as indifferent as ever. But something in his eyes had shifted since their last exchange. His usual coldness was still there, but there was a softness too—a glimmer of something that she couldn't quite place.
"I… thought you'd be waiting downstairs," she said, her tone guarded, but her heart racing despite herself.
Mo Ran didn't answer right away. Instead, his gaze swept over her—lingering just a moment longer than she expected. She shifted under the weight of his gaze, her throat tightening, but she refused to look away.
"You look… stunning. Lixue" he said quietly, his voice almost gentle.
Lixue's breath caught in her throat. The words were unexpected, not because she doubted her appearance, but because they came from him—Mo Ran, the man who had never once shown her kindness in her past life.
She stood still for a long moment, processing the compliment. The last time he had spoken to her, his words were sharp, dismissive. This was different. But why? Why was he being so nice?
Her hand instinctively gripped the edge of her gown, her fingers tightening in confusion. Was he trying to trick me? Or is this some other game?
She met his gaze, steadying herself. "Why are you being so nice?" Her voice was calm, but the uncertainty in her words betrayed her.
Mo Ran's expression didn't change, but his eyes softened ever so slightly. "Haven't
I told you?" he said quietly, his gaze now fixed firmly on hers, "I plan on taking care of you, Lixue. This marriage is a partnership, and I intend to honor it. Plus you're really interesting."
Lixue's chest tightened. Take care of me? The words, though spoken with a calm sincerity, unsettled her. In her past life, he had never once shown a sign of care. He had been aloof, indifferent, even cruel when she had needed him most. Why the sudden shift now?
Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of the situation, but before she could voice another question, Mo Ran turned and started walking toward the stairs.
She hesitated, uncertainty creeping into her thoughts, but then her resolve took over. No. I won't let myself fall into confusion. He may be offering me kindness now, but that doesn't mean I should trust him. Not yet.
With a deep breath, she followed him, forcing her mind to focus on what truly mattered: her revenge, the justice she had been denied in her past life.
As they reached the top of the stairs, Mo Ran glanced at her once more, his gaze flickering with something unreadable before he said, "Shall we?"
Lixue nodded, her eyes unwavering. "Yes."
They descended together, and as they entered the grand hall, she steeled herself for the inevitable. Her past life had taught her one thing: no one could be trusted. Not even him.
The grand hall was bathed in a soft, golden light. The scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air, mixing with the soft murmur of 2-3 guest present whispered among themselves. The atmosphere was thick with formality, yet Lixue's heart felt strangely heavy, the weight of the moment pressing down on her chest.
The aisle stretched before her, a perfect line of white petals leading to the altar. She could feel the eyes of the guests on her, their gazes both judgmental and expectant, as if they were waiting for her to perform her role in the grand spectacle that was her life.
Her footsteps echoed in the silence, each one seeming to carry the weight of her past and the promise of her future. Her gaze was fixed ahead, never wavering from the man waiting at the altar.
Mo Ran stood there, as composed as ever, his back straight, his expression cool and unreadable. Unlike her, he looked every bit the part of the man who had everything—power, control, and a reputation that made even the most influential figures in society bow to him.
Her mind went back to Jia's words, crippled and ugly? Had Jia seen this man? She remembered them only talking through the phone before she made up her mind not marry Mo Ran.
Lixue lips curled, that would be her biggest mistake!
Her heart pounded as she drew closer, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. The vows they were about to say were nothing more than a formality, an act. This marriage wasn't one born of love, but of necessity—of revenge. She had been thrust into this role, a pawn in the game that Mo Ran seemed to have set into motion. But even so, the significance of the moment weighed heavily on her.
She reached the altar and stood beside him, the silence stretching for what felt like an eternity. The priest, an elderly man with soft eyes, cleared his throat and began speaking, his voice carrying across the room.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and woman in matrimony…"
Lixue barely heard the rest of the priest's words. She could feel her heart racing, the knot in her stomach tightening. This wasn't what she had imagined for herself, not even in her second life. A marriage built on vengeance, on justice, was far from the dream she had once held. But she was here now, and she had made her choice.
When the priest turned to them, his hands held out, a silent invitation to speak their vows, Lixue swallowed, pushing aside the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
She looked at Mo Ran—at the man who had never been her ally in her past life, who had contributed to the crushing weight of her despair—and took a deep breath.
"I, Yu Lixue, take you, Mo Ran, as my husband," she began, her voice steady despite the tremor of uncertainty that fluttered in her chest. "Not for love, not for companionship, but for justice. I will stand by you, and together we will right the wrongs that have been done to me. I swear this, not for our future, but for the vengeance that burns inside me. I will not falter. I will not fail."
Her words were cold, calculated, and every one of them was true. She wasn't here for love. She was here to reclaim everything that had been stolen from her. The hollow vows she spoke were a promise to herself as much as to him.
"…"
The guests and even the priest were stunned, just what kind of vow was this!
Mo Ran's expression didn't change. His eyes remained as distant as ever, his face a perfect mask of indifference. But there was something in the way he watched her—something that made her uneasy, though she couldn't quite place it.
When he spoke, his voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it, something that sent a shiver down her spine. "I, Mo Ran, take you, Yu Lixue, as my wife. Not out of love, but out of necessity. Not because I seek your affection, but because I seek justice. You will have what you deserve. You will get what was taken from you. But you will also have me by your side, for better or for worse."
His words, too, were laced with a promise—not of affection, but of something darker. Something driven by a mutual goal. The silence that followed their vows was heavy, thick with the understanding that neither of them was in this for the reasons people would expect. Their vows were more like contracts—sealed with a promise to avenge the wrongs of her past life.
The priest, as though sensing the tension in the air, quickly concluded the ceremony. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
But neither Lixue nor Mo Ran moved.