Hours later, Guo Min was carried out of the bathroom in her husband's arms.
She wasn't asleep, far from it... but her body felt pleasantly boneless, every muscle drained, every thought slow and heavy. Her head rested against Zihan's shoulder, eyes half-lidded as steam still clung faintly to her skin.
Zihan laid her gently on the bed, careful as if she might break. "Sorry," he murmured, leaning down, his voice low and almost apologetic. "I wore you out."
She shot him a weak glare at first, clearly intending to scold him, but the effort fizzled out halfway. Instead, she reached up, cupped his face, and rubbed his cheeks lightly between her fingers. "…It's fine," she said, then leaned forward to press a soft peck to his cheek.
Zihan stilled for a fraction of a second before straightening. "I'll be going now," he said.
He moved efficiently, already reaching for a fresh suit from the wardrobe. Within minutes, the familiar version of him reassembled itself... crisp shirt, tailored blazer, calm expression carefully back in place. He was fastening his watch when a knock sounded at the door.
"Yes?" Guo Min answered, sitting up slowly.
The door opened just enough for the maid to speak. "Young madam, Young Madam Yang is here to see you."
Guo Min nodded. "Alright. Do the needful. I'll be down in ten minutes."
The maid withdrew.
With a quiet sigh, Guo Min slid off the bed. Her legs protested immediately, a dull sting reminding her of the hours she'd spent in the bathroom with Zihan. She glanced down at herself, marks still visible, unmistakably his and shook her head.
"Honestly," she muttered.
She walked to the closet, choosing a simple dress, then changed quickly. Home slippers followed. By the time she was ready, she felt composed enough to face the day.
She took two steps toward the door. A hand slipped around her waist and pulled her gently back. She turned her head. "What is it?"
Zihan hesitated, just a beat too long.
"…My tie."
She blinked, then laughed softly. "You tie it yourself every day." But still smiling, she reached for his tie, fingers moving automatically, tightening and smoothing it into place with practiced familiarity. When she was done, she patted his chest once, lightly.
They walked downstairs together.
In the living room, Wang Lixi had just risen from her seat. Zihan nodded politely.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," Lixi replied.
Without lingering, Zihan stepped out, his car already waiting to take him to Paradise Celeste.
Guo Min turned back just in time for Wang Lixi to pull her into a warm, familiar hug, arms wrapping around her tightly.
"What brings Young Madam Yang to my humble abode so early in the morning?" Guo Min teased lightly, returning the hug.
Lixi let out a small breathless laugh, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
The maids soon arrived, setting down fresh juice and a light breakfast, soft, carefully prepared dishes meant to be gentle on the stomach. Once they retreated, the room settled into quiet again.
"Guo Min… I…" Lixi began. Her voice faltered.
Guo Min noticed immediately. She paused mid-bite, lifting her gaze slowly. The hesitation and tremor. None of it went unnoticed.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice low and calm.
Lixi forced a smile, fingers twisting together in her lap. "I've been a bad friend to you, MinMin," she said softly. "I'm sorry."
Guo Min's brows drew together. She placed her cutlery down carefully, the soft clink sounding louder than it should have. After a moment, she sighed and leaned back slightly. "Talk.".
Lixi swallowed. "…I tricked Yufan into sleeping with me."
The words landed heavily.
She paused, then rushed on, voice shaking. "I swear, I never intended to get pregnant. I didn't plan it. But I did… and I was selfish. I used it to my advantage." Her eyes reddened. "I'm sorry."
Guo Min didn't react immediately.
She stood, walked over, and sat beside Lixi instead, close enough that there was no escape from her presence.
"Tell me everything," Guo Min said quietly. "From the beginning to the end. And don't you dare leave anything out."
Lixi flinched but nodded.
"Yufan… he was always in love with you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I envied you. I liked him, but I always knew I never caught his gaze." She took a shaky breath. "After your wedding with Brother Zihan, he was drunk. Heartbroken."
She paused, then continued, eyes downcast. "I took him home that night. He mistook me for you… and slept with me."
Guo Min's jaw tightened.
"After that," Lixi said, tears pooling, "I unexpectedly got pregnant. And because of that… we got married."
A long silence followed.
"…You indulged him?" Guo Min asked slowly.
"…Yes."
"With my name?" Guo Min pressed.
Lixi nodded.
Guo Min stood abruptly, the movement sharp. She turned to face Lixi fully, eyes cold now.
"How could you do that, Lixi?" she said, her voice steady but cutting. "That's disgusting."
"I know," Lixi whispered. "I'm sorry." The apology hung between them, small, fragile, and painfully insufficient.
Guo Min rubbed the bridge of her nose, eyes briefly closing as if to steady herself.
"…So this is why you and Yufan haven't been getting along," she said at last.
"…Yes," Lixi answered quietly.
Guo Min exhaled slowly, then looked straight at her. "Lixi, you wanted Yufan, but this was not the right way to go about it." Her voice sharpened despite herself. "Do you honestly think this marriage will last?"
She didn't wait for an answer.
"So tell me, what did you gain from all this?" Guo Min continued, almost snapping now. "An unwanted pregnancy? A cold, resentful marriage?"
Her gaze softened for just a moment, frustration bleeding through. "Why, Lixi? Why did you have to do it this way?"
Lixi's composure finally collapsed.
"Guo Min, I'm sorry," she cried, tears spilling freely now. "Please forgive me. I don't know what to do anymore." Her shoulders shook. "Even after the marriage, Yufan looks at me with nothing but disdain. Every time he looks at me, it's like he regrets my existence. I'm exhausted. I really don't know what to do." She broke down completely, sobs wracking her body.
Guo Min froze. For the first time since the confession began, she didn't have an immediate response.
Yufan was hot-headed, everyone knew that. He had openly said he didn't even remember that night. Yet responsibility had been shoved onto him regardless, binding him into a marriage he never chose.
But responsibility could force marriage.
It could never force love.
Guo Min opened her mouth to speak...
When screams erupted from somewhere deeper in the house.
"Madam...!"
A maid came running, her voice breaking into a terrified yelp as she stumbled forward. Blood pooled beneath her feet, staining the marble floor before she collapsed out of sight.
Chaos followed, shouts, crashing sounds, footsteps pounding through corridors.
Then...
"Sit."
The command came from behind Guo Min, rough and unyielding. Cold metal pressed against the back of her head.
A pistol.
They were surrounded... six bulky men, armed, faces hard and unfamiliar.
Guo Min didn't scream.
She paused for half a second, then reached out calmly, gripping Lixi's trembling hand and guiding her toward the chair beside her.
Both of them sat.
Only then did Guo Min lift her chin, her expression eerily composed despite the storm raging inside her chest.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady, controlled, unyielding.