At 5:30 in the early morning, before the alarm clock rang, I had already opened my eyes. The guest room in the Huo family's old mansion was more spacious—and colder—than I had imagined. Ivory-white walls, dark solid wood furniture, and outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows was a meticulously trimmed but lifeless garden. Barefoot, I stepped onto the soft carpet and took out the thick folder from my suitcase.
"Huo Family Member Files, Chapter Four Revised Edition," I silently recited the title, my fingertips gently brushing the edge of the pages. These documents were the result of my sleepless efforts over the past seventy-two hours, pieced together bit by bit from public records, financial reports, and even social media updates. Now, they were my only weapon.
I turned to the page on Huo Qiming. Second branch representative, forty-eight years old, Vice President of Huo Group, in charge of overseas investments. The man in the photo had the Huo family's signature deep features, but a shrewd calculation could be seen in the corners of his eyes and brows. It was rumored he was one of the main forces pushing for Huo Chen Zhou's "retirement due to injury." "Likes to twist his wedding ring before speaking," I wrote on a sticky note, "indicates he's organizing his words or lying."
Next was Huo Meiyun. Fifty-two years old, third aunt of the Huo family, not employed at Huo Group but controls shares in three listed companies through marriage. She prides herself on her "elegant lady" image but is actually adept at hurting others with gentle words. "Often inquires about others' educational backgrounds," I noted, "actually evaluating their origins and usefulness."
The sky outside gradually brightened. I repeatedly memorized the key passages in the file until every name was firmly linked to their face, position, and faction. At 6:15, I closed the folder and hid it in the secret compartment of the bedside table—a hidden space I had discovered by accident last night, behind an inconspicuous drawer.
In front of the dressing table, I examined myself in the mirror. Twenty-two-year-old Gu Nian, the always overlooked second daughter of the Gu family, now the nominal wife of Huo Chen Zhou. I chose an off-white knee-length suit, well-tailored but understated, and pinned a simple pearl brooch at the collar. My makeup was minimal, just enough to refine my brows and make my eyes look calmer.
"Be like water," I whispered to myself in the mirror, "seemingly soft, but able to seep everywhere."
At exactly seven o'clock, I opened my door on time. The hallway was empty; the deep red carpet swallowed the sound of my footsteps. Following the map in my memory, I headed toward the dining room, but nearly collided with a wheelchair at the corner of the corridor.
Huo Chen Zhou sat in the wheelchair, dressed in a black suit that made his skin look even paler. Morning light filtered through stained glass, casting interlaced shadows on him. When those eyes looked up, I felt as if an invisible probe was scanning my entire body.
"Miss Gu, you're up early." His voice was calm, giving nothing away—neither praise nor probing.
"Good morning, Mr. Huo." I nodded slightly, noticing a financial report on his knees, its margins filled with dense annotations.
We moved down the corridor, me following behind, the sound of the wheelchair wheels and my footsteps forming a strange rhythm in the empty space. Just before reaching the dining room entrance, he suddenly stopped and turned slightly toward me.
"Breakfast in the Huo family," he said in a low voice, just loud enough for me to hear, "has never been just about eating."
I stopped, keeping a proper distance from him. "What should I be careful of?"
His fingers tapped twice on the wheelchair armrest—a habitual gesture when he's thinking, as noted in my files.
"Keep quiet, listen more and speak less, but don't appear weak." He paused. "Remember what status you're sitting there with."
"The status of Mrs. Huo," I replied calmly.
He nodded almost imperceptibly, then gestured toward the dining room. "Go in. I'll be there shortly."
Looking in the direction he indicated, I noticed a familiar figure standing in the shadow of the dining room entrance. Assistant Lin was holding a tablet, recording something. When our eyes met, he bowed slightly, then quickly wrote on the tablet.
"He's recording the arrival time of each member," Huo Chen Zhou explained mildly. "The Huo family values rules; being late or leaving early will be noted."
I took a deep breath, adjusted my brooch, and walked toward the double oak doors.
The dining room was even more grand than I'd imagined. A long table that could seat twenty stood in the center, silver cutlery sparkling in the morning light. A crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, and a huge plaque on the wall bore four golden characters: "Family First."
A dozen or so members were already seated, their low conversations echoing in the spacious room. I quickly scanned the room, found my seat according to the seating chart in my memory—at the very end of the table, the farthest from the head seat.
"This must be Chen Zhou's new bride?" a gentle voice came from my left.
I turned to see Huo Meiyun elegantly holding a coffee cup, the perfect smile on her face. She wore a champagne-colored suit today, with pearl necklace and earrings complementing each other.
"Yes, good morning, Aunt. I'm Gu Nian." I bowed slightly, my tone respectful but not servile.
"What a pretty child," she looked me up and down. "I heard you're still a graduate student? Which school?"
"Yuncheng University, majoring in business management." I kept my smile, knowing that in the eyes of the Huo family, this top domestic university was probably just "acceptable."
She nodded lightly, her tone even gentler. "A good school. But Huo family daughters-in-law usually graduate from overseas prestigious universities. Chen Zhou's mother graduated from Cambridge. You might feel some pressure in the future."
At this moment, Huo Qiming joined the conversation. "Yuncheng University is also a good choice, after all, we all know the Gu family's situation." He twisted the wedding ring on his left hand, his tone seemingly casual, "I heard this marriage was arranged suddenly, so the Gu family didn't have time to prepare a dowry?"
The conversation at the table quieted, and several gazes, overt or covert, turned to me. I picked up my water glass, took a sip to buy time to think. The water was at the perfect temperature, the lemon slice measured as if with a ruler.
"The dowry is just a formality," I set down the glass, my voice clear but not sharp. "The real substance is the cooperation between the Huo and Gu families. My father specifically asked me to convey that he looks forward to discussing the details of the new energy project with you after next month's board meeting."
Huo Qiming's expression changed slightly, clearly not expecting me to know about this business collaboration. The ring on his left hand spun even faster.
"President Gu is too kind," he quickly recovered, "but these business matters may not be your concern. The Huo family's daughter-in-law just needs to do her own part."
A younger collateral member chuckled, "Second Uncle is right. Being a rich family's wife isn't so easy. I heard it was originally Miss Gu's elder sister who was supposed to marry in; why was there a last-minute switch?"
This question was like a stone thrown into calm water; the dining room fell silent. All eyes focused on me, waiting for my reaction.
I gently put down my napkin, swept my gaze across the room, and finally landed on the young man who asked. I remembered he was the grandson of the third branch, recently returned from abroad, holding a sinecure in a Huo Group subsidiary.
"Marriage is not a child's play; naturally, the most suitable person should be chosen." My voice was steady, betraying no emotion. "My sister is indeed outstanding, but perhaps Mr. Huo thought I was better suited to the Huo family's environment."
"Suited?" the young man sneered, "Suited for what? Suited to take care of a—"
His words were cut off by the sound of the dining room doors opening.
Huo Chen Zhou's wheelchair, pushed by Assistant Lin, entered the dining room, and everyone's attention shifted immediately. Assistant Lin bent down and whispered something in his ear; he nodded slightly and was pushed to the left of the head seat—the seat originally reserved for the family head, but now specially modified due to his "injury."
Breakfast officially began, with servants serving dishes in an orderly fashion. I noticed that each servant's uniform had subtle differences, with different badge designs embroidered at the collar—confirming my suspicion that the Huo family's servants also belonged to different factions.
The first half of the meal was relatively peaceful, with only the crisp clinking of cutlery. I ate my eggs in small bites, observing everyone's dining habits—one's true character is best revealed in the details.
Huo Qiming always cut his food from the center, his movements forceful; Huo Meiyun cut hers into tiny pieces, striving for perfection; the younger collateral members ate quickly, clearly not taking this breakfast seriously. As for me, I deliberately slowed my pace, chewing each bite carefully, masking my inner tension and displaying composure.
"Miss Gu, are you satisfied with the food?" Huo Meiyun suddenly asked. "I heard the Gu family prefers Chinese breakfasts. Are you used to Western fare?"
"It's delicious," I replied with a smile. "I was an exchange student abroad, so I'm used to all kinds of cuisines."
"Oh? Which school?" Huo Qiming immediately followed up, obviously wanting to verify my earlier claim.
"London School of Economics, for one semester," I answered calmly—this was information I had prepared in my files. "My mentor was Professor Anderson, who specializes in corporate mergers and acquisitions. I heard Huo Group consulted him during last year's acquisition of Germany's Bell Group?"
Huo Qiming was clearly stunned, not expecting me to know this detail. That acquisition was one of the projects he led.
"I didn't expect Miss Gu to be so knowledgeable about business cases," his tone now more scrutinizing.
"Just an interest," I humbly lowered my head and cut a small piece of egg. "Now that I'm part of the Huo family, I should learn more about the family business."
At this moment, an elderly woman suddenly spoke, "Speaking of the family business, shouldn't Chen Zhou consider stepping down from some positions? Health comes first. Qiming can handle the board for you."
The topic shifted to Huo Chen Zhou, and the atmosphere in the dining room became subtle.
Huo Chen Zhou slowly wiped his mouth with a napkin, his voice betraying neither joy nor anger: "Thank you for your concern. The doctor says my rehabilitation is going well. Besides," he looked around the room, "Huo Group won't grind to a halt just because I'm temporarily immobile."
"But there should be a contingency plan," Huo Qiming pressed on. "The end-of-month board meeting is crucial, and several projects need final decisions. If your health doesn't allow…"
"My health is fine," Huo Chen Zhou interrupted, his voice still calm but with undeniable authority, "enough to chair the board and make all decisions."
No one spoke for a moment, only the faint clinking of cutlery. I noticed Assistant Lin standing in the corner, quickly recording something on his tablet.
Suddenly, Huo Qiming turned to me, his smile warm but his eyes sharp. "Miss Gu, what do you think? As Chen Zhou's wife, you should know his health best. Is he fit to take on such heavy responsibilities at the end of the month?"
This question was a trap. No matter how I answered, I'd fall into it—if I said he was fine, I'd seem indifferent; if I admitted he was unwell, I'd hand the second branch an excuse. All eyes turned to me again.
I set down my knife and fork, the cutlery clinking crisply against the porcelain plate. I could feel Huo Chen Zhou's gaze, though I didn't turn to look at him—I knew he was observing my reaction.
I slowly lifted my eyes and looked straight at Huo Qiming, my voice clear and calm: "Since I am Mrs. Huo, whether I am worthy of that position should be up to Mr. Huo to decide."
The air instantly froze. No one expected me to so directly throw the question back to Huo Chen Zhou, or to use the identity of "Mrs. Huo" as a shield.
Huo Qiming's smile stiffened, Huo Meiyun's coffee cup hovered midair. The entire dining room was so quiet you could hear the gardener snipping branches outside.
Everyone's gaze turned to the man in the wheelchair. Huo Chen Zhou slowly lifted his eyes, those bottomless eyes sweeping the room before settling on me. His fingers tapped twice on the wheelchair armrest, then he spoke, his voice not loud but clearly reaching every corner of the dining room: "Her sitting here is the answer."
In that instant, I felt something quietly explode in my chest. It wasn't emotion, but a kind of affirmation—affirmation that my choice was not wrong, affirmation that the balance of power behind this wealthy marriage was quietly shifting.
Huo Qiming's face turned from red to white, his fingers unconsciously clutching his napkin. Huo Meiyun forced a smile, but her fork accidentally knocked her knife to the floor, the crisp sound of silverware hitting the ground especially sharp in the silence.
"Well said," a frail but powerful voice came from the dining room door, "Huo family members should have such spirit."
Everyone stood up, even Huo Chen Zhou nodded slightly in respect. The newcomer was Old Master Huo, semi-retired but still the spiritual leader of the family. Leaning on a sandalwood cane, he walked steadily to the head seat, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the room.
"Breakfast like a battlefield," he said as he sat, his tone unreadable. "You all have plenty of energy."
No one dared reply. The servants quickly set his place, their movements more careful than before.
Old Master Huo's gaze landed on me, lingering for a moment. "A daughter of the Gu family?"
"Yes, Grandpa," I stood and bowed slightly.
"Sit," he waved his hand, his tone flat. "Since Chen Zhou chose you, he must have his reasons."
These words seemed simple, but were undoubtedly the final verdict on the earlier confrontation.
The rest of breakfast proceeded in an eerie calm. No one dared openly challenge me, but undercurrents still surged. I noticed several collateral members now looked at me differently—from disdain to scrutiny, even a hint of wariness.
Huo Chen Zhou barely spoke again, only occasionally conversing quietly with Old Master Huo. I maintained proper silence, focusing on my meal, but every sense was on high alert.
Breakfast finally ended around nine o'clock. Old Master Huo left first, followed by Huo Chen Zhou, who departed early for rehabilitation. As he passed me, he nodded almost imperceptibly, his lips forming four words only I could hear: "Well done."
This brief recognition stirred a strange ripple in my heart. Not joy, but more like a soldier being acknowledged by a general.
I followed the crowd out of the dining room, only to be stopped by Huo Meiyun in a side hall. She wore a kindly smile, but her eyes were cold.
"Nian Nian, Aunt has a few words for you," she pulled me aside. "The Huo family is a complicated place. Sometimes, it's important to know your place. After all," she lowered her voice, "not everyone can always sit in that position."
I kept my smile, gently withdrawing my hand. "Thank you for the reminder, Aunt. But I believe a person's position isn't decided by others, but earned by oneself."
Her smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal. "It's good for young people to have confidence, but remember, the higher you climb, the harder you fall."
"Then I'll remember to bring a parachute," I replied gently, bowing slightly. "If Aunt has nothing else, I'll return to my room."
As I turned away, I could feel her gaze prickling my back.
On the way back to my room, I deliberately took a detour past the garden terrace. As expected, Huo Qiming and several second-branch members were there, speaking in low voices. I pretended to admire the paintings on the wall, quietly moving close enough to overhear.
"…must deal with her quickly, she's harder to handle than expected." That was Huo Qiming's voice.
"But Old Master's attitude just now…" a younger voice hesitated.
"Old Master cares about the family's face, but that doesn't mean he'll tolerate an outsider meddling in family affairs," Huo Qiming said coldly. "Before the end-of-month board meeting, this variable must be eliminated."
"But what about Chen Zhou…"
"He can't protect himself now," another voice interjected. "The medical team is already taken care of. When the time comes, they'll issue a certificate saying he can't continue in his position…"
My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm. I quietly stepped back, then deliberately made my footsteps louder. The conversation on the terrace immediately stopped. As I passed, they had already switched to chatting about the weather, but Huo Qiming's gaze at me was now clearly more guarded.
Back in my room, I immediately sensed something was wrong. There was a faint unfamiliar perfume in the air, and though the bedside drawer was closed, a small piece of fabric stuck out from the edge—I had clearly left everything neat and tidy this morning.
I quickly opened the drawer and found that the old necklace my mother gave me had been moved. The hair I had placed under it as a simple alarm was gone.
Someone had entered my room and gone through my things.
I took a deep breath, suppressing my unease. Walking to the window, I saw Huo Chen Zhou's wheelchair being pushed toward the rehabilitation center on the east side, Assistant Lin following, talking on the phone.
Suddenly, a young girl hurried past the hallway, seemingly dropping a folded note by accident. I waited until she was gone before picking it up. Inside was a single line: "Be careful of the second branch, they're looking for something."
I recognized the handwriting—it was Huo Tingting, the granddaughter of the Huo family's fourth branch, who had sat diagonally across from me at breakfast. She was one of the few who hadn't joined in the morning's difficulties.
I put away the note and looked out the window again. Sunlight now flooded the garden, but the shadows of the Huo family mansion remained cold as ever.
I took out my phone, my finger hovering over the screen for a moment, then dialed a number.
"Dad, it's me," I said calmly when the call connected, surprising even myself. "Breakfast at the Huo family was interesting… Yes, I met Vice President Huo Qiming… He specifically asked about the new energy project…"
I made my words sound like a routine family update, but every sentence was carefully crafted information. Since the second branch already saw me as a threat, I no longer needed to hide my edge.
After the call, I stood by the window, watching as Huo Chen Zhou's wheelchair disappeared into the rehabilitation center's doors in the distance.
The game of power had begun, and I, Gu Nian, was no longer the Gu family's second daughter who could be manipulated at will.
My fingertips traced the cold window glass as I silently made a promise: Whatever the purpose of this marriage, whatever open or hidden threats the Huo family held, I would survive—and live better than anyone.
In the distance, a bird broke through the shadows of the trees and soared into the blue sky.
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