Chapter 5 —The air inside the apartment dropped several degrees.
Lin Xiaoyu didn't need to ask who the woman was.
The way Zhou Yanchen's shoulders stiffened told her everything.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
His voice was polite.
Too polite.
The woman smiled faintly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
"I came to congratulate you," she said. "You got married without telling anyone. That's very… you."
Xiaoyu watched quietly from the side.
Elegant posture. Calm tone. Perfect makeup even at night.
This woman was not here by accident.
"I'm Su Man," the woman said, finally turning to Xiaoyu. "Yanchen's former fiancée."
Former.
The word landed cleanly and sharp.
Xiaoyu felt something twist in her chest—but she didn't let it show.
"I'm Lin Xiaoyu," she replied evenly. "His current wife."
Su Man's smile widened slightly.
"Of course," she said. "I can see that."
Zhou Yanchen stepped between them subtly.
"This visit is unnecessary," he said.
Su Man tilted her head. "Is it? Your marriage is all over the news. I thought I deserved an explanation."
"You don't," he replied flatly.
Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow.
Interesting.
Su Man sighed softly. "Yanchen, after all those years, you still don't know how to be gentle."
She looked at Xiaoyu again.
"You're a lawyer, right?"
Xiaoyu nodded. "Yes."
"That makes sense," Su Man said. "He always liked women who could think."
Xiaoyu smiled. "And you always liked speaking for him?"
The room went silent.
Su Man laughed lightly. "You're sharp."
"Occupational habit," Xiaoyu replied.
Zhou Yanchen glanced at her.
For the first time that night, something like surprise flickered in his eyes.
Su Man folded her arms. "I won't stay long. I just wanted to see what kind of woman could make you break all your rules."
She stepped closer to Xiaoyu.
"You should be careful," she said quietly. "Yanchen doesn't fall in love easily. But when he does—he becomes cruel."
Xiaoyu didn't back away.
"Then it's a good thing this marriage is fake," she said calmly.
Su Man's eyes narrowed slightly.
Zhou Yanchen turned sharply. "Enough."
Su Man straightened and smiled again, perfectly composed.
"I'll see myself out," she said. "Mrs. Zhou."
When the door closed, the silence that followed was heavier than before.
Xiaoyu let out a slow breath.
"So," she said, breaking it, "former fiancée."
Zhou Yanchen rubbed his temple. "She shouldn't have come."
"But she did."
"Yes."
"And she clearly still cares."
"No," he said immediately.
Xiaoyu looked at him.
"Then why are you so tense?"
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
She walked toward the kitchen, needing distance.
"You don't owe me explanations," she said over her shoulder. "This is a contract marriage."
He followed her.
"You shouldn't provoke her."
Xiaoyu turned. "You shouldn't underestimate me."
Their eyes met.
The tension snapped—not into anger, but something far more dangerous.
"You're not scared," he said quietly.
"No," she replied. "I'm angry."
"At her?"
"At this situation," she said. "At being treated like a placeholder."
His expression darkened.
"You're not."
"Then what am I?"
He hesitated.
Just a second too long.
Xiaoyu laughed softly, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"See? That pause says everything."
She turned away.
That night, Xiaoyu lay awake again.
But this time, it wasn't anxiety keeping her up.
It was jealousy.
And that scared her far more than Su Man ever could.
Across the hall, Zhou Yanchen stood by the window, phone in hand.
A message glowed on the screen.The board wants a public appearance with your wife.He closed his eyes.Things were getting out of control.
And for the first time in years,he wasn't sure he wanted to regain it.