The days following their agreement were a whirlwind. Li Yan and Mu Zhen began their new lives as a married couple, but the lie they were living felt heavy with every passing day.

They attended family gatherings, social events, and even business meetings as if they were truly in love, all the while keeping their true feelings hidden behind smiles and well-rehearsed words. It was exhausting, but the longer they spent together, the more Li Yan began to notice the cracks in Mu Zhen’s composed exterior.

He was constantly on edge, as if the weight of the deception was eating at him from the inside. And despite her own reservations, Li Yan found herself becoming more drawn to him with each passing day.

One evening, as they sat in their lavish apartment, Mu Zhen’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his face tightening.

“It’s them,” he said, his voice unusually cold. “The ones I’m trying to escape.”

Li Yan nodded, understanding the strain in his voice. She had seen how relentless his family was about the marriage. But something in his tone intrigued her.

“What do they want?” she asked, almost involuntarily.

Mu Zhen stared at her for a long moment, as if considering how much to reveal. Finally, he spoke.

“They want to control me. They think I’m still a pawn in their game. But I won’t let them win. Not this time.”

Li Yan felt a strange sense of solidarity. She knew all too well what it was like to be controlled by those who thought they knew what was best for her.The days following their agreement were a whirlwind. Li Yan and Mu Zhen began their new lives as a married couple, but the lie they were living felt heavy with every passing day.

They attended family gatherings, social events, and even business meetings as if they were truly in love, all the while keeping their true feelings hidden behind smiles and well-rehearsed words. It was exhausting, but the longer they spent together, the more Li Yan began to notice the cracks in Mu Zhen’s composed exterior.

He was constantly on edge, as if the weight of the deception was eating at him from the inside. And despite her own reservations, Li Yan found herself becoming more drawn to him with each passing day.

One evening, as they sat in their lavish apartment, Mu Zhen’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his face tightening.

“It’s them,” he said, his voice unusually cold. “The ones I’m trying to escape.”

Li Yan nodded, understanding the strain in his voice. She had seen how relentless his family was about the marriage. But something in his tone intrigued her.

“What do they want?” she asked, almost involuntarily.

Mu Zhen stared at her for a long moment, as if considering how much to reveal. Finally, he spoke.

“They want to control me. They think I’m still a pawn in their game. But I won’t let them win. Not this time.”

Li Yan felt a strange sense of solidarity. She knew all too well what it was like to be controlled by those who thought they knew what was best for her.The days following their agreement were a whirlwind. Li Yan and Mu Zhen began their new lives as a married couple, but the lie they were living felt heavy with every passing day.

They attended family gatherings, social events, and even business meetings as if they were truly in love, all the while keeping their true feelings hidden behind smiles and well-rehearsed words. It was exhausting, but the longer they spent together, the more Li Yan began to notice the cracks in Mu Zhen’s composed exterior.

He was constantly on edge, as if the weight of the deception was eating at him from the inside. And despite her own reservations, Li Yan found herself becoming more drawn to him with each passing day.

One evening, as they sat in their lavish apartment, Mu Zhen’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his face tightening.

“It’s them,” he said, his voice unusually cold. “The ones I’m trying to escape.”

Li Yan nodded, understanding the strain in his voice. She had seen how relentless his family was about the marriage. But something in his tone intrigued her.

“What do they want?” she asked, almost involuntarily.

Mu Zhen stared at her for a long moment, as if considering how much to reveal. Finally, he spoke.

“They want to control me. They think I’m still a pawn in their game. But I won’t let them win. Not this time.”

Li Yan felt a strange sense of solidarity. She knew all too well what it was like to be controlled by those who thought they knew what was best for her.