Chapter Text
The sharp clink of the metal pen on the polished glass table echoed through the quiet room. Shen Wenlang’s fingers rested over the contract, the ink still drying, as his father sat opposite him, his eyes sharp and unyielding.
“You know the importance of this, Wenlang,” his father’s voice was low, yet it carried the weight of authority, the same way it always did. “This marriage is not just about you and Gao Tu. It’s about the future of the family. The future of both our companies. You’re both smart enough to understand that.”
Wenlang didn’t need his father to remind him of the stakes. The Shen family, one of the largest conglomerates in the country, had built its empire on a foundation of power, influence, and strategic alliances. The marriage between him and Gao Tu wasn’t a simple matter of love; it was a business arrangement meant to solidify the family’s position at the top of the business world.
Wenlang took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the fine print on the contract. There were clauses on everything from financial arrangements to household duties. But it was the last one that caught his attention—the clause that seemed almost absurd.
Clause 7: Neither party shall develop romantic feelings for the other during the course of the marriage. Failure to comply will result in immediate annulment of the contract.
His heart tightened, and he let out a quiet laugh that had a bitter edge. He should’ve expected this—his father was never one for sentimentality. And neither was Wenlang. He had never believed in love, not the way others spoke of it. Love was a weakness. Something to be avoided, something that could be used against you.
“So, this is it then?” Wenlang asked, looking up at his father. “This is the life I’m supposed to live now?”
His father nodded firmly. “You have a duty, Wenlang. To the family, to the legacy, to the company. Everything else is secondary. Gao Tu is a good match. His family has connections, resources, and influence. You both stand to gain much from this union.”
Wenlang’s lips curled into a smirk, though there was no humor in it. "And what if I don’t agree?"
His father leaned back in his chair, his gaze never wavering. "You’ll find that this is not a choice you can refuse."
There was no room for argument, no way out. Wenlang had long since learned that the weight of his family’s expectations was not something that could be ignored. He was the heir to the Shen legacy. His actions weren’t just his own—they were a reflection of the family’s power. His happiness had never been a priority.
With a slow, deliberate movement, Wenlang signed the contract. His father smiled, as if the matter was settled.
“Good. Now, get prepared. The engagement ceremony is in two weeks. We’ll announce the news then.”
Gao Tu sat alone in the corner of the family’s sprawling mansion, the silence of the room almost suffocating. He hadn’t spoken to anyone since he arrived earlier that afternoon. His parents, busy with their own dealings, hadn’t said much either, but there was no mistaking the subtle looks they exchanged when they thought he wasn’t paying attention. Looks that said it all.
This marriage was not about him. It was about business.
For the Gao family, this was a calculated move. The Shen family had always been powerful, influential, and rich—everything the Gaos had worked for. Aligning their fates with the Shen family’s meant prosperity. It was something Gao Tu had been taught to accept for as long as he could remember. His personal feelings were irrelevant.
His father had told him countless times that sacrifices were necessary. Personal happiness didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. It never had.
“Gao Tu.”
His father’s voice broke through the haze of his thoughts. He looked up to see the man standing in the doorway, wearing his usual businesslike expression.
“You need to be at the engagement party tonight. The Shens expect to see you there with Shen Wenlang. Do not disappoint us.”
“I understand,” Gao Tu replied, his voice steady, betraying none of the turmoil within him.
His father nodded, satisfied. “Good. This marriage will benefit us both. You know that. This is your duty.”
Duty. The word echoed in his mind, a heavy weight. Gao Tu wasn’t naïve. He knew exactly why he was being forced into this marriage. Shen Wenlang wasn’t a stranger to him, but they had never been close. He had watched him from afar, admired him in secret, but never once thought they would be bound together like this.
And yet, here they were. Two young men, pushed into a marriage of convenience, with a set of rules to follow.
That evening, the engagement party felt more like a corporate event than a celebration. The room was filled with the best and brightest—business leaders, politicians, socialites, all gathered to witness the merging of two powerful families. Gao Tu stood at the edge of the crowd, his hand clenched around the champagne flute as he tried to make himself invisible.
He knew this would be the hardest part: seeing Shen Wenlang for the first time after the contract had been signed. He couldn’t help the knot that formed in his stomach as the door opened and Shen Wenlang walked into the room, the attention of everyone immediately drawn to him.
Wenlang was everything Gao Tu had imagined—and more. His presence was magnetic, exuding confidence and power. He was the embodiment of everything Gao Tu had always wanted, but never believed he could have. He felt his heart race, even as he reminded himself that this was a contract, a mere formality. There could be no feelings involved.
No matter how much he wished things were different.
Wenlang’s eyes scanned the room, his expression indifferent, as if he were already bored by the grand event. When his gaze finally landed on Gao Tu, something shifted. For a split second, their eyes met—there was no warmth there, no connection, but something flickered between them. Gao Tu felt it, even if it was fleeting.
Wenlang nodded curtly, acknowledging his presence. It was all they could afford to do.
“Shen Wenlang, welcome,” Gao Tu’s father greeted, stepping forward with a practiced smile. “This is truly a momentous occasion for both our families.”
Wenlang offered a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, shaking hands with Gao Tu’s father. "Thank you. It’s an honor to be here."
The rest of the evening passed in a blur for Gao Tu. He couldn’t focus on the conversations, the laughter, the clinking of glasses. His mind kept returning to Wenlang. What would it be like to live with him? To share a home with him, bound by a contract that explicitly forbade love?
And yet, as the night stretched on, and they both took their places on the dance floor for the obligatory engagement waltz, Gao Tu realized something.
He was already breaking the rules.
The moment he placed his hand on Wenlang’s waist, feeling the subtle tension in the air, he knew—he was already falling for the man he was supposed to avoid.
But the rules were clear.
No love. No falling. No attachment.
And yet, as they danced, as they moved together through the room, he wondered how long either of them would be able to keep their hearts from breaking the rules.