The ceremony ended.
The guests left.
The lights dimmed.
And just like that—
They were alone.
Su Yan stood in the middle of the room.
Still in her wedding dress.
And then—
"…Where are our parents?" Su Yan asked.
Lei Jun looked around the hall.
Empty.
Too empty.
"…They were just here," he said.
Su Yan frowned.
Something felt… suspicious.
Her phone suddenly buzzed.
A message.
From her mother.
She opened it.
"We've done our job. The rest is up to you two. Don't come home." 😊
Su Yan froze.
"…What?"
"…What is it?" Lei Jun asked.
She slowly turned her phone toward him.
He read it.
Silence.
Then—
His phone buzzed too.
"Son, be responsible. Also, we took a trip. Don't disturb us."
Another pause.
"…They ran away," Su Yan said.
"…They did," Lei Jun confirmed calmly.
"…They ABANDONED us?!"
"…Temporarily."
"…THIS IS NOT TEMPORARY!"
Later—
They stood in front of a new apartment.
A quiet building.
Simple.
Clean.
Su Yan stared at the door.
"…Don't tell me."
Lei Jun took out a key.
"…They prepared this."
Click.
The door opened.
They stepped inside.
And froze.
Everything was ready.
Furniture.
Decorations.
Even—
Two pairs of slippers.
Side by side.
Su Yan slowly walked in.
"…This is too much."
Lei Jun looked around.
Calm as ever.
"…Efficient."
"…Efficient?!" she turned to him.
He pointed at the table.
A neatly placed envelope.
Su Yan opened it.
Inside—
A letter.
"Live well together ❤️"
She stared at it.
Speechless.
"…We've been set up."
"…Yes."
Silence.
Then—
Su Yan suddenly dropped onto the couch.
"…So this is it."
"…Our 'married life.'"
Lei Jun walked over.
Placed his keys down.
"…It seems so."
Another pause.
They both looked around the apartment.
Too clean.
Too perfect.
Too intentional.
"…Should we… start unpacking?" Su Yan asked quietly.
Lei Jun looked at her.
Then—
Nodded.
"…Yes."
A simple answer.
But this time—
It didn't feel forced.
And as the door quietly closed behind them—
Their real life began.
Not planned.
Not controlled.
But shared.
Frozen.
"…So," she said.
Silence.
Lei Jun loosened his tie slightly.
"…So."
Another silence.
The air suddenly felt—
Too quiet.
Too close.
Too real.
Su Yan quickly turned away.
"…I'll go change."
"…Mm."
She walked fast.
Too fast.
Almost tripping on her dress.
Why am I nervous?! This is just a contract!
Inside the room—
She pressed her back against the door.
Her face burning.
It's just acting… right?
Meanwhile—
Outside—
Lei Jun stood still.
Then quietly sat down.
This… is more complicated than expected.
Minutes later—
The door slowly opened.
Su Yan stepped out.
Now in simple pajamas.
Hair down.
Barefaced.
Lei Jun looked up.
And paused.
For the first time—
She looked…
Soft.
Not the flustered girl from earlier.
Not the "contract partner."
Just—
Her.
"…What?" she asked, noticing his stare.
"…Nothing," he said.
Then added calmly—
"…You look different."
"…Is that good or bad?!"
"…Good."
She froze.
"…Oh."
Silence again.
Then—
Su Yan grabbed a pillow.
And another.
She threw one onto the sofa.
"…You sleep there."
Lei Jun looked at the sofa.
Then at her.
"…This is my house."
"…Then I'll sleep there!"
"…No."
He stood up.
Walked over.
Took the pillow from her hands.
Placed it gently back on the bed.
"…We agreed to cooperate."
Su Yan blinked.
"…So we act properly," he continued.
"…Even at night?"
"…Especially at night."
Her face turned red instantly.
"…W-What does that mean?!"
Lei Jun sighed.
Then—
Very calmly—
"…It means we sleep. Normally."
A pause.
Then he added—
"…Try not to fall off the bed."
"…HEY!!"
But—
A few minutes later—
They lay on opposite sides.
Far apart.
A clear invisible line between them.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
But neither slept.
Su Yan stared at the ceiling.
"…Are you awake?" she whispered.
"…Yes."
"…This is weird."
"…Very."
A pause.
Then—
Quietly—
"…But… not bad," she added.
Lei Jun didn't reply immediately.
Then—
Softly—
"…Not bad."
And in the silence of that night—
For the first time—
They weren't just strangers anymore.
But something in between.
Something slowly changing.