Chapter 1

Spring nights in Jiangcheng are always damp and windy. In the evening, the mist on the horizon thickens and swirls, and as the gentle breeze blows, it unfolds like a traditional ink wash painting.

Suddenly, the night wind pushes open the half-closed ornate wooden window of the antique appraisal studio, causing a fragile, aged piece of paper on the desk to flutter at its edges. Fortunately, a delicate and beautiful hand quickly presses down on the paper, preventing it from blowing away.

The blurred text on the paper reveals it to be a marriage contract. Feeling the coarse texture of the paper, Tanzhuo sighs lightly. She shivers as she pulls her creamy white shawl tighter around herself, a few stray strands of dark hair escaping from its edge.

Her gaze inadvertently falls on the name listed alongside hers on the contract: Chao Huai Du. It seems like a cruel joke from her family!

Earlier, when she found the contract in her now-empty home, Tanzhuo thought it was just a poor imitation, made by her father who had briefly studied ancient book restoration. But to mock someone as influential as Chao Huai Du—was that really necessary?

She originally intended to tear up the 'fake' contract to destroy the evidence but ended up bringing it to her antique appraisal studio for a thorough examination. The result: it was genuine, not a later imitation.

This revelation leaves Tanzhuo puzzled. As she stares at the fragile paper, her phone suddenly vibrates. She looks at the screen and sees a video call from Jiang Qingci.

"Hello?" Tanzhuo answers, leaning lazily on a large sofa. Her eyes, slightly reddened from fatigue, have a dreamy, captivating quality.

Jiang Qingci is taken aback by Tanzhuo's unexpected beauty. Noticing Tanzhuo is in the studio, she teases, "Most people would be in turmoil after bankruptcy, but you're so calm and even working."

"Why not?" Tanzhuo reflects on the 'work' she was doing. "The Tanz family went bankrupt a week ago. It's time to face reality."

Life can be quite dramatic. Just a week ago, Tanzhuo was the celebrated young lady of the Tanz family. In a single night, her family declared bankruptcy, and they fled abroad, leaving her behind. Suddenly, friends and acquaintances seemed to have mastered the art of turning their backs.

Jiang Qingci, who is in the same circle as Tanzhuo, shares a bond of mutual respect rather than friendship or enmity. Unlike the others who swiftly cut off contact, Jiang Qingci remains the same.

Jiang Qingci, understanding Tanzhuo's character, doubts her acceptance of the situation. "You accepting fate? That's surprising."

"Knock, knock, knock." A sudden knock at the door interrupts them, followed by the assistant's voice, "Ms. Tanzhuo, more bouquets and gifts have arrived for you."

Tanzhuo rubs her forehead with her slender fingers. "Not again..."

The assistant asks, "Should we throw them away?"

Tanzhuo replies, "Yes."

Despite her family's fall from grace, Tanzhuo's beauty still attracts many suitors. Before, these young men had been restrained by the Tanz family's influence, but now, with no protection, they bombard her studio with gifts daily. Even with large trash bins, the roses overflow.

Tanzhuo is exasperated. The constant influx of gifts disrupts her work and becomes a nuisance.

Jiang Qingci laughs, "Looks like our lady still has her charm."

"Given your current situation, why not settle with one of these young, wealthy suitors?" Jiang Qingci suggests.

Tanzhuo, with a hint of sarcasm, responds, "My family's bankruptcy doesn't mean my standards have lowered. I won't settle for less."

Jiang Qingci notes, given Tanzhuo's allure, it's unlikely any suitor is blind to it. She advises, "If you're not interested, just take care of yourself."

Tanzhuo, irritated, closes her eyes. "Forget it, let's stop talking about this."

"Wait, I haven't told you the main thing!" Jiang Qingci almost forgets the purpose of the call. "Tomorrow is your rival Liang Chuyuan's birthday party on a cruise, and the guest list is filled with top-tier elite. The highlight is that her brother reportedly invited the elusive Chao Huai Du. There's a high chance he'll attend."

Chao Huai Du? Tanzhuo, who had no interest in Liang Chuyuan's party, shows a change in expression upon hearing this name. "Chao Huai Du?"

She thoughtfully touches the ancient, delicate paper bearing that name, gently rubbing its brittle edges.

"That's right," Jiang Qingci confirms.

"Are you going?" she asks.

After a few seconds, Tanzhuo smiles slowly and replies, "Yes, why not? After all, such a grand cruise birthday party might not come around again."

---

On the day of the birthday party, Tanzhuo arrives at the dock precisely one minute before the event starts. As the cruise ship sets sail, the ballroom is about to commence. The space outside is dimly lit, but the interior of the hall sparkles with vibrant lights. 

Standing at the threshold, Tanzhuo is bathed in shifting light and shadow, casting a radiant glow on her striking profile. Her beauty is formidable and captivating, with every glance and smile conveying a cool elegance that leaves an impression.

The lively atmosphere suddenly falls silent. Tanzhuo's recent fall from grace has become the hot topic among the elite circles, and her presence at such an event is unexpected. 

Ignoring the stares and whispers, Tanzhuo calmly surveys her surroundings, wondering if Chao Huai Du has arrived. She is eager to understand the mysterious old marriage contract and its implications, which feels like a binding curse that might complicate future relationships.

At that moment, Jiang Qingci approaches with a glass of champagne. "Care for a drink?"

Tanzhuo takes the glass and thanks her. The music changes abruptly, drawing attention to the stage. Jiang Qingci smirks and says, "Look, the leading lady is making her entrance."

A few seconds later, she adds with a hint of sarcasm, "Doesn't that outfit look familiar? Liang Chuyuan managed to get her hands on the couture dress and jewelry you had designed for your own birthday party. She's flaunting them now and even claimed that no one else deserves such grandeur."

Previously, as the acknowledged top socialite, Tanzhuo's new outfits or styles would cause a sensation in high society. Liang Chuyuan, the most extravagant of her admirers, often copied Tanzhuo's looks to the letter, regardless of whether they suited her.

Liang Chuyuan, now surrounded by admirers, is dressed in the very dress Tanzhuo had chosen—a floor-length gown with feather and bead embroidery and a full set of diamond jewelry. Jiang Qingci remarks coldly, "She might soon become the new top socialite, considering how Liang's family is thriving and the high-profile connections they have."

Tanzhuo remains indifferent. "Why would I congratulate her?"

Jiang Qingci is taken aback by Tanzhuo's calm reaction. "That's it?"

"Why should I congratulate her?" Tanzhuo responds coolly.

Jiang Qingci is puzzled, and before Tanzhuo can ask about Chao Huai Du's attendance, she expresses concern about Tanzhuo's current situation. "Didn't your parents leave you anything useful before they fled abroad?"

Useful things? Tanzhuo suddenly remembers the contract and answers after a brief pause, "Oh, they left something."

Jiang Qingci is curious. "How much?"

Before she can finish, Tanzhuo slowly replies, "A marriage contract."

"Who with?" Jiang Qingci asks, only to be told, "With Chao Huai Du."

Jiang Qingci almost spills her champagne in shock. Chao Huai Du's name is synonymous with power and prestige. The Chao family is a truly prestigious lineage, whereas Tanzhuo's family, though once prominent, is now seen as a fallen elite compared to the Chaos.

Chao Huai Du is a young but influential figure, known for his ruthless ambition and formidable status. It's inconceivable that Tanzhuo, a bankrupt heiress, could be linked to him. Jiang Qingci stammers, "Are you serious? Is Chao Huai Du really your fiancé?"

"Yes, it's him," Tanzhuo confirms calmly. "So, has he arrived today?"

Jiang Qingci's mind is reeling. "Wait, you mean Chao Huai Du is really your fiancé?"

Her voice rises involuntarily, drawing the attention of everyone around. The atmosphere freezes.

Tanzhuo remains composed. "Did you fail etiquette class? You're being too loud in public."

Realizing her mistake, Jiang Qingci covers her mouth, but it's too late. Liang Chuyuan, who is now approaching with her voluminous gown, overhears the conversation.

"Impossible!" Liang Chuyuan thinks. "Chao Huai Du's reputation cannot be tarnished by Tanzhuo!"

Regaining her composure, Liang Chuyuan hints, "It's delusional for you to think you can claim Chao Huai Du as your fiancé. If you're interested, the Jiang and Huo families have young men who are quite taken with you. Why not—"

"I'm not interested," Tanzhuo cuts her off.

Liang Chuyuan scoffs, "With your family's bankruptcy and the massive debt, even being involved with the Jiang or Huo families would be quite an achievement."

Tanzhuo, reflecting on the constant influx of roses in her trash bin, dismisses such offers. "I'm not interested in them. I'd prefer if they stayed away."

The whole situation has become a public spectacle, with Tanzhuo's claim turning into a widely discussed 'lie'. She's becoming impatient with the farce.

Yet, today's conversation is being forced into the limelight, so she decides to use the situation to her advantage. The marriage contract is real, after all, and referring to Chao Huai Du as her fiancé isn't entirely untrue.

Resolving to make the best of it, Tanzhuo lowers her lashes and looks down at Liang Chuyuan with deliberate, drawn-out tone, "Oh, really? That's a shame—"

"But my fiancé is Chao Huai Du."

The admission is shocking and undeniable!

Not only was the ballroom stunned by Tanzhuo's revelation, but the VIP lounge on the second floor also fell into an eerie silence. Chao Huai Du, whose presence was notoriously elusive, had made a rare appearance tonight. Naturally, everyone of high and low status was eager to make an impression on him.

Liangsong, the host of the evening, overheard the commotion downstairs and was skeptical of Tanzhuo's claim. He glanced over at Chao Huai Du, who was seated on a single armchair, calmly peeling a lychee. The man's face was serene, and his actions were slow and graceful, showing no sign of being affected by the noise below.

Chao Huai Du's long, delicate fingers handled the lychee with an elegant precision, not a drop of juice escaping. He displayed an air of cultured refinement, seemingly indifferent to the chaos beneath him.

Suddenly, the lychee flesh fell into his glass, where it clinked softly against the ice and whiskey. The faint sound of the ice and fruit mingling with the whiskey was almost hypnotic, breaking the silence with a delicate crackling.

As Chao Huai Du calmly wiped his fingers with a napkin, the sight of his composed demeanor unnerved Liangsong. He realized that no matter whether Tanzhuo's claim was true or false, disturbing Chao Huai Du's peace was a grave mistake. 

Liangsong quickly rose to his feet. "I'll go check it out."

As the door closed behind him, a quiet conversation began inside.

"Huai Du, when did you start hiding such a treasure?" 

Without outsiders present, the media mogul ShenSibai leaned back in his chair and teased Chao Huai Du. He was well aware of Chao Huai Du's standards and knew that Tanzhuo's previous arrogance and pampered behavior were far from what Chao Huai Du would find desirable.

Just as ShenSibai expected Chao Huai Du to ignore the playful jab, the unexpected happened. In front of everyone's astonished gaze, Chao Huai Du handed his glass of lychee whiskey to his secretary. He then casually turned and answered, "Today."

The straightforward response left everyone in shock. It was clear that regardless of Tanzhuo's credibility, Chao Huai Du's presence at the event and his reaction to the commotion were now the focal points of attention.