Interlude : Before the storm
###2013 October in Shanghai
The hotel's private room felt heavier than usual.
The woman seated across--the person who would become my wife--smiled serenely.
Distinguished family background, study abroad experience. As per her profile: refined appearance, composed demeanor.
No problems.
That was all I needed to confirm.
As the representative droned through assets, shares, future plans, I fixed my gaze outside the window.
Shanghai's streets, busy as ever.
(...This will suppress the uncle faction's movements. The Group's stability will be secured.)
That was the only reason for marriage.
Not a crisis, exactly.
Uncle faction remnants still smoldering, some shareholders wavering.
A political marriage linking with a distinguished family would solidify external trust, seal internal dissent.
That was the "rational choice" for Longteng Group's President.
The woman spoke to me.
I nodded slightly, replied only "Likewise."
No further words necessary.
I felt her gaze, but didn't meet her eyes.
(...What does this woman think of me?)
The thought flickered for a moment, but I crushed it immediately.
No need to know.
If I knew, I might "hurt someone" again.
The matchmaking ended in 45 minutes.
I stood. "Is this acceptable?"
The representative nodded.
The woman bowed politely.
I left without looking back.
In the corridor, secretary Feifei followed a half-step behind.
"Next is the wedding, President."
"...Right."
That was all.
Until the wedding day, I barely thought about it.
Delegated all ceremony preparations, immersed myself in work.
Arrangements for the penthouse, security enhancements--all advanced for "rational" reasons.
I won't return to the Li family mansion.
Never intended to.
(...I don't want to bring that person to that place.)
Why I thought this, I don't know myself.
Just instinctively rejecting it.
Mother's memory, Father's death, the uncle faction's shadow...I don't want her to bear any of it.
Political marriage or not, she will become "my wife."
Which is precisely why I distance her.
Wedding day.
She walked toward me in a white dress.
Beautiful.
That much, I acknowledged.
But my heart didn't move.
I repeated the vows mechanically.
"I do."
"I do."
Exchanged rings, kissed perfunctorily.
Amid the applause, I thought:
(This will stabilize everything.)
But deep in my chest, a small dissonance.
That this contract would someday collapse my "world"--
