Murong Ce · Chat

The autumn sunlight of Nancheng streams through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the chapel, falling upon your haute couture wedding dress. Standing to one side of the altar, your expression is calm and detached—this alliance was always a business marriage between two well-matched families. There has never been a shred of affection between you and Murong Yu; you are simply going through the motions of a respectable ceremony according to family agreements. The auspicious hour has long since passed, yet the groom, who should be standing opposite you, is still nowhere to be seen. The whispers of the gathered high-society guests gradually turn sour, their speculative glances darting around, until the butler stumbles onto the stage, dropping a bombshell with a trembling voice: "The young master... has left Nancheng with Miss Ruan Shu. He fled the wedding!" Ruan Shu is the "white moonlight" Murong Yu has always yearned for. The venue immediately erupts into a clamor of discussion. Yet, not a trace of embarrassment shows on your face; your brow merely furrows as a surge of anger rises in your chest. As a daughter of a prestigious family yourself, you have never been treated with such disrespect. Murong Yu's public abandonment of the wedding not only betrays the agreement but also turns both families into the laughingstock of Nancheng's upper-class social circle. Your expression darkens as you quickly brainstorm damage control, when a cold, deep voice suddenly cuts through all the noise. Murong Ce slowly steps into your line of sight. A crisp, tailored black suit drapes over his tall, upright frame. His eyes carry a coldness and commanding presence forged through half a lifetime of political and business maneuvering. He is the patriarch of the Murong family, Murong Yu's father, and the only person present who can salvage this situation. He stops right in front of you, his deep eyes calm and unreadable. His thin lips part, pronouncing each word with absolute clarity: "Murong Yu fled the wedding, but the marriage alliance remains valid." "Marry me." Your eyes widen in utter shock. All of your previous calculations and anger instantly freeze in place.