Huò Zhī had her eyes closed, lost in a dream. Even though reality had burst the bubble of her dream, she was reluctant to open her eyes and face her dire reality.
The dream she didn’t want to wake up from was the luxurious wedding that caused a sensation in Qing City two years ago.
She, in a pristine white wedding dress, with Gu Jun Qing, walking down the red carpet in the church. On and on they walked, down a seemingly endless path of carpet, flower petals falling around them. Jun Qing smiling at her, his arms around her waist, their gentle kisses enveloping one another like a soft, ceaseless drizzle.
Suddenly, the sharp ringtone of her phone woke Huo Zhi from her dreamy morning...
"Zhi'er, today is your first year anniversary with Jun Qing, you must give it your all, I've been wanting to hold my grandson for so long!" Gu Xiu Yuan's hearty laugh rang in Huo Zhi's ears. This kind old man in his sixties was the only one in the Gu family who was good to her.
"Dad, I...I understand."
Her voice was soft as she choked out the words. Hearing her father's expectation made Huo Zhi feel even more desolate.
Of course she wanted a baby, but having a child takes two people...
"Ma'am, the medicine is ready, and so is the candied fruit!" The housemaid, Mama Chen, approached silently.
Huo Zhi was resentful of taking the medicine. Ever since she got married a year ago, drinking medicine has been her daily routine. The Gu family was the richest in Qing City, and her medicine alone was quite expensive. She didn't want to drink it, but she had no choice because Mama Chen was her mother-in-law, Zhong Jin Yu's maid.
Sometimes when she looked at the hard-working and loyal Mama Chen, her heart filled with resentment.
Even though Mama Chen appeared devoted, only Huo Zhi knew that she was sent by Grandma to keep an eye on her.
"Ma'am, Granny has said that this is the finest medicine, it helps with conception!"
The bitterness of traditional medicine filled her mouth, just like her married life, awkwardly lonely.
Thinking about the baby, thinking about Gu Jun Qing, her heart was filled with a complex mix of feelings.
Gu Junqing is the CEO of the Gu Corporation, the famous Master Gu, the richest man in the city of Qing, graceful and noble, clever and wise. He has control over the entirety of Gu International Group; the extent of his influence is hard to imagine for the common folk.
It's said that the city of Qing was formerly called Qing, and it was renamed because of Master Gu Junqing. In Qing City, there's a street named after him, Junqing Street, demonstrating that any foot-stomp or merely a burst of anger from Master Gu could make the earth of the entire city tremble, if not shudder.
Gu Junqing is a business genius, a hot cake in the political world. The only misstep he claims in his life is marrying the daughter of the Huo family –
"Madam, your delivery!" Maid Xiaolan respectfully presents a large parcel to Huo Zhu in front of her.
Before she even gets a chance to open the delivery, the clear sound of a ringing phone fills the air again. When she presses the answer key, her mother Zhuang Shenglan is on the other end:
"Huo Zhu, Mom has prepared a gift for you. Open it, and you will see what it is! I must remind you that you should get a move on, and quickly bear a son and a daughter for the Gu family. Only then can your standing in the Gu family be secure. Be more proactive when you should; where did all the knowledge you possess go? Do I really have to remind you about your marital obligations?”
As she slowly unwraps the parcel, Huo Zhu blushes. What lies inside the box is a set of rose-red pajamas, sexy, revealing, and the fabric is incredibly thin. It would make no difference whether one wears it or not!
No, there’s indeed a difference. Probably, wearing it would provoke even more lust!
Huo Zhu lightly pats her forehead and helplessly chuckles. What on earth was her mother thinking about? Ask her to dress in this pajama and lie next to Gu Junqing in the evening? She does not have the courage to imagine, let alone think of what could happen.
Everyone blames her for not being able to capture a man's heart. Everyone finds fault in her for not showing any signs of pregnancy, with a flat stomach. But what they do not know is: over the past two years, Gu Junqing has never returned to their villa in the west city.
How can she hold onto her husband's heart if she can't even tie him down, let alone a set of clothes?
Regarding her husband, Huo Zhu only gets a chance to see the man that's legally hers, Gu Junqing, during the major festivals of the Gu's family. As a wife, when she misses her husband, the only way to see him is through newspapers, magazines, and online networks.
In order not to disappoint her mother and father-in-law, Huo Zhu has taken many proactive measures, even taking medications to aid in conception, but to what end...?
Reached this point, she chooses to call Gu Junqing after a long hesitation.
The call rings for a while with no response. Just when she's about to drop the call, a graceful female voice speaks: “Hello, I am Anna, the assistant to CEO Gu. He's currently in a meeting. May I ask who you are and what is it about? I can take a message for him."
I myself, Mrs. Gu, never thought I have to leave a message to see my own husband! With a deep sigh, Huo Zhi reveals her identity.
“Very well, madam, I will convey this to the president!”
Having prepared lunch meticulously and placed it into a high-grade thermal flask, she also has a gracefully chosen Italian tie for him. After putting on light makeup and a charming dress, Huo Zhi leaves the house, a bit nervous but filled with anticipation.
Driving the car, she imagines all the possible scenarios of running into him, and rehearses the words she wants to say again and again. All the words are already too familiar. Will she fluster like last time, becoming tongue-tied because of nervousness?
"Come on, come on, he will fall in love with you, you can do this, Huo Zhi!"
The power of psychological suggestion is strong, and at this moment, Huo Zhi glances into the mirror and sees her dignified and trendy self. She never felt so extraordinary. Yes, she can do this, definitely!
After parking the car, she takes the elevator to the president’s office. Huo Zhi sees her long-anticipated husband Gu Junqing, who is lowered his head, signing some documents.
She’s a bit excited, but the excitement was overshadowed by her nervousness. She hesitated to speak, fearing to disturb his work, and she is afraid of missing the opportunity to talk to him.
In contrast to her nervousness, the man working seems oblivious to her, from the moment she stepped in until she sat down, a whole ten minutes passed without him looking up.
Pulling at the hem of her pretty dress, once, twice, three times, she decided to break the awkward silence. Finally, Huo Zhi initiated the conversation, “Jun, Junqing, today is our first anniversary!”
“So what?” Gu Junqing did not even lift his head from his work, treating the woman opposite him as a lump of worthless air.
“I…”but the crucial moment, Huo Zhi was tongue-tied again.
With a snap, the sound of a pen breaking could be heard. Gu Junqing, seeing her speechless, stood up, showing off his tall and perfect figure. He walked over to her, curling his lips disdainfully, and said sarcastically, “What about me? Why can’t you say it? To list all the shameless things you did before marriage, even three days wouldn’t be enough. Now you're suddenly tongue-tied? How amusing!”