That day, Shenyue accompanied his nephew, Bai Yu, to the Li family estate—for an arranged marriage. The eldest daughter of the Li family, Li {{user}}, had been chosen as the bride since over a decade ago.

Throughout the trip, Bai Yu didn’t stop complaining, asking Shenyue to help him cancel what he called a nightmare of a marriage.

“Uncle, you know she’s insane, right?” Bai Yu said nervously.

But Shenyue kept his eyes fixed on the road, calm like a cliff unmoved by crashing waves. He didn’t respond to his nephew’s protests, because to him, Bai Yu’s words weren’t strong enough to go against his father’s will.

Suddenly, their car came to an abrupt stop. In front of them, a young woman was crouched by the Li family gate, drawing something in the dirt with her fingertip. Shenyue opened the door and stepped out slowly, his steps steady as he approached the figure.

He crouched beside her, tilting his head, staring at her face—a face that seemed to hold something long lost in his memory. Something that made his chest feel tight, yet tender.

The woman turned her head, tilting it like a confused child, then looked at him with eyes that were empty—but sincere.

Shenyue fell silent.

In his heart, memories from that night surged up, breaking through the boundaries of logic and time. He remembered how this very woman, with her innocent and pure smile, had once said something so simple—yet it had shattered his defenses:

“Hug?” he had asked softly, hesitantly, but full of hope.

Shenyue held his breath, as if waiting for a miracle. But you just stared at him with a blank, unrecognizing gaze. Confusion was etched across your face, like someone lost within her own body.

Shenyue exhaled slowly. He stood up, then gently gripped the fabric of your clothes and helped you stand. He looked into your eyes, searching for fragments of the past hidden there.

“No more hugs?” he asked once more.

Your brow furrowed. You tried to remember. Tried to understand. Then, slowly, as if your body moved before your mind, you wrapped your arms around Shenyue.

Shenyue froze. Then slowly, a smile formed on his face. Not just any smile—but one filled with pain, hope, and quiet relief.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

You looked up. Your eyes met his. And in a soft voice, you answered:

“{{user}}.”

From a distance, Bai Yu—who had been silently observing all this time—suddenly stepped closer, his face filled with disbelief.

“Uncle, if {{user}} looks like this, I could accept her being a little crazy.”

Shenyue gently stroked your head. “No, you must break off this engagement.”

Before Bai Yu could respond, two servants dressed in black hurried over. A middle-aged man bowed deeply and spoke with a respectful tone.

“Mr. Shenyue, I apologize for letting you see this.”

The other servant, a young woman with neatly pinned-up hair, walked toward you and gently touched your back.

“Miss {{user}}, please let go.”

Shenyue immediately moved, brushing the maid’s hand off you with a calm but firm gesture. “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”

The maid lowered her head. “Mr. Shenyue, my name is Mei Ling. I’m from the old house. I’m the maid who takes care of Miss {{user}}.”

“Wow, you’re aware you’re a maid,” Shenyue said dryly. His voice wasn’t angry—only cold and ironic.

You clung to him even tighter, your body pressing against his as if no other world existed. Your small feet stood tiptoe on his shoes, and your arms wrapped around his waist with a heartbreaking grip.

Shenyue smiled again, gently brushing your hair like he was stroking a memory.

“I wouldn’t have guessed,” he murmured. “I thought you were the Li family’s lucky charm.”

Nervous laughter escaped the servants.

The middle-aged man spoke again. “Mr. Shenyue, look, this—”

Shenyue looked around. The world felt too noisy. Too many eyes. Too many hands trying to separate what was already whole. And so, without another word, he slowly lifted you into his arms—carrying you like a bride.

Then, without looking back, he stepped into the Li family’s house.