"Ugh, what do we do now?" Xu Xulian fumed, her veil was still covering her face, as they came out of the Civil Affairs Bureau. Following her newlywedded husband down the steps to the Lincoln Buick that was awaiting for them. She looked down at the red little booklet in her hand, and she gripped it with frustration and anger. A booklet that intertwined her life with such a man, who was aloof, arrogant, and overly confident, even though she has never paid any attention to her new husband's features; she can still see that he does have a seemingly good looking features as they both took their wedding photo for the certificate of marriage. Xu Xulian looked at her husband's back features, he had broad shoulder, that don down to a slim v shape body figure at his waist. Hmm...he doesn't seem to be in bad shape from the back...she thought to herself. Oh well, it's only a year, we both aren't going to die anyways. She reluctantly entered the car and sat next to the stranger that is now her legally wedded hubby.

Mu Yaoyian entered the car quickly and scooted as far as he can from his new bride; leaning against the left side of the back passenger seat and his head pressed against the window. His face was flushed with frustration, and closed his eyes as he felt the seat next to him get occupied. He didn't want to see his new legally wedded wife, nor did he want anything to do with her. He also felt sorry for the both of them, as both knew that neither one wanted to be in this marriage. He put his left hand and covered his eyes to shield the brimming sunshine of the mid-morning sun.

Both deep in their own thoughts, the car abruptly came to a halt; neither one of them knew how long they have been sitting in the car. They both looked up and out of their own respective car window. Xu Xulian was surprised as she notice the huge Spanish style Villa in her view. It was donned with beautiful crimson clay roofing tile and a peachy vanilla color stucco style exterior. The front enclosed courtyard that leads up to the front door had a beautiful fountain in the center and the walk ways was lined with her favorite Champagne roses. She was mesmerized at the beauty in front of her. Mu Yaoyian was just as surprised, as the aftermath details of their marriage was not released to the two involved. I guess this is our wedding house huh? Mu Yaoyian thought to himself. Ugh, why so much detail, for only a year's worth of marriage? The two thought to themselves. Both Both amused and frighten, as what is to await for them.

They both step out of the car on their respective door; and hesitated to enter the wedding house. Yes, wedding house. This was not a home, as both were to be housed there for a year and then can move on with their lives. Xu Xulian took off her veil and they were greeted by both sets of parents and grandparents, these were the only other involved parties that knew this was contracted, and all must put on a show. The rules of their marriage was then laid out to the both of them, as they both sat in the living room next to each other on the white velvet creamy color loveseat. There was no servants allowed, only a driver who would pick them up and drop them off, and even he was not allowed to enter the house. There would be no visitation allowed for outsiders, except for the parents and grandparents of the family, as everyone needed to keep this marriage arrangement under wraps. They both couldn't understand why they weren't allowed to have any visitors; the look on both their faces made the parents felt sad. The parents gradually explained the living arrangement and they both realized that their families were thoughtful of their situation and made accommodating arrangement. Mu Yaoyian's living quarters would be on the east wing, and Xu Xulian would be on the west wing.

Their parents walked them to their respective wing. The magnificent mahogany staircase that lead to the second story, before splitting the east wing from the west wing was carved with dragons and phoenix along the railing. Xu Xulian slowly felt the intricate carvings underneath her fingers as she cased the railing to support her steps. She turned to the right, and followed her parents to her wing, as she turned to look at the other family entering their side of the wing. The wings were identical in all aspect, including rooms and space. The first door to the right was the library and study room, the left was an open lounge with no door and the door facing into the hallway was the bedroom. Since no guest was allowed, all the guest bedroom downstairs was cleaned and locked.

Xu Xulian followed her parents into her bedroom; the champagne colored walls with beautiful dark mahogany trim lined the ceiling and had detailed carvings of roses. In the center of her room was crystal chandelier and a big king size canopy post bed, that the laced flowered mesh was drawn on all sides of the bed. It looked almost like a princess's bed, and the dark maroon comforter covering it made it even more welcoming. Yes, her parents knew her favorite colors and designed her room with what they knew she loved. The wardrobe was attached to the overly large sized bathroom, with a jetted tub, tiled shower stall and a vanity fit for a queen. Her mom and dad did not talk to her as they watched their beautiful daughter looking distraught and sad.

"Go take a shower and rest; dinner will be ready in a few hours; once dinner is done we will be leaving you here by yourself." Her mom Xu Sheng hugged her tightly. "Take good care of yourself, as servants are not allowed due to the accommodation that was agreed upon by both family." Her father Xu Maoyi said as he patted her head gently and turned around to leave the room, followed by his wife.

Mu Yaoyian sat down on his king size bed, which was covered in a royal blue comforter, his room was white walled with royal blue trim lining the ceiling and wall. He looked down at the thick, white creamy colored carpet, he felt sad in his heart. He was flown back into Z Country without notice and married off the same day he got off the plane. There was no way he can refused this arrangement even if he had fought it; it would be ungrateful to his family, as he has not been back to his homeland since he left to boarding school in his teen years. He didn't want to appear unfilial either. Mu Linyi looked at her son's pitiful face, she felt distraught as there was nothing she can do to help her son. Mu Chengfu patted his son on his head and gently said, "I am sorry son, but this is the only way we can help you, for helping us. To arrange a living space without breaking any barriers." Mu Yaoyian nodded in understanding and closed his eyes.

"Dinner will be ready in a few hours, why don't you go ahead and rest; I will come back and get you when dinner is ready." His mom gently nudge him to get up to go shower. His parents both left his room, and he got up to go shower. Realizing that this was fated, and he had no choice. He slowly walked to the opposite side of the room facing the bathroom, and opened the sliding door. There was a balcony that had a good lounging set, he sat down and pulled out a pack of cigarette out. He leaned back on the lounge chair and lit up the cigarette that was held by his thin lips and inhale the smoke deeply.

The newly couple lost in their own thoughts, sitting in their own balcony on their respective side of the house. Knowing that neither of them can afford to break such contract; both of them was brought back from abroad and quickly sent to the Civil Affair Bureau and threaten by their parents. Both never looked at each other, nor interacted the whole time the transaction took place, the contract of the marriage agreement was signed quickly and the marriage certificate was signed right after. With neither one flinching, as if they were merely notice each others presence. Both thinking about the whole ordeal earlier, each fell asleep in their bedroom.

Dinner was quick, quiet and smooth. The two young couple not once looked up from their plate. The grandparents stated clearly that they can live as they pleased, but must not embarrass the families. They must continue living life, meeting their friends, they can have a relationship outside, but must be low-key. The families knew that they cannot restrict their children, and have hopes that their children will find the love of their lives, as the generations before them has. Both sides of the family was keen on a love marriage and did not force prior generations into such arrangement, but because of the situation at hand; they had no choice. The only thing that made sense at dinner by the elders was that they both must talk and figure out the one year on their own terms without breaking the contract. Once dinner was done, and everyone had left, both stepped out to the back courtyard and sat down across from each other.

Neither one of them wanted to talk first, nor look at each other, making it rather oddly quiet for the first ten minutes. Mu Yaoyian pulled out a cigarette from his packet and lit it up, as he inhaled the smoke he heard a faint and angelic voice saying "Can I get one from you?". Mu Yaoyian was startled to hear her voice, as he has not paid attention to her at all this whole time. He looked up, facing his new wife and was startled to see her small face with traces of baby fat on her. Her skin was fair and smooth, her almond shaped eyes burned brightly and made her amber eyes sparked in the evening sunset. "You smoke?" Mu Yaoyian asked in an arrogant manner. She looked down and shook her head, and said "No, I don't, but seeing you stressed and smoking, made me want to try and see if it will cause me to be less stress?" She ended the answer with more of a question and looked across the way at Mu Yaoyian.

His dark, thick hair was combed and slicked back, revealing a sculpted face, that was chiseled by the Gods. His eyes was dark and deep, like the epitome of a deep and dark pool that never ceased to end in its depth. His nose was straight and prominent and his dark sword shape eyebrows was thick, defining his features to be exquisitely incomparable. He handed her the pack of cigarette and lighter, she picked one up, and held it by her thick lushes and pink lips. She slowly cocked her head to the side as she shield the lighter with her slender hand and fingers, and lit up the cigarette. She inhaled and started choking at the smoke, causing her fair face to turn extremely red. "Why are you so dumb?" he asked while smiling at her and chuckled at her, with a sardonic look on his face. "Well, you make it look so easy, how was I supposed to know?" She barked back at him. They both laughed out loud and the conversation turned into Mu Yaoyian teaching her how to smoke. It was the first time that they actually converse and felt comfortable towards each other, as if they had been friends for a long time.

"I have a proposal to make," said Mu Yaoyian. "I think that instead of being strangers and ignoring each other, we can be friends. We can treat each other like we would as college classmates, and since I am older than you, I will be your senior and you be my junior. I am sure you had guy friends in college too right?" Mu Yaoyian looked at her as if questioning the girl in front of him, her ability to socialize. "Yes, I have male friends in college, so I am not that dumb." She looked at him and rolled her eyes as she smiled at him with a smirk on her face. "Good thing you're not that dumb then." Mu Yaoyian interjected and smirked back at her.

"So, deal or no deal?" Mu Yaoyian asked.