Volume One, Chapter 1: An S-Rank Engagement

In the early autumn in Beijing, the leaves along the streets were transitioning from green to yellow. This state of indecision perfectly mirrored Shen Zhien’s current mood: apprehensive, helpless, yet harboring a flicker of anticipation.

This was Shen Zhien’s fifth year in the entertainment industry, and her career had been far from smooth. It was also her second year as a beauty influencer, a pivot she made to help support her family and pay for her younger sister’s treatment for uremia. While being an influencer was certainly more lucrative than acting and had earned her greater fame, disaster struck last week: her father fell victim to a telecommunications scam. Not only were their life savings wiped out, but the funds for her sister’s surgery had vanished as well.

Then, by some stroke of fortune, a group of mysterious men found them and informed her of an "S-tier" marriage contract. They did not reveal their client’s identity, but given the men’s attire and the luxury cars they arrived in, it was clearly a family of immense wealth.

It sounded like a scam. After five years in the industry without ever landing an "S-tier" project, how could she suddenly stumble upon an "S-tier" husband? Yet, the men produced a token: a delicate gold key, carved with a dragon on one side and a phoenix on the other, which actually unlocked the gold locket Shen Zhien had worn for twenty-three years. After consulting with her parents, she decided to take the gamble. What if it really was a top-tier wealthy family?

Currently, Shen Zhien was sitting in a black Bentley, on her way to meet her future "husband." As the car passed through the embassy district, where the ginkgo trees were beginning to turn, she worried about whether her future spouse might be a balding, greasy man. Suddenly, the car made a sharp turn into a narrow hutong. After passing through, the road widened, and the traffic and pedestrians thinned out.

Just as she was convinced she had fallen for a scam and was being sold off to the mountains, she saw the sign for "Dongshan Huashu" ahead. Dongshan Huashu was the most mysterious and luxurious residential district in Beijing. It was said that the properties here weren't just expensive; the entry barrier was incredibly high. Ordinary wealthy people didn't even qualify to purchase; one had to be from an old, established aristocratic family.

*Good grief,* she thought, *I’ve basically "entered the palace."* No wonder the mysterious men were so good at keeping secrets.

The Bentley drove for a long time through the estate before finally stopping in front of a magnificent building. Shen Zhien recalled the "CEO" dramas she had acted in—though she only ever played the heroine’s best friend, she had visited sets of "CEO mansions." Fiction draws from life, but it doesn't necessarily surpass it; the "CEO mansion" from that show probably wasn't even as big as the pond in this courtyard.

Two beautiful young women stood on either side of the entrance. A man in his fifties with a kind face stood before the door; dressed in a crisp suit, he didn't quite have the aura of a high-powered CEO. Unsure of his status, Shen Zhien didn't dare to guess, so she offered a sweet, "Hello, Uncle."

"Good day, Miss Shen. My name is Jin Bida, the head butler of the inner residence. You may simply call me Old Jin," he said with a beaming smile and a resonant voice. "The young master is waiting for you inside. Please, follow me."

"Thank you, Uncle Jin," Shen Zhien said, playing the part of a well-behaved girl.

"You are too kind. This is a private club, typically used for receiving guests, hosting galas, and birthday parties," Jin Bida explained as they reached a VIP room filled with antique rosewood furniture.

A man sat at the table with his back to her. He wore a white suit that showcased his broad, powerful shoulders, with the muscular lines of his arms subtly visible under the narrow sleeves. The tailored suit accentuated a slim waist, giving him a tall, imposing stature.

*Yes, the physique is top-notch!* Shen Zhien thought with secret delight.

"Young Master," Jin Bida said, bowing respectfully.

The man turned around. Shen Zhien’s heart raced; she gripped the hem of her skirt, her palms damp with sweat.

*Stunning looks! But this is a disaster.*

"Why is it you?!" Shen Zhien and the man exclaimed simultaneously.

The man before her was the famous "Prince of Beijing," Li Shen, the city’s number one golden bachelor. The Li family behind him was the most prominent noble family in Beijing, with industries spanning the globe. Li Shen was the sole heir to the Li family and the favorite grandson of the patriarch, Li Zhenting. His divine looks easily outshone top-tier stars, and he sat firmly at the head of the "Four Young Masters of Beijing." He dominated the trending lists year-round, yet had never been associated with any confirmed scandals. Being linked to him meant guaranteed traffic for years—he was the ultimate key to viral fame.

Marrying into his family would normally be a windfall from heaven, but due to the JQ Gala last week, this windfall was likely wrapped in a blade.

At the gala, Shen Zhien had made a massive fool of herself. She had mistaken Li Shen for her idol, Gong Zheng, and charged toward him in ten-centimeter heels. She tripped, fell, and planted her face directly onto his "private area," leaving a bright lipstick print on the sensitive spot of his white trousers.

If that wasn't mortifying enough, during the masquerade portion of the night, Li Shen had mistaken her for his secret girlfriend, the rising starlet Zhuo An, and proposed to her. Fortunately, Zhuo An arrived just in time, and the proposal remained a secret known to no one else. But then, Zhuo An had rejected Li Shen right in front of her!

*Sister, I don’t know if you didn’t consider me an outsider, or if you didn’t consider me a human at all,* she had thought.

After Zhuo An walked away, Li Shen had viciously warned her not to reveal a word. The murderous look in his eyes had haunted her nightmares for days. She had prayed never to see that face again. Now, he was here, and his status was her future "husband."

Shen Zhien’s heart sank. Li Shen lowered his head and let out a cold laugh, mocking the absurdity of the situation.

*It’s over. The S-tier marriage is ruined,* Shen Zhien thought in despair. *And thank goodness for that. This isn't an S-tier marriage; it's an SSS-tier torture!*

She could handle a small, wealthy family, but who could hold their own against a top-tier tycoon? If this marriage fell through, the only thing to worry about was her sister’s medical bills. Her sister’s doctor had just informed them two days ago that the situation was grim and surgery was needed immediately. Shen Zhien was already drowning in anxiety.

"Sit down, Miss Shen," Li Shen said.

"About that... I don't think this marriage is going to happen, so I'd better not sit," Shen Zhien said, taking a half-step back and forcing a polite smile.

"Why wouldn't it happen?" Li Shen stood up, looking at her with genuine interest.

"Mr. Li, are you actually willing?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"We've met before, haven't we?" Shen Zhien reminded him. Surely a man as important as he wouldn't forget two such intense encounters?

"Yes, we have," Li Shen replied, his lips curving into a thin line. "It wasn't a very pleasant experience."

Shen Zhien was forced to recall his menacing glare from that night and instinctively closed her eyes.

"But that doesn't stop us from getting married," Li Shen said.