"Too unfortunate… as always," Xu Liang muttered under his breath, stepping into the grand meeting room of the Liang family mansion. 
The heavy scent of incense filled the air, and his heart sank the moment his eyes met those of Jiao Ming's family. 
They were all present—her father, Zhou Ming, a tall, imposing figure with a stern expression, and her brothers, standing like sentinels behind him.
"Why today…" Xu's voice was barely a whisper, his hands curling into fists beneath his wide sleeves. "Of all days, why now, when my thoughts are so clouded, when I'm drowning in my own troubles?" He felt the weight of every eye on him, their gaze burning into his very soul.
His father, Shun Liang, stepped forward with a grin that barely reached his eyes. "Xu Liang, finally. The moment we've all been waiting for. Welcome home."
Home? Xu's lips pressed tightly together. This place had long ceased to feel like home. His polite nod was strained, his eyes scanning the room, catching the quiet scrutiny from every corner. 
Jiao Ming stood beside her father, her soft smile betraying nothing, but her eyes—those eyes—seemed to see through him, sensing the storm beneath his calm facade.
Her eldest brother, lounging in a corner with a smirk, leaned forward. "Looking pale today, Xu Liang. Not nervous, are you? Or is the weight of this grand union too much for you already?"
The room erupted into muffled chuckles, and Xu's stomach churned. He felt as if he had walked straight into a trap, each step drawing him deeper into a life he wanted nothing to do with.
"What's the matter, Xu Liang?" Zhou Ming’s voice was sharp, cutting through the laughter. "Cat got your tongue? Or are you too shy to speak in front of your bride-to-be?"
Xu opened his mouth, but no words came out. His throat felt tight, as if the air had turned to stone, blocking anything he might say.
Lady Mei, Xu's mother, quickly stepped in. "Xu Liang has always been thoughtful—he values actions over words."
Zhou Ming's smile widened, though it was anything but friendly. "Actions, indeed. We'll see how you handle your duties soon enough. The ceremony won’t wait."
The ceremony…The words echoed in Xu’s mind. His fate seemed sealed, like a puppet being dragged toward a stage, with no control over his own strings. His heart screamed for freedom, but his lips remained sealed.
"You’ll find, Xu Liang, that Jiao Ming is no delicate flower," Zhou Ming added, his tone growing more serious. "She will need a strong husband—someone who knows how to take charge."
Xu clenched his fists tighter, his knuckles turning white beneath his robe. The words felt like chains, binding him to a future he could not escape. 
Before he could gather his thoughts, Jiao Ming spoke, her voice soft yet teasing. "Don’t worry, Xu Liang. We’ll make a man out of you yet."
Her words struck him like a cold slap. A man? Who does she think I am? His mind swirled with anger and confusion. Does she not despise this arrangement? Or do they all just see me as a way to secure their place in society?
His smile, when it came, felt forced and hollow. "Don’t worry… my lady," he murmured, the words heavy on his tongue. The title felt awkward, wrong. She wasn’t his lady—not in the way everyone assumed.
Lady Mei, ever the peacekeeper, smiled gently. "Xu will do what is right by this family, by all of us." She gestured to a seat beside Jiao Ming. "Come, Xu, sit with your bride-to-be. We've waited long for this day."
Xu moved mechanically, his body acting on autopilot as he sat beside Jiao Ming. The space between them felt vast, yet suffocatingly close. 
Her scent, sweet and floral, filled his senses, but it only made him feel more distant. He glanced at her briefly, and she smiled again, that same soft smile that seemed to carry so many unspoken expectations.
But her beauty did nothing for him. It was like gazing at a delicate painting—something meant to be admired from afar, never touched, never truly known.
Zhou Ming’s voice cut through his thoughts, booming across the room. "Now that the groom-to-be is here, we can discuss the ceremony. It will be grand, naturally—worthy of the two most prominent families in the province."
Before Xu could even process the words, Jiao Ming’s younger brother leaned forward with a sneer. "You sure he can handle a grand wedding? Hundreds of guests, all eyes on him? He’s been silent since he walked in—He might faint during the bowing to the heavens and earth."
A ripple of laughter spread through the room. Xu’s jaw tightened, but no words came. Every time he opened his mouth, the words died before they could reach his lips.
Sensing his discomfort, Jiao Ming placed a delicate hand on his arm. "Don’t mind them," she whispered, her voice gentle. "They like to tease. They just want to make sure you’re ready."
Her touch was warm, but it only made Xu feel colder. He nodded stiffly, still unable to meet her gaze, still trapped in the weight of expectations he could never fulfill.
Zhou Ming's eyes narrowed as he watched Xu. "So, tell me, Xu Liang," he asked, his tone dripping with challenge. "How do you envision your marriage to my daughter?"
Xu froze, his mind racing. What do I want? The question lingered, but the answer was one he couldn’t give. He wanted freedom, a life of his own choosing, a love not tied to obligations. But not with Jiao Ming. Not like this.
"I…" he began, but his voice faltered, caught in his throat.
Lady Mei quickly intervened, her smile warm but thin. "I’m sure Xu prefers a simple ceremony. He’s always been humble in his ways."
Mr. Zhou eyebrows met. “We should have a ceremony befitting our families’ stature. Grand, impressive—something the province will speak of for years. Or perhaps the son of Shun Liang doesn’t have the resources to honor such a union?”
Shun Liang’s face darkened, his posture straightening. “Resources?” His voice was low, but it carried a steely edge. “The Liang family’s wealth could fund this entire province, and still there would be more left untouched. If you wish for grandeur, Zhou Ming, you will have it. But don’t question whether my son is capable of honoring your daughter. The Liang family has always exceeded expectations.”
Xu glanced at his father, seeing the insult in his tense expression as he stared at the Ming family. The room fell silent, but Xu noticed the trace of pride on Mr. Zhou Ming’s face, as though he reveled in the tension. 
Mr. Zhou Ming slightly grinned. “Then we are in agreement. We’ll expect nothing less than a celebration that reflects the greatness of both our families. And, of course, a groom who will live up to his responsibilities.”
Shun Liang’s eyes narrowed. “My son will not only meet your expectations but surpass them. You’ll find no better match for your daughter than Xu Liang.”
His father’s words were a public display of their wealth, a challenge to the Ming family—but they were also a prison for him, sealing his fate with every boast.
Zhou Ming’s gaze flicked over to Xu, eyes narrowing. “I certainly hope so. After all, wealth is one thing. But strength of character? That’s another matter entirely.”
Shun Liang’s jaw tightened. “The Liang name stands for both. My son will prove his worth—through wealth and honor.”
Xu felt he wasn’t just a man anymore; he was a symbol, a pawn in this battle between families. The room continued to shrink, the air growing heavier, as if he were suffocating under the pressure.
He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor with a harsh noise. "If you’ll excuse me," he muttered, his voice tight. "I need… air."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and strode out of the room. Outside, the cool evening air hit him, and he gulped it down like a man starved for breath.
Leaning against a stone pillar, he closed his eyes, his mind spinning. There was no escape. His family, Jiao Ming’s family—no one would ever let him choose his own path. 
The weight of their expectations was crushing, and as much as he wanted to shout, to scream, to break free, he knew the words would never come. 
He was trapped—caught in a web of duty and obligation that he could never untangle.