Lin Zhixia was the overlooked second daughter of the Lin family. Sent to Europe as a child to “grow up on her own,” she spent over a decade there, free but lonely. To escape her family's control, she accepted a marriage-of-convenience proposal from Gu Jingshen, the head of the Gu Group. They would pretend to be married for two years, each getting what they wanted. But as they spent day after day together, their marriage, founded on mutual benefit, quietly began to change.
Gu Jingshen was a rising star in the business world, cold and ruthless, with his attention fixed entirely on his career. He needed a marriage partner who wouldn't cling to him, and Lin Zhixia's independence and air of mystery made her a perfect match. But when he saw her humiliated by her family and the pain she tried to hide in her eyes, his heart began to waver against his will.
From a carefully orchestrated charity gala to facing the criticism and pressure of their families, the two stood together in the eye of the storm. Lin Zhixia gradually discovered the tenderness hidden beneath Gu Jingshen's cold exterior, while her resilience and independence stirred feelings in him he had never known before.
Yet family secrets, the story of her birth mother, and business rivalries kept their relationship uncertain. When their agreement expired, would they be able to let each other go? Or had their hearts already betrayed them, despite the contract?
The female protagonist is constantly striving for self-improvement, the male protagonist is calm and wise, and the storyline is coherent and not long-winded.