So why pretend it’s anything more?

Mo Ran tilted his head, his smirk growing. "Nonsense. If you're going to meet my grandparents, you'll need to face pressure like this. Or are you saying you'd prefer to embarrass yourself in front of them?"

Lixue clenched her fists, her competitive streak flaring at his words. "Fine," she snapped, placing her hand in his. "But don't blame me if I step on your toes."

"We'll see about that," he said, his voice low and confident.

As the music began, Mo Ran took the lead effortlessly. His hand rested lightly on her waist, guiding her movements with precision. Lixue focused on keeping her steps in sync with his, determined not to let him outshine her.

But as they danced, she couldn't ignore the way his touch seemed to ground her, the way his presence filled the space around them. His movements were smooth, controlled, and utterly captivating.

"You're tense," he murmured, his breath brushing against her ear as he leaned closer.

"I'm concentrating," she retorted, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through her cheeks.

"Relax," he said softly, his voice carrying a surprising gentleness. "Dancing is about trust. Trust me to lead you."

For a moment, Lixue let herself follow his lead completely, letting go of her overthinking. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the rhythm of the music and the steady movement of their steps.

When the music stopped, she realized they were standing still in the center of the ballroom, their faces closer than she'd anticipated. She stepped back quickly, breaking the moment.

"You're better than I expected," Mo Ran said, his smirk returning.

"Of course I am," she said, raising her chin. "I don't plan on embarrassing myself."

He chuckled, his laughter low and warm. "Good. Because my grandparents are not easily impressed. But with a little more practice, I think you'll do just fine."

Lixue stood in the middle of the ballroom, still catching her breath from the impromptu dance with Mo Ran, when he turned to the instructor.

"That's enough for today," Mo Ran said, his tone firm but polite. "I'll take it from here."

The instructor bowed slightly, sensing there was no room for argument. "Of course, Mr. Mo. Mrs. Mo has made excellent progress. I'll return tomorrow for our next session."

Lixue blinked, startled. "Wait, what? I still need to—"

"That's enough etiquette for one day," Mo Ran interrupted, his sharp gaze cutting off any protest. "I don't want my wife overworked before she meets my grandparents."

She frowned, crossing her arms. "I wasn't overworked."

He smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Then consider it a reward for doing well. You'll have lunch with me."

Her eyes widened. "Lunch? Together?"

"Why does that sound so strange?" he teased, already walking toward the door. "We're married. Eating together is hardly a scandal."

Lixue hesitated, watching his confident stride. She didn't trust his sudden interest, but she also didn't see a way to refuse without appearing petty. Letting out a quiet sigh, she followed him out of the ballroom.

They sat across from each other in a private dining room, the table set with an array of meticulously prepared dishes. The light streaming in from the large windows gave the room a warm, inviting atmosphere, though Lixue couldn't help feeling a little on edge.

Mo Ran picked up his chopsticks, his movements unhurried as he glanced at her. "You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

"No," she admitted, reluctantly picking up her own chopsticks.

"Then eat," he said simply, his tone leaving no room for debate.

Lixue took a bite of the food, savoring the delicate flavors. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until now, and for a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the meal in silence.

Mo Ran, however, didn't seem content with silence. He leaned back slightly, his dark eyes fixed on her. "You're adapting faster than I thought you would."

She looked up, startled by the sudden comment. "Adapting to what?"

"To this life," he said, gesturing vaguely around the room. "To being a Mo."

Lixue set down her chopsticks, her gaze steady. "I'm doing what's necessary. Nothing more."

He raised a brow, clearly intrigued by her response. "Pragmatic. I like that."

Her eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Just that you're not as fragile as some people might assume," he replied, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

Lixue felt a spark of irritation. Was he mocking her? Testing her? She couldn't tell.

"You don't know me well enough to make that judgment," she said evenly, meeting his gaze.

"True," he admitted, surprising her. "But I'd like to."

She froze, caught off guard by the unexpected statement. "Why?"

He leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable. "Because you're my wife, Lixue. And whether this marriage is convenient or not, I prefer to understand the person sharing my home."

His words were calm, matter-of-fact, but they unsettled her. She couldn't tell if he was being sincere or if this was just another layer of his inscrutable personality.

"You've made it clear this is a marriage of convenience," she said, carefully choosing her words. "So why pretend it's anything more?"

Mo Ran's smirk returned, though it was softer this time. "Because convenience doesn't mean indifference. And I'm not pretending anything, Lixue."

She didn't know how to respond to that, so she focused on her food, determined not to let him see how much his words had affected her.

The rest of the meal passed in a strange mix of tension and quiet understanding. Mo Ran didn't push her further, but his presence was impossible to ignore.

As they finished, he stood and gestured for her to follow.

"Come with me," he said.

"Where?" she asked, wary.

"You'll see."