It's been a year since I married Huo Yunting, and we've maintained a respectful yet distant relationship.

He's a titan in Beijing's elite circles, while I'm the heiress of a wealthy family. Ours was always a marriage of convenience, bound by corporate alliances and family interests.

Before the wedding, my parents entrusted me with a crucial mission—to capture Huo Yunting's heart and secure my position by bearing him a child as soon as possible. I took their words to heart.

After moving into his household, I dedicated myself to being the perfect society wife, never overstepping boundaries, single-mindedly focused on conceiving his heir.

Yet, no matter how hard I tried, an invisible barrier remained between us.

I knew my personality was too reserved, that I lacked the charm to truly delight him.

But today, everything changed—I was bound to a love simulation system.

1.

Once again, I’d managed to upset Huo Yunting.

It really wasn’t intentional.

The truth was, he’d been in unusually high spirits lately, and his relentless enthusiasm had left me sore and exhausted beyond endurance.

So when he came to the master bedroom again, I cautiously broached the subject.

"How about... you sleep in the guest room tonight?"

Huo Yunting froze mid-movement, a flicker of hurt flashing in his eyes.

"Are you... disgusted by me now?"

My chest tightened, and I quickly shook my head. "No, it's not that. I just... don't feel very well."

After a brief hesitation, I added in a small voice, "If you're really... in need, maybe you could... hire a professional masseuse?"

Huo Yunting sighed, his expression clouded with melancholy.

He pulled me into his arms and lay down.

"Forget it. Let's just sleep."

I nestled against his chest, my heart in turmoil.

I knew he was upset.

But I didn’t know what to do.

Ever since I was little, my family had pinned all their hopes on me.

Everything I learned was about how to be the perfect society wife.

A true socialite knows when to advance and when to retreat; artistic cultivation nurtures one's grace.

Elegance, poise, wisdom, and discretion—these are the qualities I must embody.

Because the man I'm destined to marry is no ordinary man.

Before this arranged marriage, I had never been in love.

Now, I found myself face-to-face with a titan of industry—a man whose decisions could make or break corporations.

My role? To support him, care for him, manage this household flawlessly, and become the perfect partner who shares his burdens.

This was what I had been trained for.

Yet no one ever taught me—

how an ordinary wife should comfort her husband when he's upset.

"What's so hard about it? Just a little hug and kiss, and it's done."

The sudden voice startled me, making me shift involuntarily.

Huo Yunting only tightened his embrace.

His fingers brushed lightly through my hair as his deep voice rumbled against my ear:

"Stop fidgeting. Didn't you say you weren't feeling well?"

"Let me massage you. Sleep now—it's late."

He seemed to be getting drowsy too, his voice growing increasingly slurred.

Yet his hands remained considerate, gently massaging my temples.

Gathering my thoughts, I silently asked,

"Who's speaking? Was that voice just now meant for me?"

A crisp, cheerful voice echoed in my mind:

"Yep! I'm your adorable Love Match System, and I've just bonded with you."

"Bonded? Why me?"

"Well, it's a long story, but I'll keep it short," the system chirped brightly.

---

"I'm a freshly minted Love Match System, finally old enough to work solo. When I sensed your needs, I came straight to you."

"Hope we can get along splendidly!"

The system prattled on enthusiastically. Recalling the system-themed novels I'd read before, I quickly grasped the concept.

In essence:

Across the vast multiverse, countless branching worlds exist...

The world I inhabit is straight out of a saccharine romance novel.

And me? I'm the female lead of this sickeningly sweet story.

The only problem is—I'm not sweet enough. Because of this, the plot keeps derailing before it can properly unfold.

That's why this "Romance System" appeared by my side, claiming it would help get the storyline back on track.

Once activated, this system supposedly assists in accelerating romantic development between protagonists. The faster the relationship progresses, the more energy it gains.

"You've got the wrong person," I sighed in exasperation.

"My marriage with Huo Yunting is anything but sweet. Your mission to 'spark romance' between us is doomed from the start."

"You'll gain zero energy from this."

The system emitted a soft, dismissive hum.

"Relax, my judgment is never wrong," it countered confidently.

"Just leave everything to me."

"Even if we fail, the worst that'll happen is I get sent back for reprogramming. No big deal."

I fell silent.

Though its words weren't exactly comforting, I could tell the system meant no harm.

I gave a slight nod.

With a cheerful chime, the system transformed into a kitten, claiming it would help it better understand my daily life and advance the plot.

The next morning.

Huo Yunting let out a startled gasp when he saw the kitten. I quickly explained that a friend had asked me to pet-sit and that I’d forgotten to mention it to him the night before.

He nodded without another word.

When I handed him his suit jacket, he was still drowsy, forcing himself to stay alert as he murmured,

"You should go back to sleep. There’s nothing urgent today."

I responded softly in agreement.

Huo Yunting usually never ate breakfast at home—once dressed, he’d leave immediately.

Today should have been no different.

But the system just had to stir up trouble.

Just as Huo Yunting reached the door, the system suddenly urged, "Call him back."

I had no idea what it was plotting.

The system huffed impatiently, "Come on, just do it! Don’t drag your feet."

Seeing Huo Yunting about to step out, I blurted, "Honey!"

Huo Yunting turned to look at me.

"What's wrong?"

The system chimed in: "Go hug him. Give him a kiss."

I was taken aback. "Isn't that too much?"

"It's Relationship 101."

A few steps away, Huo Yunting was still watching me. When I didn’t move, he tilted his head slightly with a questioning hum.

I walked over.

Kissing him was out of the question, so I settled for a light embrace instead.

"Be careful on the road."

3.

"How am I supposed to leave like this?"

Amusement laced his voice—he seemed to be in a good mood.

Just as I was about to pull away, his arms tightened around me instead.

"Now *this* is a hug."

With that, he strode off.

I stood there dumbfounded, watching his retreating figure, unable to utter a word.

The system teased, "Blushing already? Don't you two usually get this close?"

I shook my head silently.

This kind of marital intimacy was indeed rare between us.

Born into the prestigious Su family, though wealthy, we'd always relied on my uncle's business empire.

We weren't at the very top, but certainly above average.

As the only daughter, I'd been groomed since childhood to become the perfect society wife.

My parents dreamed of me marrying up, using the union to elevate our family's status.

A society wife represents the family's public image—every word, every gesture must be flawless.

The list of things I had to master was endless.

From piano and ballet to flower arrangement, etiquette, tea ceremony, and calligraphy.

For each subject, Father hired the finest instructors.

My small hands would often ache from practice, my feet sore from endless drills.

Watching other children play house, make mud pies, or run wild in the yard,

I couldn't help but envy them.

But I hadn't finished practicing the piano piece my teacher assigned, nor completed the still-life painting required by the art studio.

The only way I could take a break was by pretending to be sick.

But feigning illness never lasted long—my parents would see right through it. Not only would I get scolded, but I'd also have to make up for the missed lessons with extra work.

As for actually falling ill? That rarely happened.

I'd always been in good health.

As I grew older, I became quieter, more withdrawn.

I followed the rules, stayed obedient.

But that also made me seem dull, uninteresting—hardly the kind of girl people would take a liking to.

Even so, during my first blind date, Huo Yunting looked at me and said, "Su Rou, you have a wonderful personality."

"You're a sensible girl."

My mother stood right beside me that day. The moment the date ended, she started making wedding arrangements.

Soon, both families settled on the marriage alliance.

On the day of the wedding, my mother told me that once I married into the Huo family, I had to win Huo Yunting's heart.

"Try to have a child as soon as possible," she said, "but don't overdo it—stay composed, don't draw too much attention."

She assured me that if I could keep Huo Yunting happy, our family business would have a powerful backer.

I understood her intentions.

Marriages among business dynasties were always like this—forged to strengthen alliances while keeping potential rivals at arm's length.

Four.

Years ago, the Huo family suffered a devastating blow during Huo Yunting’s father’s generation, nearly collapsing under the weight of their losses. But after Huo Yunting took over, he revived the conglomerate in just a few short years, elevating it to the pinnacle of Beijing’s elite circles.

Other wealthy families watched with a mix of envy and wariness—eager to curry favor with him, yet terrified of becoming his enemy.

My mother’s advice was simple: she wanted me to secure a place of importance in Huo Yunting’s heart. If he so much as spared us a few resources, our Su family could rise to even greater heights.

I took her words to heart, but I failed to deliver.

Maybe he was too busy. Maybe I just wasn’t charming enough.

Either way, after a year of marriage, we hadn’t even exchanged sweet nothings, let alone anything resembling romance.

Evening fell, and rain began to patter against the windows.

Huo Yunting stepped inside, bringing a chill with him as he shrugged off his coat. With a casual wave toward the door, his assistant entered, cradling a golden retriever puppy in his arms.

The little dog squirmed with excitement.

My gaze followed it as it was set down, and before I knew it, I was kneeling on the floor, unable to resist.

It was a three-month-old golden retriever puppy, wagging its tail excitedly as it circled around me.

Huo Yunting rubbed his shoulder and said, "Since you adopted that black cat, I figured you must like animals. A friend’s golden retriever just had a litter, so I picked one out for you—to keep you company."

As he spoke, he walked over and gently patted the puppy’s head.

The black cat system leaped down from the sofa and drawled lazily, "So, how are you gonna respond to that?"

Hearing its soft tone, I tentatively murmured,

"Uh… thank you?"

"Too formal! Not cute at all!" The black cat rubbed against my leg. "You should act thrilled! After all, this is a gift your hubby specially picked out for you!"

I frowned in confusion.

"Specially picked?"

"Of course! You’re married—the closest relationship there is! If he went out of his way to get you a gift, a simple 'thank you' sounds way too distant!"

Curious, I asked,

"Then what should I say?"

"Throw yourself into his arms, give him those sparkling eyes, and say, 'You’re so thoughtful, hubby! I’m so happy!' Oh, and remember—keep your voice soft and sweet."

I clenched my fists and glared at it.

"What kind of system teaches such cringeworthy tricks!"

It immediately protested.

"Teaching you to express affection is improper now? Keep questioning me, and I might really lose my temper!"

"Why the shyness? He's your lawful husband, not some stranger. You've got the license and the wedding—what's wrong with being a little intimate?" The black cat coaxed persuasively, "Besides, I know deep down you want to get closer to him. Trust me, I’m never wrong!"

5.

I took a deep breath, stood on my tiptoes, and planted a light kiss on Huo Yunting’s cheek.

"Honey, you’re so good to me. I love you so much."

Even as I said it, my voice faltered and grew quieter. I wasn’t sure if he caught every word.

His body visibly stiffened, and he stayed silent.

The silence around us was so thick I wanted to vanish into the floor.

Sighing inwardly, I muttered to the black cat, "See? I just embarrassed myself. This is on you."

It remained unfazed. "You? I’m not worried in the slightest."

Just then, Huo Yunting turned to face me.

With a puzzled look, he asked, "What’s gotten into you today? Since when did you become so forward?"

I was hoping the black cat would give me some hints.

Unfortunately, it remained silent.

Unable to find the right words, I stammered,

"Because... you're always so thoughtful toward me."

Huoyunting chuckled humbly,

"Thanks for the compliment. Though I do care about you, you’ve been just as considerate toward me."

His gaze softened, warm and encouraging.

"......"

And so, the golden retriever settled into the villa.

Huoyunting still came home every night to keep me company.

Before bed, we’d curl up together, teasing the puppy as it played with the black cat.

Occasionally, we’d each be busy with our own things.

He’d work on documents in the study, while I lounged on the nearby couch with a book.

On chilly evenings, we’d open a bottle of red wine.

Sipping slowly, we’d chat about the little things in life.

Anything would do.

Outside the window, a bitter wind howled as dark clouds loomed overhead. Yet inside the villa, the warm glow of the lights cast everything in a cozy embrace.

These days, the black cat remained tirelessly dedicated to teaching me various ways to express affection. I did my best to learn. But judging from Huo Yunting’s hesitant expressions, the results were… less than stellar.

Then, on a particularly bright and sunny day, I decided to bake a small cake, hoping Huo Yunting might give it a try. At the time, he was taking a break, practicing his golf swing in the backyard.

Carrying the cake over, I approached just as he set down his club and settled onto a bench by the lawn. He pulled me down beside him, gesturing for me to feed him a bite.

I obliged, carefully lifting a spoonful to his lips. Though still a little clumsy, I wasn’t as resistant as before.

Huo Yunting watched my movements, and suddenly, I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"Really? In broad daylight?"

I figured he must have thought it was too intimate.

But before I could even feel disappointed—