The streets of the city stretched before Yuxi, a blur of neon lights and the dull roar of passing cars. Her legs carried her forward, but she had no clear destination. The weight of the evening pressed down on her like an iron cage—her father's cold voice still ringing in her ears, the mocking laughter of Yang Meilin and Jiang Roulan a cruel echo in her mind.
The wind picked up, sweeping through the streets with a biting chill, and Yuxi tightened her grip on the thin cardigan she wore. It wasn't just the cold that made her shiver; it was the realization of how utterly alone she was.
Her mother was unconscious in a hospital bed, unaware of the chaos unfolding outside those sterile walls. The one person in the world who had ever truly loved her—truly cared—was fighting a battle of her own, unable to protect Yuxi as she always had.
Her father had made himself clear. If she refused to marry Gu Zeyan, he would cut her off completely. He would stop paying for her mother's treatment, leaving her to fend for herself.
A strangled laugh escaped Yuxi's lips as she reached a deserted intersection. How ironic. The man who had barely acknowledged her existence for years now suddenly had power over her entire future.
She clenched her fists.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone, hovering over her contact list. Who could she even call?
Jiang Roulan and Yang Meilin had humiliated her enough—she wouldn't go crawling back, no matter how desperate she was. She had no friends in this world of wealth and power; every so-called 'acquaintance' she had from her university days had long abandoned her when her stepmother's influence erased any potential connections.
Then, almost instinctively, her feet carried her toward a familiar street. It wasn't a place she had visited often in recent years, but she still remembered it vividly.
A small, modest clinic stood at the end of the road, its soft yellow lights glowing warmly against the cold night.
Lin Cheng's clinic.
She hesitated at the entrance.
Would he even remember her?
Back when she was younger before her life had been completely swallowed by the Jiang family's twisted dynamics, Lin Cheng had been a kind presence in her life. He had treated her mother whenever she fell ill, often without asking for payment when things were financially difficult.
She hadn't spoken to him in years.
But right now, she had nowhere else to go.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.
The scent of antiseptic and herbal medicine greeted her, a sharp contrast to the cold air outside. The waiting area was empty, save for a receptionist who looked up in surprise. Before she could speak, a voice called out from behind the counter.
"Yuxi?"
She turned.
Lin Cheng stood there, dressed in a crisp white coat, his sharp features softening with recognition.
She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated. What was she supposed to say?
"I—"
Before she could finish, Lin Cheng stepped closer, his gaze sweeping over her. "You don't look well. Come inside."
Yuxi wanted to protest, to insist that she was fine, but the exhaustion that had been pressing down on her refused to be ignored. Her body was betraying her, her mind barely keeping up with the whirlwind of emotions suffocating her.
She followed him wordlessly into his office, the warmth of the small room offering a reprieve from the harsh world outside.
"Sit," he instructed, pulling out a chair for her. She obeyed, resting her hands on her lap to stop them from shaking.
Lin Cheng studied her carefully. "Are you sick?"
She shook her head. "No."
He didn't look convinced but didn't press further. Instead, he walked to a cabinet, pulled out a small box, and placed it on the desk. Moments later, he handed her a steaming cup of herbal tea.
"Drink this," he said. "You look like you're about to collapse."
Yuxi took the cup, the warmth seeping into her fingers. She hadn't realized how cold she was until now.
Silence filled the room as she took a slow sip. The bitter taste was oddly comforting.
Lin Cheng finally spoke. "You don't have to tell me what happened, but…" He paused, his voice quieter than before. "Are you safe, Yuxi?"
Her fingers tightened around the cup.
Safe?
She wanted to laugh.
She was about to be forced into a contract marriage with a man who likely despised her. Her stepmother and stepsister were eagerly waiting for her downfall. Her father had no hesitation in discarding her if she didn't comply with his demands.
She wasn't safe at all.
But she couldn't say that.
Instead, she forced a small, empty smile. "I'm fine."
Lin Cheng didn't look convinced. "You've always been a terrible liar."
Yuxi lowered her gaze.
"I don't want to talk about it," she admitted.
He sighed but didn't push her further. "Alright."
Another silence stretched between them, though this one felt less suffocating.
For a brief moment, Yuxi allowed herself to simply exist. To sit in this quiet space, free from expectations, judgments, and cruel words.
But reality never let her rest for long.
Her phone buzzed against the desk.
Her heart clenched.
She already knew who it was before she even looked at the screen.
Gu Zeyan:Tomorrow. 8 AM. The Civil Affairs Bureau. Don't be late.
A cold sense of finality settled over her.
Tomorrow, her fate would be sealed.
Her grip on the cup tightened. There was no way out of this, was there?
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then, placing the cup down, she forced herself to her feet.
"I should go," she murmured.
Lin Cheng frowned but didn't stop her. He simply watched as she grabbed her bag, his expression unreadable.
As she reached the door, his voice stopped her.
"Yuxi."
She turned.
"If you ever need help…" His gaze was steady, sincere. "You know where to find me."
A lump formed in her throat.
For a moment, she wanted to believe that someone could save her. That she didn't have to face this all alone.
But she knew better.
She forced a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Lin Cheng."
Then, without another word, she stepped out into the night, leaving the warmth of the clinic behind.
The rain had stopped, but the chill in the air remained.
She pulled her phone out again, staring at Gu Zeyan's message.
Tomorrow. 8 AM.
Her fingers hovered over the screen as if she could erase the words by sheer will alone.
But the decision had already been made.
She had no choice.
Taking a deep breath, she turned on her heel and walked toward her apartment, the distant hum of the city a cruel reminder that life moved forward—whether she was ready or not.