The morning air feels unusually heavy, thick with a tension that settles into Yuxi's chest as she walks into the dining hall. It's a rare summons from Madam Gu, and the gravity of it weighs on her. She can sense the expectation in the very walls of the room, the unseen forces that govern her life now that she's a part of the Gu family. Jiang Roulan is already seated at the table, a cup of tea poised delicately in her hand. Her face is calm, but there's a small, knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips as if she's in on something Yuxi doesn't know yet.
Yuxi sits down at the table, her hands clenched under the table to stop them from shaking. Madam Gu doesn't waste time with pleasantries. Her voice is cold, mand easured, each word carefully chosen as she sets the rules.
"The charity event tomorrow is important, Yuxi," Madam Gu says, her eyes never leaving the papers in front of her. "It's not just a social gathering. It's a representation of the Gu family. And I expect you to behave accordingly. Any misstep on your part will reflect badly on all of us."
There's a weight behind her words, an unspoken reminder that Yuxi is still an outsider in their eyes—she's a mere addition to the Gu family, a decoration to the image they wish to present. Yuxi's fingers tighten involuntarily, but she keeps her expression neutral, not giving any hint of the frustration building inside her.
Before she can respond, Jiang Roulan leans forward, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "You know, Yuxi, I heard you've been struggling with your etiquette lessons," she says, her tone laced with feigned sympathy. "It must be so hard, considering you've never been part of this world before. But don't worry, we'll all be there to help you if you need it."
The words sting more than Yuxi cares to admit. It's not just the insult—it's the way Jiang Roulan is so sure that Yuxi will fail. It's the quiet certainty that Madam Gu shares in her daughter's opinion that Yuxi is nothing but a mistake in their grand plan. Yuxi feels the weight of their judgment settles on her shoulders, but she refuses to let it show.
"I'll be fine," Yuxi replies, her voice steady despite the tension tightening in her chest. "I can handle myself."
Madam Gu doesn't acknowledge her response, instead picking up a silver spoon and twirling it absentmindedly in her tea.Thiss conversation is more about reminding Yuxi of her place than offering any real guidance. The warning is clear: Yuxi is still a guest in their world, and she better learn her place quickly.
The conversation lingers in Yuxi's mind long after the meal is over. Madam Gu's words echo in her ears, and she can't shake the feeling of being trapped—suffocated by the rigid expectations of the Gu family. It's as if every move she makes is watched, and analyzed, waiting for her to slip up.
Stepping outside the mansion, she takes a deep breath, feeling the cool air on her skin. The world beyond the gates feels so far away, as though she's been locked in a cage she can't escape. The servants, always polite but distant, act as if she's just another fixture in the house—a decorative piece, no more, no less. They don't look at her with respect, not like they would the true daughters of the family. There is always an unspoken hierarchy, and Yuxi is always at the bottom.
Her phone buzzes in her pocket, breaking her from her thoughts. An unknown number, a message that feels like a warning:
You don't belong there. Be careful.
Yuxi stares at the message for a long moment, her heart skipping a beat. The words are unsettling, a sharp reminder that there are things she doesn't understand, things that lurk just beneath the surface of her new life. Who could be sending these messages? Is it a threat? Or perhaps someone genuinely worried for her? Either way, the unease grows, settling deeper into her chest.
Before she can contemplate it further, a soft voice calls her name. She turns to see a servant standing nearby, her expression polite but impassive. "Madam Gu has requested your presence," the servant says, offering her a courteous bow.
Yuxi sighs inwardly. The cycle continues. Always under their watch, always at their mercy.
Entering Gu Zeyan's study, Yuxi is immediately hit by the oppressive quiet of the room. The air feels heavy, and thick with tension, and it's almost as if the walls are closing in on her. Gu Zeyan sits behind his massive desk, flipping through papers without so much as a glance at her.
Yuxi stands in the doorway, waiting for him to acknowledge her presence. After a long moment, he looks up, his gaze cool and assessing. His voice is low and steady as he speaks.
"I heard you met with Lin Cheng again," he says, his words carrying an edge of warning, though his expression remains unreadable.
Yuxi's breath catches in her throat. How does he know? She was careful—too careful, she thought. But somehow, Gu Zeyan always knows.
She doesn't flinch, though. "Am I forbidden from seeing my friends now?" she asks, her voice steady but with a challenge in it. She won't let him control every aspect of her life.
Gu Zeyan leans back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considers her words. "You are my wife, Jiang Yuxi. Your actions reflect on me," he says, his voice like a velvet rope, tightening around her neck.
She clenches her fists at her sides, feeling the pressure of his words. "You say that, but I'm only a contract wife, right?" Her voice is sharp, the bitterness of their arrangement spilling out.
A small, almost imperceptible smirk plays on Gu Zeyan's lips, but his eyes darken. "Then start acting like one." His voice is colder now, the threat beneath his words unmistakable.
Yuxi feels the heat of his gaze as it locks on her. The air between them thickens, the tension so palpable that it seems to pulse around them. She doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break, but she's not sure how much longer she can hold her ground.
Before she can say anything more, Gu Zeyan stands up, his movement fluid and predatory. He steps closer to her, invading her space, and for a moment, it feels as if the whole world shrinks down to just the two of them. His fingers brush a loose strand of her hair, an almost casual gesture, but it sends a shiver of electricity down her spine.
"Don't test my patience, Yuxi," he warns his voice a low growl that vibrates through her chest.
She meets his gaze head-on, refusing to back down. "I won't let you control me." The words come out sharp, but her heart races in her chest.
That evening, after the confrontation with Gu Zeyan, Yuxi can't shake the feeling of being trapped. Her heart is heavy, and she feels suffocated by the weight of her contract marriage. She needs to breathe, to escape, even if only for a moment.
She quietly slips out of the mansion under the pretense of running an errand. The streets outside feel like a distant world, and she relishes the feeling of freedom. But it's short-lived.
In a quiet, unassuming café on the outskirts of town, Yuxi meets with Lin Cheng, the only person who doesn't look at her like she's a pawn in some elaborate game. He's concerned, his gaze flickering between her tense face and her hands, which are fidgeting with the edge of her cup.
"Is everything okay?" Lin Cheng asks gently, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken questions.
Yuxi doesn't reply immediately. Instead, she takes a deep breath, feeling the walls of her life pressing down on her. "I feel trapped," she admits, her voice barely a whisper. "Like there's no way out."
Lin Cheng's expression softens. "You don't have to stay there, Yuxi," he says quietly, his words an invitation, a lifeline. "If you want, I can help you get away from all this."
Yuxi hesitates, the weight of his offer settling heavily in her chest. "If I leave, I lose everything. My mother's hospital bills... they'll never be paid."
She wants to be free, but she's not sure if she can afford that price. The silence between them thickens, and before she can find the right words, the door of the café opens.
Yuxi's breath catches in her throat as she looks up to see Gu Zeyan standing in the doorway, his gaze locked onto her.