Jiang Yuxi woke up feeling drained. Sleep had evaded her, her mind replaying the confrontation between Gu Zeyan and Lin Cheng. No matter how much she tried to push it aside, she couldn't ignore the sharp tension that had thickened the air when they had faced off. Gu Zeyan's words still echoed in her mind—You're still mine.
She hated the possessiveness in his voice. Hated how he made it sound like a simple fact, something undeniable. But what frustrated her the most was that, deep down, a part of her didn't completely reject it.
Shaking off the thought, Yuxi forced herself out of bed. She had no time to dwell on Gu Zeyan or the way he made her feel. Today, she needed to refocus—on herself, on her independence, on proving that she was more than just his wife.
Later that morning, a knock at the door startled her. Expecting a delivery or a message from the hospital about her mother, she opened it without much thought—only to find a well-dressed woman standing before her.
Jiang Roulan.
Her stepsister wore a smug expression, her designer outfit pristine as always. "You're coming with me," she said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
Yuxi frowned. "Excuse me?"
Roulan smirked. "There's an event tonight, a high-society gathering. You're expected to attend as Gu Zeyan's wife."
Yuxi folded her arms. "And why would I go anywhere with you?"
"Because," Roulan said, tilting her head, "Gu Zeyan personally arranged this. Unless, of course, you'd rather defy him?"
Yuxi's jaw tightened. She hated the idea of attending any event that tied her to Gu Zeyan, but she also knew that refusing could create more trouble than it was worth. And if he had arranged this, it meant something.
Reluctantly, she exhaled. "Fine. But don't think for a second that I'm going because you asked me."
Roulan simply laughed. "Oh, trust me, I don't care why you're going. I just enjoy watching you squirm."
By the time evening arrived, Yuxi found herself dressed in an elegant yet modest evening gown. The venue was a luxurious hotel ballroom, glittering chandeliers casting golden light over the sea of social elites.
She had barely stepped inside when she spotted Gu Zeyan, his tall figure impossible to miss. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, exuding effortless authority. As their eyes met, a flicker of something unreadable crossed his face before he schooled his expression back into its usual mask.
Yuxi had barely taken two steps before she felt his presence beside her.
"You look beautiful," he murmured, his voice low enough for only her to hear.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Why am I here?"
Gu Zeyan took a sip of his wine, his gaze never leaving her. "Because you're my wife. And I need you by my side tonight."
His words sent a strange shiver down her spine.
Before she could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Yuxi."
She turned sharply—only to find Lin Cheng standing nearby, dressed in a dark suit, his expression carefully neutral.
Of course, he was here. He belonged to this world, after all.
Gu Zeyan's entire posture shifted, though his expression remained cool.
The tension between the two men was instantaneous.
Lin Cheng barely acknowledged Gu Zeyan as he looked at Yuxi. "I didn't expect to see you here," he said, his voice gentle yet tinged with something more.
Yuxi felt the weight of both their gazes on her. "Apparently, I had no choice," she said, giving Gu Zeyan a pointed look.
Gu Zeyan smirked. "And yet, here you are."
Lin Cheng's eyes darkened, his fingers clenching slightly. "Is this what you want, Yuxi? To be paraded around as his possession?"
Yuxi swallowed hard. She wasn't sure how to answer. But before she could, Gu Zeyan chuckled, his tone amused yet laced with warning.
"You speak as if she has any better options," he said smoothly. "Tell me, Lin Cheng—what exactly are you offering her?"
Lin Cheng's jaw tightened. "Freedom."
The word hung in the air like a dangerous promise.
Yuxi felt her breath hitch.
Gu Zeyan's smirk didn't fade, but his grip on his glass tightened ever so slightly. "Freedom? How noble of you. But tell me—does your so-called freedom come with the ability to protect her?"
Lin Cheng glared. "I would never let anything happen to her."
"Is that so?" Gu Zeyan leaned in slightly, his voice just above a whisper. "Because from where I stand, she's much safer with me."
Yuxi felt like she was suffocating between them.
She had enough.
"Stop," she said, her voice firm.
Both men fell silent.
She turned to Lin Cheng. "I appreciate your concern, but my life isn't something you can claim to fix."
Then, she turned to Gu Zeyan. "And you—" She took a deep breath. "Stop acting like you own me."
For a split second, Gu Zeyan's eyes darkened in a way that sent shivers down her spine. But instead of responding, he simply smirked.
"As you wish," he murmured.
But Yuxi knew better.
Gu Zeyan wasn't someone who let things go so easily.
And she had just challenged him in front of an audience.
But fate, as always, had different plans.