Jiang Yuxi sat on the edge of her bed, her phone gripped tightly in her hand. The soft glow of the screen illuminated her face in the dimly lit room, highlighting the hesitation in her eyes. She had rewritten the message multiple times, each version feeling either too harsh or too uncertain. But there was no room for doubt anymore.
"Thank you, but I can't keep relying on you. Take care."
She stared at the words, her thumb hovering over the send button. A part of her wished she didn't have to do this, that she could hold on to the one person who had always been on her side. But the reality wasn't that kind. Lin Cheng's involvement in her life had only made things worse. Gu Zeyan wasn't the type of man to tolerate interference, and if she wanted to regain even a shred of control, she had to start by making decisions on her own.
With a deep breath, she sent the message.
The response came almost instantly.
"You'll always have a choice, Yuxi. Just don't let him make you forget that."
Her chest tightened. He wasn't going to argue. He wasn't going to try to change her mind. Somehow, that made it hurt more.
She placed the phone face down on her nightstand and lay back against her pillow, staring at the ceiling. Even though the house was quiet, she felt suffocated by the weight of everything around her.
Lin Cheng was leaving.
She was truly alone now.
The news of Lin Cheng's departure spread quickly. Though no one openly commented on it, Yuxi could feel the shift in the air. The whispered gossip, the sideways glances—everyone had been watching her every move, waiting to see how she would react. But Yuxi wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of seeing her struggle.
At breakfast the next morning, Yang Meilin wasted no time in voicing her thoughts.
"So, Lin Cheng finally came to his senses and left?" Her stepmother's voice was laced with mockery as she delicately sipped her tea. "Did he realize you weren't worth the effort, or did Gu Zeyan scare him off?"
Yuxi tightened her grip on her spoon, her face remaining impassive. "It was my decision."
Yang Meilin let out a soft, amused laugh. "Oh? And what exactly are you planning to do now? Do you think Gu Zeyan will just let you wander around aimlessly? Or do you expect to live off him forever?"
Yuxi's stomach twisted at the accusation. She had no intention of being a kept woman, of living under Gu Zeyan's control with no means of her own. But the reality was cruel. Without his name attached to hers, she had nothing. No job, no income, no independence.
Nothing but her pride.
"I'll find a job," she said, her voice steady.
Yang Meilin raised a perfectly sculpted brow. "A job?" She let out a cruel laugh. "And what exactly are you qualified to do, Yuxi? Pour coffee? Answer phones? Don't be ridiculous. Even if you manage to convince someone to hire you, do you think Gu Zeyan will allow it?"
Yuxi refused to react. She wouldn't give Yang Meilin the satisfaction of knowing that her words had struck a nerve. Instead, she pushed back her chair and walked away.
But deep down, doubt gnawed at her.
Would Gu Zeyan allow it?
Or had he already decided her fate for her?
That night, Yuxi sat in her room, her laptop open as she scrolled through job listings.
Her heart sank with every rejection she read.
"Minimum three years of experience required.""Bachelor's degree in Business Administration preferred.""Looking for a candidate with strong industry connections."
It was disheartening, but she refused to give up. She moved on to smaller companies, places where she wouldn't be recognized so easily. But even then, the moment her name was mentioned, everything changed.
The first interview she attended had started off well—until the hiring manager's expression shifted upon reading her resume.
"We appreciate your interest, Mrs. Gu," the man had said, his polite tone masking the discomfort in his eyes. "But unfortunately, the position has already been filled."
She had barely stepped out of the office when she overheard his hushed conversation with his assistant.
"She's Gu Zeyan's wife," the man whispered. "We can't afford to get involved in that mess."
The same thing happened at every company she applied to. Some were subtle, others more direct.
"With all due respect, Mrs. Gu, why would you need to work? Surely, your husband takes care of you."
It was infuriating.
She didn't want to be taken care of. She wanted to stand on her own two feet.
The hours dragged on as she continued searching, her frustration mounting. She rubbed her temples, exhaustion weighing down on her. Maybe she had been naive to think it would be this simple.
Her phone buzzed.
A new message.
From an unknown number.
"You're wasting your time."
Her blood ran cold.
She didn't need to guess who it was from.
Gu Zeyan.
Of course, he knew. He always knew.
Yuxi gripped her phone, her nails digging into her palm.
He thought she would give up. That she would accept the life he had dictated for her.
But he was wrong.
She wasn't going to stop searching.
No matter what.