Chapter 5: Ruthless Resolve

As if treating her like a beast of burden wasn't enough, he had to use Lu Yuyao to humiliate her; he certainly had gone to great lengths to torment her.

Ye Xiangwan finished her breakfast, the meal tasting like sawdust, before returning to her room to change. She put on the same clothes she had worn the day before—now soiled and wrinkled from being thrown onto the floor—and headed toward the front gate.

"Oh, Miss Ye! Miss Ye!" Uncle Sun hurried over, looking flustered. "Where are you going? It’s so freezing outside this morning, and it’s no use leaving on foot. It’ll take you at least three hours to reach anywhere that might have a taxi..."

"I know."

Ye Xiangwan brushed past Uncle Sun, shoved the villa gate open, and stepped headlong into the biting autumn wind. She pulled her coat collar tight, but she still struggled to withstand the gusts of cold air that seeped through her clothes.

There was no sun today, only thick, gray clouds. The wide asphalt road was completely empty in both directions. Ye Xiangwan had thought she was accustomed to this life of having no one to rely on, but now, an indescribable pain began to spread through her chest. Because of her parents, she had stopped making friends; because of Feng Jinyan, she had left home; and finally, because of love, she had hollowed out her heart and let go.

She did not know what was left of her life. She simply walked forward, aimless and mechanical, seeing no end, finding no hope, utterly alone.

She did not know how much time had passed or how far she had walked when she finally spotted the convenience store she remembered. The wind had left her legs almost stiff. She shuffled to the counter, disheveled, and borrowed the cashier’s phone. Just as Feng Jinyan had said, her contact list was pitifully short, so she knew almost every number by heart. She first called the hospital to ask for a half-day leave, then dialed a specific string of digits.

"Hello."

An incredibly elegant female voice came from the other end, carrying the arrogance of someone long accustomed to high status. Without a greeting, she demanded, "You’ve met my son?"

"…I have," Ye Xiangwan replied in a low voice.

"I shouldn't need to remind you what should and shouldn't be said, right?" Huo Siqing’s tone was measured and slow. "I know you’re a smart girl."

A cold smile tugged at the corner of Ye Xiangwan’s mouth. "I certainly know my boundaries. However, your son just took a blow for me."

As expected, there was a long silence on the other end, and the woman’s tone lost its composure. "Don't get too arrogant, you—"

"You’ve received the money, haven't you?" Ye Xiangwan coldly interrupted her lecture. "I said I wouldn't have any more to do with him. I will never be a stumbling block on the path he wants to take. You should know better than anyone that it is you who should manage your own son and keep him from harassing me."

Ye Xiangwan’s fingers gripped the phone until her knuckles turned white. Feng Jinyan’s harassment was like poisoned honey to her—even if it rotted her heart, the sweetness remained, leaving her bloodied yet unable to let go. Last time, she had been forced to be the first to let go, and the pain had taken her six years to recover from. This time, she would rather be the one who was played with until he grew bored and tossed her aside.

"I received the money." There was a pause on the other end. "I’m not in the country right now. I’ll be back in a month; I have something to discuss with you in person."

Ye Xiangwan instinctively wanted to refuse, but if everything went as planned, next month would be her final payment. It might be better to meet once their debts were cleared, so they could go their separate ways and owe each other nothing.

Fortunately, she still had her wallet on her. Ye Xiangwan hung up the phone, had the clerk call a car for her, and then closed her eyes, leaning against the wall to rest.

Before long, a tapping sound against the glass reached her ears. She opened her eyes in confusion to see a figure whose face was completely obscured. Underneath an open coat, one of his long arms was in a sling. He leaned against the glass with a languid posture and hooked his finger at her.

Ye Xiangwan sat bolt upright. She had not expected Feng Jinyan to come looking for her.

In that moment of shock, four bodyguards in black suits entered the doorway. They bowed slightly to her. "Miss Ye, for the next month, you are free to walk for over three hours every morning before taking a car to work, but we will pick you up from the hospital every evening. This is Master Feng's order. Please conduct yourself accordingly."

At that moment, the window was tapped again. Feng Jinyan removed his mask, his tone chillingly predatory: "You can't run. Even in death, you will belong to me."

Ye Xiangwan bit her lip. She said nothing, her gaze dim and lifeless.

***

"Brother Jinyan, you’re finally back!"

Ye Xiangwan’s footsteps faltered. Looking at this luxurious, massive cage, she felt a tightness in her chest. Lu Yuyao, wearing a Gucci dress with an conspicuous logo, hurried down from the second floor with a mix of excitement and poise. It seemed she had been waiting in Feng Jinyan’s bedroom for some time.

"Oh? Doctor Ye, are you really being..." She stopped, her expression souring. Her eyes swept over Ye Xiangwan, lingering on the soiled, wrinkled clothes she had worn overnight.

Ye Xiangwan looked back in silence. This must be the look of disdain a rightful girlfriend holds for a mistress.

Feng Jinyan, however, seemed entirely unaware of the awkward atmosphere. He glanced at Lu Yuyao and said, "From now on, if you need anything, you can call her."

He then walked over and wrapped an arm around her waist. Lu Yuyao stiffened instinctively, her eyes flickering with surprise as she looked at the large hand on her waist before speaking. "Alright then, I’ll have to trouble Doctor Ye..."

"I am not a maid, and she isn't the one who is injured," Ye Xiangwan said, suppressing the rage in her chest as she looked at Feng Jinyan. "You can summon me, but she cannot. And one more thing..."

She didn't give Feng Jinyan a chance to speak; she quickly took off her coat and flung it onto the man. "You dirtied this yesterday. Get me a new one later."

Without waiting for his reaction, she turned, headed quickly upstairs to the guest room, and locked the door.

Feng Jinyan’s handsome features darkened instantly. He strode to Ye Xiangwan’s room. "Ye Xiangwan, come out."

Inside, Ye Xiangwan did not respond. She heard the handle being twisted violently from the outside, followed by a muffled "bang" against the door panel.

She ignored him, walking straight into the bathroom to take a hot shower; she had truly been frozen to the bone that morning. Ye Xiangwan stood under the showerhead, letting the water stream down from her head, just like the blood flowing silently from her heart.

She had been willing to hide the truth of their breakup six years ago, but that did not mean she didn't feel the pain.

The more Feng Jinyan had loved her back then, the more her heart ached now. Feng Jinyan had been born into a prominent family and possessed looks far beyond the ordinary. She had felt unworthy of such a dazzling man, so six years ago, under the pressure of his mother, she chose to play the villain and initiate the breakup.

Even though it was painful, she did not regret it. But as all that willingness transformed into Feng Jinyan’s hatred for her, her heart could not help but throb with a dull, suffocating pain.