Hidden Competition
2425 Words
“How is your father in a photograph with my grandmother?”
Wanning’s voice was barely above a whisper.
Gu Chenyuan didn’t answer.
He was still staring at the photograph.
The man beside her grandmother looked young.
Not old.
Not even middle-aged.
Young.
His expression was serious, his clothes old-fashioned, and there was something strangely familiar about the way he stood.
Wanning looked from the photograph to Gu.
“You know him.”
“Yes.”
“You said he was your father.”
“Yes.”
“But this photograph…”
She turned it over again.
The date was still there.
Her grandmother had been young.
Very young.
And Gu’s father looked exactly as he had in every old photograph Wanning had seen of him.
He hadn’t aged.
That thought made her uncomfortable.
She placed the photograph on the table.
“Explain.”
Gu finally looked at her.
“I can’t.”
Wanning laughed without humor.
“Of course.”
“It’s not because I don’t want to.”
“Then why?”
“Because I don’t know everything myself.”
That stopped her.
She studied him.
For once, he didn’t look like the man who had an answer for everything.
He looked troubled.
Only for a moment.
Then the expression disappeared.
Wanning picked up one of the letters.
“This might explain it.”
She unfolded it.
The handwriting was old.
The ink had faded.
She recognized her grandmother’s handwriting immediately.
Her eyes moved across the first line.
Then stopped.
She read it again.
Gu noticed.
“What does it say?”
Wanning swallowed.
“It says…”
She hesitated.
Then read aloud.
“‘If she ever comes back, don’t let him take her.’”
Gu’s expression hardened.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
She continued reading.
“‘The Gu family must never know that the promise was broken.’”
Wanning stopped.
She looked at Gu.
“What promise?”
He didn’t answer.
She picked up another letter.
This one was addressed to someone named Madam Shen.
Wanning frowned.
“That was my grandmother’s name.”
Gu took the letter.
He read it silently.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he folded it.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Wanning.”
“You’re not taking my grandmother’s letters.”
“They belong to you.”
“Exactly.”
She snatched the letter back.
Gu didn’t fight her.
Wanning placed everything carefully into the box.
“We’re taking this home.”
“To where?”
“My home.”
“The mansion?”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“The countryside.”
Gu said nothing.
Wanning closed the box.
“I need time.”
“You have it.”
She looked up.
“You’re not going to force me?”
“No.”
That surprised her again.
He was strange.
Possibly dangerous.
Definitely hiding something.
But he hadn’t tried to force her to stay.
That mattered.
Wanning stood.
“We’re leaving tomorrow.”
Gu nodded.
“No.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“Tonight.”
“Why?”
He looked toward the window.
“Because we’re not alone.”
Wanning turned.
The window was empty.
She stepped closer.
“Who is outside?”
“I don’t know.”
She looked through the glass.
The village was quiet.
Too quiet.
“Maybe someone saw the car.”
“Perhaps.”
“Then we can just leave normally.”
Gu shook his head.
“Not anymore.”
“Why?”
His gaze moved to the old photograph.
“Because they know you’re here.”
Wanning’s stomach tightened.
“Who?”
Gu didn’t answer.
⸻
At the Shen household, Liliana was having breakfast in bed.
Her mother had personally brought the tray upstairs.
“Eat everything.”
Liliana smiled.
“Mommy, I’m not a child.”
“You’re still my baby.”
Liliana laughed.
Her mother kissed her forehead.
Her father entered the room holding a small shopping bag.
“I bought you something.”
Liliana immediately sat up.
“What?”
He handed her the bag.
She opened it.
Inside was an expensive bracelet.
Her eyes lit up.
“Daddy!”
She threw her arms around him.
“Thank you.”
Her father smiled.
“Anything for my daughter.”
Her mother smiled too.
This was normal in their house.
Liliana asked.
They gave.
Liliana complained.
They defended her.
Liliana caused trouble.
They found someone else to blame.
Wanning had learned that lesson years ago.
She had stopped expecting fairness.
Liliana admired the bracelet.
Then her expression changed.
“Daddy.”
“Yes?”
“I want to see Wanning.”
Her father frowned.
“Why?”
“I told you.”
“She isn’t here.”
“I know.”
“Then leave her alone.”
Liliana’s face fell.
“But she’s my sister.”
Her mother immediately sided with her.
“Let her visit her sister.”
Her father sighed.
“You know how Wanning is.”
Liliana lowered her eyes.
“I just want us to be sisters again.”
Her mother looked at her lovingly.
“Of course.”
Liliana smiled.
Her father relaxed.
“Fine.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Liliana threw her arms around him again.
“Thank you, Daddy!”
He laughed.
“Just don’t cause trouble.”
Liliana looked innocent.
“Me?”
Her mother laughed.
“You would never.”
Liliana smiled.
Inside, she was already planning.
⸻
The following afternoon, Wanning and Gu returned to the city.
The box remained in her lap throughout the journey.
She didn’t trust leaving it anywhere else.
When they reached the mansion, Wanning carried it directly upstairs.
She locked it in the room.
Then she returned downstairs.
Gu was standing by the window.
“You’ve been quiet.”
“I have questions.”
“I know.”
“I’m going back.”
“To the countryside?”
“Yes.”
“Again?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Wanning frowned.
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
“I can protect myself.”
“You couldn’t protect yourself yesterday.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“I ran away from a forced wedding, walked through a storm, found a strange mansion and survived the night.”
Gu looked at her.
“That isn’t protection.”
“Fine.”
She crossed her arms.
“But I’m still going.”
He nodded.
“Then we’ll go.”
She turned away.
“Good.”
Neither noticed the car approaching the gates.
⸻
Liliana stepped out of the car.
Her mother had insisted on coming with her.
“Remember,” her mother whispered, “don’t upset your sister.”
“I won’t.”
“And don’t mention the wedding.”
“I won’t.”
“And don’t say anything about Gu Chenyuan.”
Liliana smiled.
“I won’t.”
Her mother touched her cheek.
“You’re such a good girl.”
Liliana smiled wider.
“I know.”
They entered the mansion.
This time, Liliana wasn’t nervous.
She had dressed carefully.
Soft colors.
Simple jewelry.
Nothing that screamed competition.
She wanted Gu to see her as gentle.
Kind.
Sweet.
Everything Wanning wasn’t.
The moment they entered, Liliana looked around.
“Wow.”
Her mother whispered,
“It’s beautiful.”
Liliana smiled.
“I understand now.”
“Understand what?”
“Why Wanning doesn’t want to come home.”
Her mother frowned.
“Don’t say that.”
Liliana immediately shook her head.
“Sorry.”
She looked sad.
“I shouldn’t have said it.”
Her mother squeezed her hand.
“You’re just surprised.”
Liliana nodded.
Then she saw Gu.
He was standing at the end of the corridor.
His eyes landed on Liliana.
She smiled.
“Hello again.”
Gu nodded.
“Mrs. Shen.”
Her mother immediately stepped forward.
“Mr. Gu, I’m Wanning’s mother.”
“I know.”
She smiled nervously.
“We came to see our daughter.”
“She isn’t here.”
Liliana looked disappointed.
“Oh.”
She lowered her head.
“Then we’ll wait.”
“You can’t.”
Her mother looked startled.
“Why?”
“Wanning isn’t here.”
Liliana looked at Gu.
“Where did she go?”
“That isn’t your concern.”
Her mother stiffened.
Liliana immediately intervened.
“Please don’t be angry with my sister’s husband.”
Gu looked at her.
Liliana smiled sweetly.
“She doesn’t know how to communicate sometimes. She has always been stubborn.”
Her mother nodded.
“Yes.”
“Mom.”
Liliana gently touched her mother’s arm.
“Don’t talk about her that way.”
Her mother immediately smiled.
“You’re right.”
Liliana looked at Gu.
“I’m sorry.”
Gu said nothing.
She waited.
He didn’t react.
No smile.
No warmth.
Nothing.
Liliana’s fingers tightened.
But she maintained her expression.
“My sister is lucky.”
Gu’s eyes moved to her.
“Why?”
“To have someone who takes care of her.”
He didn’t answer.
Liliana smiled.
“I hope she appreciates you.”
“She does.”
The answer came so simply that Liliana wasn’t prepared for it.
Her smile weakened.
Gu walked away.
Her mother looked at her.
“Liliana?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re doing fine.”
Liliana watched Gu disappear.
Her eyes narrowed.
“He likes her.”
Her mother shook her head.
“Don’t think like that.”
“Mommy.”
“Wanning is your sister.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t compete with her.”
Liliana looked at her mother.
“I’m not.”
Her mother smiled.
“I know.”
And just like that, another lie was accepted.
⸻
That night, Wanning couldn’t sleep.
She opened the wooden box again.
She spread the letters across the bed.
Most were difficult to read.
Some were written in old-fashioned language.
Some had no names.
One contained a strange drawing.
A heart split into two.
The exact shape of her necklace.
Wanning’s fingers stopped.
Underneath the drawing were three words.
Two become one.
She whispered,
“What does that mean?”
A knock came.
She quickly gathered the papers.
“Who?”
“Me.”
Gu.
She opened the door slightly.
“What?”
“I need to show you something.”
She stepped out.
“What?”
He held a small black envelope.
“Where did you get that?”
“It was left at the gate.”
Wanning took it.
There was no name.
Only one symbol.
The same symbol from the box.
She looked at Gu.
“Did someone send this?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“Because nobody gets past my gates without being noticed.”
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Wanning pulled it out.
Her hands went cold.
It was a picture of her.
Taken that afternoon.
At her grandmother’s house.
She was standing beside the old window.
Someone had photographed her from outside.
On the back was a message.
You should not have opened the box.
Wanning looked at Gu.
He took the photograph.
His expression became deadly calm.
“Whoever sent this knows where you are.”
Wanning swallowed.
“What do they want?”
Gu looked at the photograph again.
“I don’t know.”
She stared at him.
“You really don’t know?”
“No.”
He folded the photograph.
“But I’ll find out.”
Across the city, Liliana lay awake.
She couldn’t stop thinking about Gu.
His voice.
His wealth.
His coldness.
And the way he had said—
She does.
When Liliana asked whether Wanning appreciated him.
He had answered without hesitation.
It irritated her.
But it also made her more determined.
She picked up her phone.
She opened her messages.
Then she typed.
I hope you’re taking care of my sister. She’s not used to this kind of life.
She stared at the message.
Too direct.
She deleted it.
She typed again.
I’m sorry about today. I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable. I only came because I was worried about Wanning.
She read it.
Better.
She sent it.
Then she waited.
No response.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Twenty.
Nothing.
Liliana frowned.
She placed the phone beside her.
Then picked it up again.
Still nothing.
Her face tightened.
Nobody ignored Liliana.
Nobody.
She finally turned off the phone.
“This will not end like this.”
⸻
The next morning, Wanning stood in front of the mirror.
The half-heart necklace rested against her chest.
She looked at herself.
Then at the box.
Then at the photograph of her grandmother.
She still had no answers.
Only more questions.
Why did her grandmother know the Gu family?
Why did Gu’s father appear beside her?
Why did Gu say he had waited one hundred years?
Why did another woman with her face marry him?
And why had someone warned her not to open the box?
She packed the letters.
Gu entered.
“We’re going.”
She nodded.
“Back to the countryside?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I need to ask someone.”
“Who?”
“An old woman who lived next door to my grandmother.”
Wanning picked up her bag.
“She knew my grandmother better than anyone.”
Gu looked at her.
“Then we should go.”
She stopped.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“You said we.”
“Yes.”
“You’re coming again?”
“Yes.”
She sighed.
“Fine.”
They walked downstairs.
Neither of them knew that the moment they left the mansion, Liliana was already making another plan.
She had decided that if Gu wouldn’t come to her…
she would make herself impossible for him to ignore.
And she had no intention of giving Wanning time to understand what she had married into.
Because Liliana had spent her entire life getting what she wanted.
Her parents had taught her one thing without ever saying it aloud:
Wanning could lose. Liliana could never be wrong.
And this time, Liliana wanted the one thing her sister had that she had never imagined wanting.
Gu Chenyuan.
The richest man in the city.
The mysterious owner of the Gu empire.
And, somehow…
the husband who had chosen Wanning.
Liliana smiled at herself in the mirror.
If Wanning had been lucky enough to find him,
Liliana would simply have to be clever enough to take him.
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