Chapter 2: This Isn’t a Transaction
877 Words
Knock, knock, knock…
Just then, there was a rap at the door. “Good morning, Mr. Yin. Room service with your breakfast.”
Yin Sichen frowned. He placed the check on the bed and went to open the door.
The breakfast spread was lavish. Yin Sichen glanced at the woman still huddled in the corner. “Come eat,” he said.
The woman, however, continued to weep. Yin Sichen didn’t press further. He sat down and began eating himself. Between bites, he stated coolly, “About last night. I’ll settle it. Five million. In exchange, you tell no one what happened between us.”
Gu Xixi’s head snapped up! She stared at the stranger, stunned. Five million? Did he think she was for sale?
This man… somehow he’d driven Zegang away, taken his place in this room, taken her… and now he dared offer her money to add insult to injury?
The more Gu Xixi thought about it, the more the humiliation and injustice choked her. Even if she had been taken advantage of, she would never, ever take this money.
“Don’t worry,” she said, her voice thick with tears but resolute. “I won’t tell anyone.”
How could she possibly tell anyone?
Silently, she gathered her scattered clothes from the floor and retreated into the bathroom.
Staring at her reflection – hair tangled, eyes swollen and red, the picture of utter devastation – the reality crashed over her. How could things have gone so wrong?
When Gu Xixi left, Yin Sichen was still seated, elegantly eating his toast, seemingly indifferent to her departure. Only the check remained on the bed, a silent, mocking presence.
Stepping out of the Hilton, Gu Xixi’s phone chimed softly. It was a text from Zhao Zegang.
"Xixi, I waited for you all night in the room, but you never came. Did something come up? It’s okay. I’ll keep waiting. My flight’s about to take off. I’ll bring you a gift when I’m back. Love, Zegang."
Gu Xixi froze. He wasn’t in the room at all! Why would he say he waited? Where did it all go wrong?
Did Xiaoya give me the wrong key card? Or… No, impossible. Xiaoya would never do something like that.
She pocketed her phone, gazing out at the bustling city streets, a wave of desolation washing over her. Even when Zegang returns… could they ever truly go back?
Maybe it’s better if it just ends here.
The thought of parting from Zegang pierced her heart, a pain so sharp it made her tremble.
All of this… happened just last night.
Xiaoya… could it really have been you?
The familiar automated voice – "The number you have dialed is powered off…" – jolted her. She hadn’t even realized she’d dialed Lin Xiaoya’s number.
No answer.
Walking aimlessly, memories of her time with Zhao Zegang flooded her mind.
Their first meeting, the blossoming love, the nervous joy she’d felt just yesterday… Every beautiful moment replayed like a vivid film reel, yet now felt agonizingly out of reach.
Just yesterday, they’d playfully discussed their future wedding. He’d promised to call and message her every single day during his two years abroad, so she could hear his voice and see his face.
But now… that future was shattered.
Could she really talk to him, message him, as if nothing had happened?
No…
They couldn’t have that wedding. They couldn’t have those children…
Gone. All of it, gone.
A screech of tires and the shrill, insistent ring of her phone violently shattered her thoughts. She snapped back to reality, horrified to find herself standing in the middle of the road. A car had skidded to a halt mere inches from hitting her.
Heart pounding, Gu Xixi stumbled back onto the sidewalk, watching the car speed away.
Her phone kept ringing. She looked down – it was Zhao Zegang’s mother. Hastily wiping her tears, she answered. “Auntie…”
Before she could finish the greeting, a cold, clipped voice cut her off.
“As you are aware, Miss Gu, our Zegang has been sent abroad by his company for advanced training. When he returns, his status will be entirely different. I was never in favor of your relationship before, but since my son liked you, I held my tongue. Now that you’re no longer in the same city, I expect you to take the initiative and leave Zegang alone. Stop clinging to him.”
Gu Xixi’s fingers tightened around the phone, trembling.
“I’ll be frank. Another young lady accompanied Zegang abroad this time. She comes from an excellent family background, someone who can truly be of help to Zegang’s future. She’s also very fond of him. In fact, this opportunity abroad came through her recommendation. Naturally, we prefer her as our daughter-in-law. You’re just a country bumpkin, aren’t you? How could someone like you possibly be worthy of our Zegang? If we forced a breakup, Zegang might resist… But if you were the one to initiate it…”
Zhao Zegang’s mother left the sentence hanging. They were both intelligent women. The unspoken threat was crystal clear.
Why? Gu Xixi’s heart screamed silently. We loved each other truly. Why does the whole world seem determined to tear us apart?
- Writer
