A Gilded Cage of Love - Chapter 15

The day Madam Jiang came to see me, I had just finished writing a serialized novel.

She was dressed head to toe in emerald jade, impeccably maintained, her brows and eyes strikingly similar to Jiang Qin’s.

In the quiet café, she looked down at me from above, getting straight to the point.

“He’s enjoyed the privileges of the family, so he must bear the family’s responsibilities. The reason I didn’t ask before was because I thought you were both sensible people.”

“Ruan Yao… Miss.” Madam Jiang paused. “You’re not an unreasonable girl. Think carefully-does he need some vague, illusory romance right now, or a marriage that can help him secure his position?”

“He’ll either have everything, or nothing at all. I can tell you, this circle devours people.”

“What can you give him? Your family will only hold him back. Your family’s annual income isn’t enough to pay the chef Jiang Qin hired for you for a single month. And that brother of yours…”

Madam Jiang let out a mocking laugh.

“Jiang Qin was young before, so playing around was just playing around. You seem sensible, so you should know what you ought to do at a time like this. The daughter of the Lin Family of the Capital is a good match for him. The news of their engagement was released by me-I’m sure you’ve heard.”

Even though I know my own family all too well, hearing Madam Jiang mention it still left me feeling lost.

I said nothing, staring at the creases in my skirt.

Madam Jiang, in her position, could hardly be an ordinary person.

She had different tactics for different women.

For those who were after money, she’d tell them that if they didn’t know their place, they wouldn’t get a cent.

For those with strong pride, she’d remind them that there was never any equality between them.

After a while, I said to her, “If Jiang Qin asks me to leave, I’ll leave.”

Madam Jiang chuckled. “Think it over carefully.”

In that instant, countless scenes flashed through my mind.

The environment I lived in, the effort I’d put in, my interactions with Jiang Qin.

Only now did I realize that fate is the most illusory thing of all.

Ten years ago, the girl who struggled to study under the streetlight could never have imagined she’d end up here.

Leaving the café, I originally wanted to go feed the pigeons.

I boarded a bus aimlessly. The autumn wind swept over me, exhaustion flooding my limbs.

Getting off, bread crumbs in hand, I found myself unable to walk any further.

Not far away was the hotel where Jiang Qin and I had stayed before.

When I asked at the front desk, I learned the room hadn’t been checked out yet.

I declined room service, took the elevator up-the lights as bright as the first time, but now I felt nothing but numbness.

I slept through the afternoon in a daze.

My mother’s call woke me, the sunset outside the window blazing and magnificent.

My mind hadn’t started working yet when my mother’s sharp voice came through: “Ruan Yao, can you get the money or not?”

My voice was hoarse. “Mom, I don’t have any money.”

“How could you not have money?! If you don’t, think of a way.

“You’re in a big city and still have no money-what are your father and I supposed to do? What about your brother?”

There was a commotion on the other end. Before my mother could finish, my father snatched the phone.

“I’ll talk to her!”

His voice was rough. “Ruan Yao, your mother doesn’t know how to talk, so let me. It wasn’t easy for us to raise you. Now it’s time for you to repay us-you can’t refuse.”

I found it funny, my thoughts suddenly clear.

“Dad, I want to ask you a question.”
“Ask.”

“Ruan Zongyao, is it really because of the debt from starting a business?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, and then my dad relented.

“We’re family, I won’t hide it from you. Ruan Zongyao got into a conflict with someone and broke two of their ribs. The other side has connections and wants our family to pay 600,000 to settle it, or else they’ll take your brother’s arm.”

“We’re all honest people…”

My mom started sobbing on the other end: “Yaoyao, please save your brother, I’m begging you, please, please…”

Before I could say anything, my dad spoke again.

“You wouldn’t want us to go to your teacher for help, would you?

“Or should I just give your school’s address to those people? Even if you graduate, your college professors won’t be able to reach you?”

…

I could barely make out what they were saying.

Time rumbled by like wheels; it could change everything, yet change nothing at all.

I had always ignored pain, so when these emotions I’d kept hidden in the corners finally surfaced, they felt especially overwhelming.

I wasn’t worried about Auntie Zhou’s side. Last year, Gu Chao brought their whole family to the city to take care of them.

He’s doing well now, highly regarded by his superiors. No matter how powerful the people Ruan Zongyao offended are, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble at his doorstep for no reason.

But… what about me?

Can I hide behind the facade of my current life forever?

Can I escape?

The thoughts in my mind crashed down on me.

Screaming, run away.

Go.

Wouldn’t it be nice if everything just ended here?

I left the hotel and got into the car back to Kaimao.

Jiang Qin called: “Where did you go? Why aren’t you at home?”

That’s not my home.

“Just went out for a walk.”

He paused, then said, “I have to go on a business trip to the capital.”

I knew.

He was going to Beijing, to attend Old Mr. Lin’s 80th birthday.

There were some connections to make. Madam Jiang said she would arrange for him to get engaged to Old Mr. Lin’s granddaughter that day.

My breathing grew much lighter: “Coincidentally, I need to go back to my hometown too.”

Jiang Qin sounded a bit surprised: “If you don’t want to go, then don’t.”

“It’s been years since I went back, it wouldn’t look good. I also need to transfer my household registration here, so I have to prepare some documents…”

Jiang Qin and I didn’t eat much that night, so Aunt Zhang didn’t make many dishes either.

I had no appetite, and neither did Jiang Qin.

After dinner, we lay on the sofa watching a movie.

We had no idea what the movie was about.

I looked at Jiang Qin. He was still as striking and refined as when we first met.

On impulse, I asked, “You gave me a ring so long ago. Tell me, do you think we’ll ever get married?”

Jiang Qin’s body stiffened, and his gaze at me was deep.

I don’t know how much time passed. Just when I thought he wouldn’t answer, Jiang Qin’s voice was hoarse: “Ruan Yao, I can’t give you an answer right now.”

At the time, I thought that sentence was the most dignified ending.

He was just gently telling me that there would be no future for us.

Though, deep down, I’d always known.

In fact, I’d never told Jiang Qin about my family.

Loving someone makes you vulnerable; it’s best if he knows nothing about the bad things.

I was terrified that the dignity I’d worked so hard to maintain over the years would be ripped away by them in an instant.

It’s best if he only remembers that I’m someone barren yet hardworking, and that it was his care that allowed me to grow flesh and blood.