I'm Done with the Elite Marriage - Chapter 1
At three in the afternoon, Zhou Youling received a call informing her that Fu Xunzhou would be returning home tonight.
She was in the middle of a full-body spa treatment when she heard the cold voice of the assistant, Xiao Youyang, on the other end, causing her to momentarily lose focus.
It had been a month since Zhou Youling last saw Fu Xunzhou.
If she remembered correctly, she had seen him last night after the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Sweet Words Dessert Shop. He had emerged from the café across the street, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, looking bright and handsome under the glaring sun. There was a faint smile at the corner of his lips, suggesting he was in good spirits.
Zhou Youling had wanted to greet him, but before she could raise her hand, Fu Xunzhou had already bent down and entered the back seat of his Rolls Royce. Accompanying him into the car was another woman.
Fu Xunzhou had been away on a business trip for a month, so naturally, Zhou Youling assumed he would return home last night. She had happily prepared a table full of his favorite dishes, only to wait until midnight without receiving a single call, let alone seeing him.
She had considered sending him a message to ask where he was, but when she scrolled to their chat interface, she hesitated and locked her phone.
In the two years since their marriage, Fu Xunzhou had fully taken over the Fu Group, and being busy was the norm. It was common for the couple to go long periods without seeing each other, and Zhou Youling’s most frequent activity was waiting for Fu Xunzhou to return home. Since he enjoyed her cooking, whenever he was home, she would personally prepare meals. Knowing he preferred quiet and refined girls, Zhou Youling had curbed her outgoing nature to cater to his preferences.
However, even though her world revolved around Fu Xunzhou, he seemed too engrossed in his work to spare her a glance.
In the past, Zhou Youling would comfort herself by thinking he was simply too busy, but now she seemed to understand something.
The assistant, Xiao Youyang, perhaps thinking Zhou Youling hadn’t heard clearly, repeated coldly, “Mr. Fu will be returning to the mansion tonight, please be informed.”
“Alright, I’ll…”
Before Zhou Youling could finish, the phone emitted a busy tone.
She had wanted to ask if Fu Xunzhou preferred stir-fried dishes or handmade noodles tonight.
The phone was on speaker, and the “beep beep beep” of the busy tone felt like a slap in the face.
The spa played soothing music, but Zhou Youling found it grating. She quickly prepared to get up, only to be held back by her friend Bai Lingxue.
“How can you let a mere assistant climb over your head, the rightful lady of the house? I mean, Zhou Youling, how do you put up with this?” Bai Lingxue frowned.
Zhou Youling smiled faintly to hide her embarrassment.
Bai Lingxue looked at her with frustration, “Sometimes you need to show some backbone. You’re the young madam of the Fu Group; don’t let any random person hang up on you.”
Zhou Youling instinctively defended, “Maybe it was an accident.”
Bai Lingxue rolled her eyes, “An accident? How many times has this happened? Just two months ago, I saw her slam the car door on you.”
Zhou Youling thought for a moment, “Did she? I don’t remember…”
Bai Lingxue sighed in exasperation, “Do you know what people are saying about you now?”
“They say you did whatever it took to marry into a wealthy family, drove away Fu Xunzhou’s white moonlight1, and made his grandfather bedridden…”
Zhou Youling interrupted, “You know it’s all false.”
Bai Lingxue continued, “The rumors sound so real. Do you know the worst part? They say you tried to imitate but ended up a poor copy, a pheasant trying to become a phoenix.”
Zhou Youling fell silent.
Some rumors, heard often enough, start to feel true.
Bai Lingxue said, “I don’t understand why you’ve become like this. Where’s the Zhou Youling I used to know? The one who dared to challenge bullies, argue with teachers, and fight in bars? Why have you become someone who only knows how to please her husband?”
“It’s not about pleasing; I love him.” Zhou Youling turned her head to sneak a glance at the angry Bai Lingxue, giving her a cheeky smile to lighten the mood.
“Do you really love him?” Bai Lingxue asked, “You need to understand that love and gratitude are not the same. Are you sure it was Fu Xunzhou who saved you back then?”
“Of course, otherwise why would I marry him?” Zhou Youling laughed.
Bai Lingxue looked at her and said softly, “Have you ever considered that you might have mistaken someone else for him?”
Zhou Youling was certain, “Impossible.”
Ten years ago, Zhou Youling had almost perished in a fire, and it was Fu Xunzhou who had rescued her from the flames, unconscious and barely alive. Although she hadn’t seen his face clearly at the time, a seed of gratitude had been planted in her heart. From then on, she felt an inexplicable admiration for Fu Xunzhou. So when the Fu family proposed marriage, she agreed without much thought.
Bai Lingxue was thoroughly defeated, raising her hands in surrender, no longer arguing with Zhou Youling.
“By the way, did you really see Xue Yining yesterday? Where did you see her?” Bai Lingxue asked.
“Across the street from the Sweet Words Dessert Shop.” Zhou Youling not only saw Xue Yining but also saw her getting into the car with Fu Xunzhou.
Though Zhou Youling didn’t want to admit it, this incident felt like a thorn. Since yesterday, that thorn had been lodged in her heart, causing a dull ache.
Rumor had it that Xue Yining was Fu Xunzhou’s white moonlight. They had been in love, but due to Zhou Youling’s interference, they had to part ways. Xue Yining, heartbroken, went abroad to heal. Thus, Zhou Youling became the target of public criticism, labeled as the “third party” who stole someone’s true love.
Before marriage, Zhou Youling had been unaware of all this, but somehow, after the wedding, these rumors began circulating, eventually reaching her ears.
Bai Lingxue teased, “Now that the white moonlight has returned, what are you going to do?”
Zhou Youling shook her head, “I don’t know.”
She truly didn’t know what to do.
…
Coincidentally, as Zhou Youling and Bai Lingxue left the spa, they saw Xue Yining not far away.
Three years had passed, but Xue Yining hadn’t changed much, and Zhou Youling recognized her immediately.
Upon seeing Xue Yining, Zhou Youling instinctively hid behind Bai Lingxue.
Bai Lingxue was puzzled, asking, “What are you doing?”
“That’s Xue Yining up ahead,” Zhou Youling whispered.
Bai Lingxue looked in the direction, spotting a neatly dressed woman on the phone.
Zhou Youling and Xue Yining were completely different types. If Xue Yining was the long-haired, pure first love type, then Zhou Youling was the alluring, wavy-haired type.
In fact, before marriage, Zhou Youling’s personality was carefree and unrestrained, but after marriage, she had curbed her temper to become a quiet, refined “little white rabbit.” The reason was simple: she had heard from the Fu family that Fu Xunzhou liked this type of girl.
Looking back, it seemed everything Zhou Youling did was an attempt to mimic someone-Xue Yining.
Soon, Xue Yining left, and Zhou Youling breathed a sigh of relief.
Bai Lingxue, hands on her hips, glared at Zhou Youling, “I don’t get it, why are you hiding?”
Zhou Youling paused.
Why was she hiding?
Perhaps it was the fear of being ridiculed by the person she was imitating, the one she failed to emulate.
Time was running late, and Zhou Youling hurried home to cook for Fu Xunzhou.
Before parting, Bai Lingxue, worried about Zhou Youling, reassured her, “Just be the young madam of the Fu family and don’t overthink things, okay?”
Zhou Youling nodded knowingly, “I understand.”
She understood the logic.
Halfway home, Zhou Youling’s phone vibrated with a message.
Fu Xunzhou: [I’m home.]
His tone was as cold as his unyielding heart.
Their conversations were always brief, formulaic, as if she were not a wife but more like a subordinate.
Today, Zhou Youling seemed to have a revelation.
It wasn’t that Fu Xunzhou’s heart was cold; it was that she was the wrong person.
Zhou Youling didn’t reply to the message but instead signaled to her driver, Old Zhang, “Stop the car.”
Outside the window, the city lights flickered, and traffic flowed endlessly.
For the first time, Zhou Youling felt a strong urge: she didn’t want to go home.
Footnote:
- White Moonlight(白月光):In Chinese culture, “white moonlight” refers to someone who is an unattainable or idealized love from the past, often remembered with nostalgia and longing.
