I'm Done with the Elite Marriage - Chapter 10

Zhou Youling felt as though she had been sucked into a black hole. A sudden dizziness washed over her, leaving her disoriented.

She couldn’t believe what she had just heard from his lips. Could it be that too much time had passed, and he simply couldn’t remember?

Grabbing Fu Xunzhou’s arm in a panic, she asked urgently, “On February 22nd, ten years ago, you didn’t save me?”

Fu Xunzhou could sense Zhou Youling’s agitation and unusual behavior. Her eyes were red, her body trembling slightly.

Before he could respond, Zhou Youling pulled up the fabric covering her knee.

“At the time, a piece of wood was crushing my knee, and you pushed it off. Look, there’s still a scar here.” She pointed at her knee, her voice trembling as well.

Fu Xunzhou frowned deeply. He had always known there was a scar on her knee, but he had never asked about its origin. She hadn’t mentioned it, and he hadn’t inquired. Today, however, her knee bore additional scrapes.

Whatever had happened in the past, Fu Xunzhou was certain of one thing: she must have mistaken him for someone else.

Seeing the hopeful look on her face, Fu Xunzhou felt a sudden wave of helplessness.

He shook his head and said coldly, “I’m sorry, but I’ve never been involved in any fire, nor have I ever saved you.”

A sharp snapping sound seemed to echo in Zhou Youling’s mind.

It was as if an invisible force had shoved her hard, leaving her unsteady on her feet.

Fu Xunzhou reacted quickly, reaching out to steady Zhou Youling, but she pushed him away.

“What’s wrong with you now?” Fu Xunzhou looked at his empty hands, a surge of irritation rising within him.

“Sorry, but I need some time alone.” Her thoughts were a chaotic mess.

Without another word to Fu Xunzhou, Zhou Youling stumbled up the stairs, clutching the railing for support.

Fu Xunzhou stood where he was, watching her fragile figure that seemed ready to break with the slightest breeze. The nameless emotion in his heart grew stronger. He turned away from her, his gaze falling on the bowl of seafood noodles that had barely been touched. Suddenly, he lost his appetite.

After an exhausting evening, he felt both weary and frustrated. He decided to retreat to the study to handle some work.

The new house was spacious-a three-story villa. The first floor housed the living room and kitchen, the second floor featured a multimedia game room and study, while the third floor contained the bedrooms and guest rooms.

By the time Fu Xunzhou finished his work, it was already 1 a.m. He returned to the bedroom, only to be greeted by a cold and empty room.

The last time he had left for a business trip, the bedding had been light and thin. Now, it had been replaced with thicker, cozier linens. The four-piece set, adorned with pink lace, was Zhou Youling’s favorite style.

Zhou Youling had always had a bit of a girlish side, with a fondness for pink and similar colors. When they first got married, Fu Xunzhou had found her taste overly saccharine. Over time, however, he had grown accustomed to it, even finding it comforting.

The bed was strewn with Zhou Youling’s usual skincare products, and her scent lingered on the pillow.

Fu Xunzhou knew she must be resting in the guest room. He considered calling her back to the bedroom, but as he stood outside the guest room door, ready to knock, he realized it was already late. With a sigh, he turned back to the master bedroom.

…

The next day, it was nearly noon when Zhou Youling finally woke up in the guest room. She had suffered from insomnia the previous night, only falling asleep around four or five in the morning.

Growing up, she had always believed that a good night’s sleep could resolve even the biggest problems. This time, however, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

Zhou Youling had spent the entire night thinking, and the more she thought, the more absurd it all seemed. She had always believed that the person who saved her ten years ago was Fu Xunzhou, which was why she had agreed to marry him. Her family had advised her to think carefully, warning her about the complexities of marrying into a wealthy family like the Fu Family. But she had been resolute, driven by gratitude for the past. For ten years, Zhou Youling had harbored a deep admiration for Fu Xunzhou because of that supposed act of heroism, which had ultimately led her to marry him.

But now that he was no longer her hero, how could she continue to admire him?

Her thoughts were a tangled mess.

For several days, Zhou Youling wandered through life like a ghost. She slept until the sun was high in the sky, neglected her appearance, and ate sporadically. She spent her time watching online variety shows and scrolling through Weibo¹ headlines. When Fu Xunzhou returned home in the evenings, she would shut herself in the guest room, avoiding him entirely. It was as if they were living in separate worlds.

It wasn’t that Zhou Youling intended to give Fu Xunzhou the cold shoulder; she simply didn’t know how to face him.

She had spent ten years idolizing him as her savior, only to discover she had been wrong all along.

She had believed that his act of saving her meant he held special feelings for her. In the end, it was all just her own wishful thinking.

Her struggle wasn’t just about facing Fu Xunzhou; it was about coming to terms with reality.

That day, Zhou Youling followed her usual routine, waking up close to noon. She got up slowly, washed up, and made her way downstairs. At the corner of the staircase, she was surprised to find Fu Xunzhou at home.

It was Sunday. Fu Xunzhou had originally been scheduled to attend an event, but he had decided to skip it.

He had woken up at his usual time of 7 a.m., eaten breakfast, and then patiently waited for her-for five whole hours.

In those five hours, he could have held an important meeting, signed a critical contract, or even inspected the entire group’s operations. Instead, he had spent them sitting in the living room, waiting for her.

When he saw Zhou Youling, Fu Xunzhou suppressed his irritation and said, “You finally decided to get up.”

After days of not seeing each other, their first interaction was this cold remark. Zhou Youling’s heart felt as though it had frozen over. She paused briefly before continuing down the stairs.

Fu Xunzhou stood up from the sofa, expecting Zhou Youling to approach him and reconcile. To his surprise, she walked straight into the kitchen.

Zhou Youling had actually woken up around 9 a.m. She had stayed in bed, watching variety shows for two hours and scrolling through Weibo and short videos. Before she knew it, it was noon. If not for her growling stomach, she might have stayed in bed all day.

The house had servants, but Zhou Youling had instructed them not to call her for meals.

In the kitchen, Zhou Youling decided to make herself a simple dish of fried rice with egg.

The ingredients were straightforward: leftover rice, eggs, chicken, scallions, garlic, and carrots.

Fried rice with egg was a dish anyone could make, and Zhou Youling was no exception. She heated the pan, sautéed the scallions and garlic until fragrant, then added the diced carrots. Once the aroma filled the kitchen, she tossed in the leftover rice, stirring to separate the grains. She seasoned the dish with soy sauce, sugar, and salt, mixing everything evenly.

She preferred to add the eggs last, pouring the beaten egg mixture over the rice and quickly stirring it in. Finally, she sprinkled chopped scallions on top, completing the dish.

Unbeknownst to her, Fu Xunzhou had been leaning against the kitchen doorframe, watching her the entire time.

For Fu Xunzhou, the most satisfying part of coming home after a long day was enjoying a hot meal, especially one cooked by Zhou Youling.

But in recent days, not only had he been deprived of her cooking, but he had also endured the cold emptiness of the villa. The lively presence that used to greet him upon his return was gone, leaving a void that made him feel hollow.

In their three years of marriage, Fu Xunzhou believed he had never failed to provide for Zhou Youling materially. He admitted he was busy with work, but their relationship had always been relatively harmonious.

The villa’s top-notch exhaust system ensured there was hardly any cooking smell.

Still, Fu Xunzhou could smell the aroma of fried rice with egg, and it stirred his appetite. The gloom he had felt all morning dissipated as he watched her cook, and he decided to compromise.

He walked over and embraced Zhou Youling from behind, speaking softly, “What have you been busy with these past few days?”

Zhou Youling froze in place.

Fu Xunzhou’s kisses landed lightly on her neck, causing her breath to hitch.

They were husband and wife, after all, and had shared intimate moments before. But outside the bedroom, Fu Xunzhou had never shown her such affection.

The sensation of his lips on her neck made her skin prickle with goosebumps. She shifted uncomfortably, unused to the gesture.

Fu Xunzhou took her movement as an opportunity to turn her around, holding her close as they faced each other.

Zhou Youling looked well-rested, her complexion radiant. Her skin was always flawless, her cheeks now tinged with a soft pink.

Fu Xunzhou, young and vigorous, hadn’t touched her in over a month. Holding her now, inhaling her familiar sweet scent, he couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her.

And he did just that, catching her off guard and capturing her lips, parting them gently.

When it came to kissing, Zhou Youling had always been passive. Her first kiss had been with Fu Xunzhou on their wedding night; she had never kissed anyone else before.

But it was clear that Fu Xunzhou, with his perfect technique, was far from inexperienced.

As his tongue lightly grazed hers, Zhou Youling suddenly snapped out of her daze. She remembered the ridiculous rumors, thought of Fu Xunzhou’s white moonlight, Xue Yining, and recalled Jiang Sha’s arrogant taunts.

She pushed Fu Xunzhou away, staring directly at him.

Still caught up in the moment, Fu Xunzhou frowned and asked hoarsely, “What’s wrong?”

“Do you love me?” Zhou Youling asked.

Fu Xunzhou froze.

Love was not something he had ever contemplated. Faced with Zhou Youling’s sudden question, he found himself at a loss for words.

“Do you love Xue Yining?” Zhou Youling pressed.

Fu Xunzhou’s frown deepened. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I don’t know if it’s true or not,” Zhou Youling said with a bitter smile. “I was just curious. The day you came back, I saw Xue Yining get into your car.”

“You were following me?” Fu Xunzhou took a step back.

“I…” Zhou Youling began, wanting to explain.

She had merely stumbled upon the scene by chance.

But Fu Xunzhou didn’t give her the chance to clarify. “What’s gotten into you lately? Acting paranoid, moody, and unpredictable. Zhou Youling, there’s a limit to how much I can tolerate your childish games.”

“You’re right, you don’t have time for this. You’re so busy-why did you even get married?” she retorted.

“Why did I get married?” Fu Xunzhou laughed bitterly, one hand on his hip. “Did you forget? I gave you the chance to think it over. You were the one who agreed to this marriage.”

In moments of extreme anger, people often say the most hurtful things, even if they don’t mean them.

Impulse takes over in an instant.

Zhou Youling clenched her fists at her sides, her voice trembling as she said, “Yes, I brought this on myself. But now, I want a divorce. Can we do that?”

Footnote:

1. Weibo(微博): A Chinese social media platform similar to Twitter, where users post short messages, images, and videos. It’s widely used for news, entertainment, and personal updates.