I'm Done with the Elite Marriage - Chapter 18
The sharp sound of a slap echoed in the small room, lingering in the air.
Fu Xunzhou remained calm, his expression unchanged. If not for the red marks on his face, it would have been impossible to tell he’d just been struck.
Zhou Youling rushed forward, grabbing Rong Huiying’s arm in alarm. “Mom! What are you doing?”
“Don’t speak!” Rong Huiying gently pushed her daughter aside.
Today, Rong Huiying was impeccably dressed. Despite being in her fifties, she looked far younger, carrying herself with pride and an air of authority. She always held her head high, never bowing to anyone. But all of this-her strength, her determination-was for her daughter, Zhou Youling.
The world of the wealthy was a treacherous sea, and Rong Huiying had struggled through its whirlpools herself. She knew all too well how difficult it was to navigate. A strong family background was the only way her daughter could avoid being mistreated in her marriage. This was a truth Rong Huiying had always understood.
She stepped closer to Fu Xunzhou, her voice filled with pain. “Do you remember what you promised me back then?”
“You said you didn’t know how to take care of someone, but you’d learn. You said you wouldn’t let Lingling suffer even a bit in the Fu Family. You said-” Her voice faltered, and her eyes began to redden.
Her daughter was her flesh and blood, her reason for living. When the Zhou Family went bankrupt and Zhou Zhishan contemplated suicide, it was Zhou Youling’s words-‘Even if the sky falls, the tallest ones will hold it up’-that woke them from despair. It was her daughter’s unwavering support that kept the couple going.
Though the Zhou Family was no longer what it once was, they lived comfortably now, thanks entirely to Zhou Youling’s efforts.
For a woman to muster the courage to ask for a divorce, disregarding societal judgment-it was no small feat.
Rong Huiying couldn’t suppress the pain in her heart. Her precious daughter, her treasure, had married into a family only to endure hardship.
Zhou Youling clung to her mother’s arm, trying to pull her away. “Mom, please stop. I’m begging you.”
“I won’t stop. I need to make things clear.” Rong Huiying’s gaze bore into her son-in-law, who stood taller than her by half a head. Her emotions-sorrow, anger, disappointment-all converged into one: heartbreak.
Three years ago, everything had seemed so vivid.
The marriage proposal had come from the Fu Family. Fu Xunzhou had attended the meeting with polite detachment, speaking little.
Rong Huiying had been hesitant about the match. But when her daughter learned of it, she insisted on marrying Fu Xunzhou.
Rong Huiying could see the admiration and affection in her daughter’s eyes for Fu Xunzhou. Unable to bear crushing her daughter’s hopes, she privately approached Fu Xunzhou to discuss the matter. It was his promises that convinced her to agree to the marriage.
“I don’t know how to take care of someone, but I’ll learn for her. I won’t let her suffer in the Fu Family. I want her to be happy. I’ll give her a lifetime of happiness.”
Every word still echoed in her ears.
Fu Xunzhou remained silent.
He hadn’t forgotten those promises. He wasn’t the type to make empty vows; he’d genuinely intended to keep them.
But he hadn’t foreseen what lay ahead. Shortly after their marriage, his grandfather handed him full control of the Fu Group. At the time, he had just started working at the company, planning to rise through the ranks from a junior position. Instead, he was thrust into the role of top executive overnight. Many doubted him, many sought to undermine him, and he had no choice but to sacrifice his personal life, dedicating every waking moment to his work.
He couldn’t have both-a thriving career and a harmonious family life. Now, as he finally found a moment to breathe, he faced the crumbling remains of his marriage.
Standing before Rong Huiying, Fu Xunzhou resembled a prisoner awaiting judgment.
For the first time, he realized Zhou Youling wasn’t just throwing a tantrum. She had truly lost all hope in their marriage.
Rong Huiying, her eyes red, stepped forward again, raising her hand to strike him once more. Zhou Youling grabbed her tightly, pleading, “Mom, don’t blame him. It’s all my fault.”
Tears welled in Zhou Youling’s eyes, but she held them back.
Her heart ached more than anyone else’s.
Three years of marriage had transformed her admiration for Fu Xunzhou into love. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, the pain in her heart was undeniable.
Rong Huiying turned to her daughter, raising her hand as if to hit her, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Instead, she pulled Zhou Youling into an embrace, and the two women cried together.
Fu Xunzhou watched silently, finally uttering, “I’m sorry.”
It was all he could say.
Rong Huiying ignored his apology, turning to Zhou Youling instead. “Do you really want a divorce?”
Zhou Youling nodded instinctively. “Mom, please don’t stop me.”
Rong Huiying shook her head in anguish, her voice trembling. “Why would I stop you?”
She had anticipated this day since the marriage began.
When Zhou Youling first married, Rong Huiying cried herself to sleep every night, haunted by dreams of her daughter being mistreated and seeking a divorce. Her fears consumed her.
But as time passed, every visit from Zhou Youling was filled with cheerfulness, and Rong Huiying gradually let go of her worries.
Still, she hadn’t expected this day to come after all.
Now, she wouldn’t just refrain from stopping her daughter-she would stand firmly behind her, her unwavering support.
Divorce didn’t matter. What mattered was taking control of one’s happiness.
The commotion soon attracted onlookers. Whispers spread quickly, and before long, Fu Zhiqing arrived.
Draped in fur, Fu Zhiqing exuded confidence. Hosting the birthday celebration today, she carried herself like the matriarch of the family.
Feigning surprise and concern, she asked, “What’s going on? On such an important day, how could you two be so careless and start arguing?”
Yu Wanrong followed closely behind. Unlike Fu Zhiqing, who seemed eager to escalate the situation, Yu Wanrong preferred to downplay conflicts, especially on an occasion as significant as this, with guests filling the hall. Family scandals were best kept private.
“Couples argue; it’s normal,” Yu Wanrong said with a forced smile. “Even teeth bite the tongue sometimes. Everyone, let’s disperse.”
Fu Zhiqing nodded, chiming in, “Exactly, exactly. Let’s all go.”
But Second Aunt, standing beside Fu Zhiqing, pointed at the red handprint on Fu Xunzhou’s face, exclaiming, “Xiao Zhou’s face-did someone hit him? This doesn’t look like just an argument!”
Rong Huiying turned to the pair, her tone sharp. “Who do you think you are? This is our family’s business. It’s none of your concern!”
“Fu Zhiqing, don’t think I don’t know how much Lingling has suffered under your hand. And Second Aunt, don’t think I haven’t noticed how long you’ve been eyeing my son-in-law’s position as Chairman!”
Fu Zhiqing and Second Aunt’s faces darkened instantly, their displeasure evident.
They opened their mouths to retort, but Rong Huiying cut them off with a commanding voice. “Don’t bother denying it! Let me make this clear: today, I, Rong Huiying, declare that my daughter is divorcing your Fu Family!”
Gasps filled the room.
Rong Huiying’s bold declaration left everyone stunned, planting the idea that Zhou Youling’s suffering in the Fu Family was the cause of the divorce.
Yu Wanrong, who usually sought to minimize conflicts, remained silent.
Fu Zhiqing quickly recovered, snapping, “What do you mean by ‘suffering in our Fu Family’?”
Second Aunt added, “Exactly! We would never mistreat anyone from the Zhou Family.”
“Oh, the Zhou Family!” Rong Huiying sneered, her gaze sweeping over the Fu Family members. “I trust everyone here has eyes and ears. You’ve seen and heard enough!”
With that, she grabbed Zhou Youling’s hand and strode away.
Throughout, the mother and daughter maintained their composure. Though it was clear they’d been crying, they showed no signs of disarray.
Rong Huiying walked with purpose, her back straight, never looking back.
Meanwhile, Fu Xunzhou stood like a forgotten figure, silent and unmoving.
His mind was blank, the chaos around him feeling like a distant dream.
At some point, he found himself sitting in the chair Zhou Youling had occupied earlier, his posture lifeless, like a shell of a man.
From childhood, he had always been in the spotlight for his achievements-winning awards, earning national championships, being named an economic leader. But this time, the attention he received was unbearable.
As the crowd dispersed, Fu Xunzhou felt as though the scene before him had been unreal.
He wanted to escape it all but knew he was trapped at the center of the storm, powerless.
Before long, Fu Hexu approached, pulling up a chair to sit across from him. His tone was casual. “What’s the deal? Why are you just sitting here? Go get your wife back!”
Fu Hexu had pieced together the situation and couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Fu Xunzhou, bound by the chains of marriage. His emotions were complicated-had he not fled his own arranged marriage years ago, this might have been his life instead.
The Fu Family was in chaos now. The Zhou Family’s determination was evident, even Zhou Zhishan, usually mild-mannered, had left with a cold expression.
Yu Wanrong was busy managing the aftermath. Ever cautious, she had ensured Old Master Fu was sent back to the ancestral home early, shielding him from the drama. At eighty years old, the shock of such events could easily take a toll on his health.
“Grandfather mentioned Zhou Youling before he left,” Fu Hexu said with a chuckle. “He said the food at the banquet wasn’t as good as your wife’s cooking. Makes me want to try her dishes myself.”
Fu Xunzhou looked up at his elder male cousin, whose resemblance to him was uncanny.
He recalled the night Zhou Youling had drunkenly murmured, “You’re not my hero. I want to find my true hero.”
She had mistaken him for the man who had saved her life years ago-Fu Hexu. Her admiration and affection for him had been based on a misunderstanding. And he, in turn, had failed to fulfill his promises. He hadn’t cared for her, hadn’t given her the happiness she deserved.
His phone vibrated. Fu Xunzhou had a sudden premonition and checked the message.
Zhou Youling: [I’m at the Civil Affairs Bureau now. Please come quickly.]
Fu Hexu peeked at the screen, swore under his breath, and exclaimed, “She’s really that ruthless?”
He shook his head in disbelief. “You’re seriously going through with this divorce? Isn’t there anything a man can’t fix with an apology? If you two split, what’s going to happen to this mess of a family?”
“What happens?” Fu Xunzhou chuckled bitterly, his tone detached. “What does it have to do with me?”
From a young age, his mother, Yu Wanrong, had taught him to keep a low profile and shoulder the responsibilities of a man. While others played, he practiced calligraphy. While others caused a ruckus, he read books. He had always worked hard, always done what was expected. Even his marriage had been beyond his control.
Looking at Fu Hexu, Fu Xunzhou felt like a joke.
Couldn’t he, just once, do what he truly wanted?
He stared at his phone, typed a single word, and hit send: [Okay.]
