Why did she always wake up to silence.
Not the fragile silence of a hospital room, filled with beeping machines and whispered footsteps.
Not the suffocating silence of the Yu family apartment, heavy with expectation and illness.
This silence was… wide.
The curtains were half-open, letting pale sunlight spill across the floor. The bed beneath her was soft, too soft. Her body felt light, as if she were floating.
For a moment, she forgot where she was.Then memory crashed down on her like cold water.
Contract marriage.
Liang Jinhai.
Mrs. Liang.
She slowly turned her head.
The room was unfamiliar large wardrobe, minimalist furniture, cream-colored walls, a vase of fresh flowers on the table.
So this was her room.
Her hand clenched the blanket.
A new life.
But her chest felt tight.
She pushed herself up and winced.
Pain shot through her arm.
The dull ache of a healing puncture wound.
Her eyes darkened.
No matter how luxurious the cage…
Pain still followed her inside.
She walked into the bathroom and stared at her reflection.
The face in the mirror was Yu Chen's—delicate, pale, soft-featured. Nothing like the sharp, proud face Chu Yunyun once had.
She touched her cheek.
"I'm still not used to you," she whispered.
Her reflection didn't answer.
She changed into simple clothes and stepped outside.
The corridor was quiet. Sunlight filtered in through tall windows. Somewhere downstairs, she heard the faint sound of dishes.
A maid noticed her and bowed."Good morning, Madam."
The word still felt unreal.
"Good morning," Chu Yunyun replied.
She walked down the stairs slowly.The dining table was set for two.
Liang Jinhai was already seated, reading something on a tablet.
"You're awake," he said without looking up.
She sat opposite him.No awkwardness.
No warmth.
Just two strangers tied by paper.
Breakfast was served.
The food looked expensive.She could barely taste it.
Her appetite had always been small.
Her stomach had learned long ago that eating too much only made the pain worse.
"Did you sleep well?" Liang Jinhai asked.
She paused.
"No."
He glanced at her.
"Nightmares?"
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Every night."
He didn't press further.
"Today, someone will come to measure you for clothes," he said. "You can't attend events dressed like a student."
She frowned slightly.
"Events?"
"You're my wife now," he replied calmly. "People will want to see you."
She swallowed.
Public attention.
That meant showbiz.
That meant exposure.
That meant… danger.
Her hand tightened around her fork.
After breakfast, she returned to her room.
The maid brought in several boxes.
Inside were dresses.
Shoes.
Accessories.
All new.
All expensive.
She stared at them.
In her past life, she had owned wardrobes full of designer clothes.
And in the Yu family home, she owned three plain outfits.
Life was cruelly ironic.
She picked up a light blue dress.
It was soft.
Her fingers trembled.
Suddenly, another memory rose uninvited.
White walls.
Needles.
A smell of disinfectant.
"Hold her arm," a nurse said.
Yu Chen's body—this body—had been weak.
The first time they drew blood, she had fainted.
The second time, she had cried.
By the tenth time… she didn't even flinch.
Her younger sister's pale face hovered above her.
"Sister, I'm sorry… I'll get better soon."
Her mother's voice was sharp.
"Don't make trouble. You're healthy. What's wrong with giving blood?"
Healthy.
Her lips curved bitterly.
Healthy people didn't feel dizzy every day.
Healthy people didn't sleep on cold floors.
Healthy people weren't afraid of hospitals.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
Yu Li:
Sister, Mom is worried. Please come home.
Home?
Chu Yunyun sat on the bed.
That word felt foreign now.
She typed.
Yu Chen:
I'm busy.
The three words felt heavy.
She didn't add more.
She couldn't.
If she went back now, everything would repeat.
She stood and forced herself to change into the blue dress.
The fabric brushed her skin.
It felt like armor.
A knock came.
"Madam, Mr. Liang requests you downstairs."
She went down.
Liang Jinhai was waiting in the living room.
A stylist stood nearby.
"We'll prepare Madam for tonight's banquet," the stylist said.
Banquet.
Already?
Her heart thudded.
"What banquet?" she asked.
"A business gala," Liang Jinhai replied. "Low-risk."
She didn't like the sound of that.The stylist began working.Makeup brushed over her face.Her pale lips gained color.
Her tired eyes looked… alive.She barely recognized herself.When she stood up, she felt dizzy.The room tilted slightly.
She steadied herself against the table.Liang Jinhai noticed.
"Sit."
She sat.
"Still weak?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Your family drained you too well," he said bluntly.
Her fingers curled.
"They were my family," she said quietly.
"Not anymore."
The words were sharp.
Her heart trembled.
It shouldn't hurt.
But it did.
Because a part of Yu Chen still loved them.
A part of Chu Yunyun knew better.
The car ride was quiet.
She watched the city through the window.
Neon signs.
Crowds.
Life moving forward.
No one knew she had died once already.
At the gala, cameras flashed.
"Mr. Liang!"
"Who is the lady?"
"She's his wife!"
Her body stiffened.Hands reached out.
Liang Jinhai placed a hand on her waist.It was light. Protective.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"Smile," he murmured.
She did. It felt unnatural. A woman approached.
Actress.Beautiful.
Familiar, though she can't remember where.
"So this is Mrs. Liang?"
Chu Yunyun met her gaze calmly.
"Yes."
The actress laughed softly.
"You look fragile. Careful, or you'll break."
Her chest tightened.
Fragile.
The word stabbed deeper than any insult.
Because it had been true.
Liang Jinhai spoke coldly.
"My wife doesn't break."
The actress stiffened and left.
Chu Yunyun's fingers trembled.
The gala blurred.
Faces became noise.
Her vision dimmed.
Her breath grew shallow.
Pain crept up her arm again.
She pressed it discreetly.Liang Jinhai noticed.
"Leave," he said immediately.
They left early.
In the car, she finally let her head fall back.Her chest hurt.Not physically.Emotionally.
"I thought I was stronger," she whispered.
"You are," he replied.
"Then why does it still hurt?" she asked.He was silent.
Because strength doesn't erase scars.Back at the mansion, she collapsed onto the bed.
Her phone buzzed again.
Yu Li:
Sister… I dreamed you left me.
Tears welled in her eyes.
For a moment, she wanted to go back.
To bleed.To suffer.To be needed.
But another memory surfaced:
Chains.A dark cell.Her half-sister smiling.You deserve this.
She wiped her eyes.
"I won't be her again," she whispered.New life.
Old pain.She closed her eyes.And somewhere, far away…
Another soul was learning how to cheat fate.
And one day…It would come for her.
But tonight, Chu Yunyun only held onto one truth:Survival was not the same as healing.
And healing…Would take time.
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It's a new week let's give Chu Yunyun power booster to fight all bad people. Let get 50 power stone this week and I'll upload bonus chapters