Qin Lan couldn't shake off the weight of Ji Yi's words as she left the café. Her warning echoed in her mind, stirring doubts that were already on the verge of consuming her. What did Ji Yi mean by being careful of the people around Lu Yan? Was there more going on behind the scenes that Qin Lan wasn't privy to?
The thought gnawed at her as she drove back to the Lu family estate, her hands gripping the steering wheel tighter with every passing mile. What was she supposed to do with this information? Ji Yi's calm demeanor made it hard to tell if she was genuinely trying to help or if she was playing a different game, one that Qin Lan couldn't quite grasp yet.
As she arrived at the sprawling estate, the heavy iron gates opened for her automatically, a reminder of the power and wealth that Lu Yan controlled. But as impressive as the estate was, Qin Lan couldn't help but feel trapped within its walls. She had married into this life, but every day she felt more and more like a prisoner.
The servants greeted her as she entered, but their politeness felt hollow. She could sense the whispers behind her back, the way their eyes followed her every movement. To them, she wasn't the rightful mistress of the house; she was an outsider who didn't belong. And perhaps they were right.
She made her way up to her bedroom, the silence of the grand hallways amplifying the loneliness she felt inside. As she entered the room, her gaze immediately fell on the suitcases by the door. Her heart skipped a beat.
Lu Yan was packing.
The sight of his neatly folded clothes and expensive shoes lined up by the luggage made her stomach turn. He was leaving. Again.
She heard the sound of water running in the adjacent bathroom, signaling that Lu Yan was inside. Qin Lan clenched her fists, trying to control the rising tide of frustration and despair. They hadn't even resolved their earlier conversation, and now he was leaving without a word?
Moments later, Lu Yan emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, his damp hair falling over his forehead in a way that would have once made her heart flutter. But now, all she could feel was the growing distance between them.
"You're leaving?" she asked, her voice strained.
Lu Yan paused, glancing at the suitcases before meeting her gaze. "There's a business trip. I'll be in Singapore for a few days."
Qin Lan swallowed hard. "You didn't think to mention that earlier?"
"I didn't want to upset you more than you already were," he replied, his tone measured as always.
Qin Lan let out a bitter laugh. "Upset me? Lu Yan, you don't even talk to me anymore. You disappear for days without a word, and now you're leaving again? What do you expect me to feel?"
Lu Yan's expression hardened. "This is my work, Qin Lan. It's always been part of our arrangement."
"Our arrangement?" she repeated, the words tasting sour on her tongue. "Is that all this is to you? A business arrangement?"
Lu Yan's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. His silence was all the confirmation she needed.
Qin Lan shook her head, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. "Ji Yi warned me about you. She said I should be careful. That there are people in your world who want to keep things the way they are. What did she mean by that?"
For the first time, Lu Yan's composure faltered. His eyes flickered with something—concern? Anger?—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"Don't listen to Ji Yi," he said sharply. "She doesn't know what she's talking about."
Qin Lan took a step forward, her voice rising. "But she does, doesn't she? She knows you, Lu Yan. She knows this world far better than I do. So, tell me—who should I be careful of? Is it you?"
Lu Yan's eyes darkened, and for a moment, Qin Lan thought he was going to lash out, but instead, he turned away, running a hand through his hair in frustration. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost dangerous.
"You're overthinking things, Qin Lan. This is not a game. My world is complicated, yes, but that doesn't mean you're in danger."
Qin Lan took another step toward him, her heart pounding in her chest. "Then why do I feel like I'm always on the outside looking in? Why do I feel like I'm just a placeholder in your life?"
Lu Yan turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "This marriage was never about love, Qin Lan. You knew that."
Her heart clenched painfully at his words. She had known, of course. But she had hoped that things would change—that maybe, over time, they could build something real. Now, it seemed those hopes had been in vain.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," Lu Yan said quietly. "We'll talk when I get back."
Qin Lan stared at him, her chest heaving with emotion. "What if I don't want to wait until you get back? What if I want answers now?"
But Lu Yan was already moving toward the suitcases, his silence louder than any words he could have spoken.
---
Later that night, Qin Lan lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. The sound of Lu Yan packing his things had long since faded, and the house was eerily quiet. She felt like a stranger in her own home, lost and unsure of what to do next.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was another message from Li Ming.
"I heard Lu Yan is leaving for Singapore tomorrow. Does that mean you're free to talk?"
Qin Lan stared at the message, her mind racing. Li Ming's offer hung over her like a shadow. Part of her wanted to reject it outright, to hold on to the last shreds of her dignity. But another part of her—an increasingly desperate part—wondered if this was her only chance to take control of her life.
Before she could stop herself, she typed out a reply.
"I'll meet you tomorrow. Let's talk."
She hit send before she could change her mind, her heart racing as she did. She didn't know if she was making the right decision, but she couldn't continue living like this—trapped in a marriage that was slowly destroying her.
---
The next morning, Qin Lan watched silently as Lu Yan left for the airport. There were no words exchanged, no promises of reconciliation. He left as quietly as he always did, slipping out of her life without a second glance.
As the door closed behind him, Qin Lan let out a long breath, feeling a strange mixture of relief and sadness. She had no idea what would happen next, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was on the verge of something new. Something that could change everything.
And as she prepared to meet Li Ming later that day, she couldn't help but wonder—was she stepping into the light, or was she about to descend even further into darkness?
---
End of Chapter 9
---