If she accepted fate, she wouldn’t have chosen to marry him.
She married him to gamble on another possibility in a hopeless life.
But now, she has lost. Lost miserably, finding herself just jumping from one pit of fire to another, deeper, more cruel, more tormenting. He destroyed everything about her, from her toes to her hair.
She lay on the spacious luxurious bed, her raven-black hair scattered, in unbearable pain.
She was in such extreme pain, but instead, gradually gained a bit of clarity—all people just want to do whatever they wish to her, don’t they? Google seaʀᴄh novelꜰire.net
She insists on living well, living more freely than anyone!
Pale fingers clutched the bedspread tightly, as if a drowning person grasping at the last piece of driftwood.
Su Xingyu stopped crying, stopped struggling and pleading, because she already knew it was useless. Lu Shifeng... that man has a heart of stone, as cruel as a demon. She will have to use other methods to deal with him, until one day she regains her freedom.
Until then, she will endure it well.
The long night passed.
Upon waking, the air was permeated with the scent of blood.
Su Xingyu moved slightly; a tear-inducing pain came from a deep, secret place in her body, only then did she realize she was hurt. The bedroom was very quiet, empty except for her, with only messy bedclothes and garments scattered everywhere.
That man seemed to go out early every day.
That’s good too, not having to face that incredibly handsome yet cold face. After what happened last night, she doesn’t know if she will lose control seeing him; now with some respite, she can calm herself alone.
Su Xingyu slowly straightened up, randomly pulling something to cover herself, and got out of bed.
She wobbled a bit before gaining her balance, painfully walked to the bathroom’s floor-length mirror, and saw she was draped in his shirt left from last night. The meticulously crafted shirt was so white it was almost blinding; unconsciously, she grasped it tighter, making it crinkle up in the mirror like water ripples under the dull morning light.
Under the ripples were her full body of bruises and bite marks.
He was ruthless last night, leaving hardly any unblemished skin on her entire body. She stared at herself in the mirror for a while, seemed to make some decision and murmured to herself: "Su Xingyu, you already have nothing more to lose."
After finishing, she turned back to the bed, found her phone among last night’s pile of scattered clothes.
She turned on the camera, adjusted the angle, and snapped some selfies.
Unlike regular selfies, most of hers were full body shots, unabashedly showing off the shocking wounds in the lens. There were also a few close-ups, also of the scars.
She doesn’t know if taking photos with her phone violates Lu Shifeng’s restrictions, but she must take these photos. Because, when one day she has the power to hold him accountable for his crimes, these photos will serve as evidence.
After taking them, she put away her phone, washed up, bathed, and changed clothes.
Her closet is now rich, filled with various current season’s styles from major fashion brands, a dazzling array. Additionally, there are a batch of custom-made undergarments and homewear expedited in their creation, meticulously crafted from texture to cut.
Lu Shifeng is not stingy with her in these matters.
But she knows very well, it is only because of her identity as "his wife," that’s all.
Once prepared, she went downstairs, saw Mrs. Gui busy in the kitchen, and greeted: "Good morning, Mrs. Gui."
The elderly maid turned around, seeing it was her, promptly wiped clean her hands on her apron and smiled: "Young mistress is up? There is pearl barley porridge, poached eggs and toast for breakfast, along with some pickles and fruit juice, would you like to dine now?"
Su Xingyu nodded: "Thank you."
"What is there to thank, serving you and young master is my duty." Mrs. Gui smiled again, attentively seating her and bringing several meticulously prepared breakfast dishes to the table, "Young mistress, don’t always be so polite, it feels too distant."
Su Xingyu said: "Yes, it’s true I’m still not quite used to it, but I will gradually get accustomed."
"Isn’t it true," having another mistress in the house, Mrs. Gui gladly shared household talk with her, "When I first married my husband, I was not used to it; he is from the north and I’m from the south, things like daily living and eating tastes had to be accommodated. But over time, it all settled." She spoke while observing Su Xingyu’s expression, "Young mistress, you wouldn’t mind me being nosy, would you?"
"How could I?" Su Xingyu smiled, "You’re right, once a woman is married, she has to get used to the husband’s house." She took small sips of juice, "Is this blueberry juice? It tastes a bit different from what I usually drink."
Mrs. Gui said: "It’s wild blueberries, air-transported from their place of origin just past dawn. The fruits young master eats are specially supplied, though he always wastes things; out of such a large basket of blueberries, he only ate a few, leaving the rest untouched." She paused before continuing, "Young mistress, if you like, I’ll juice it for you every day."
Su Xingyu said: "Isn’t that inappropriate?"
Mrs. Gui said: "What’s inappropriate, you are the young mistress, in this household, you make the decisions."
Su Xingyu smiled slightly: "And your young master too."
Mrs. Gui also smiled, this time with some closeness as she confided in Su Xingyu: "Perhaps you don’t know yet? Ever since you entered the door, young master instructed that all household matters are to be decided by you, whatever you say, that’s what we do."
Su Xingyu was somewhat stunned.
That man... gave her such great power?
Merely days ago, they were still strangers, what gives him the confidence to entrust all household affairs to her? Unknowingly, she asked aloud: "Did he truly say this?"
Mrs. Gui said: "How dare I lie about such a thing to you?"
Knowing that she and young master still slept in separate rooms, not as intimate as other couples, made Mrs. Gui feel Su Xingyu’s doubts were reasonable. She emphatically assured: "Young master indeed personally instructed this. Don’t be misled by young master’s quiet and uncommunicative demeanor; though he seems hard to get along with, actually he’s quite considerate and the most understanding. He said the young mistress ought to have the appearance of a young mistress, not just in regard to food and dress, but also in managing household affairs; the man rules outside, the woman rules inside, that’s how it should be."
Now Su Xingyu believed these words came from Lu Shifeng; the tone of "the young mistress ought to have the appearance of a young mistress" was something akin to his arrogant, domineering face she could picture.
She painfully rubbed her temples, what "the man rules outside, the woman rules inside"?