Chapter 27: Never Married

Night had fallen.

Jiang Ciyou returned to the Yan family’s old residence.

The patriarch was practicing calligraphy in his study. Mrs. Yan had just come back from her beauty treatment, while Mr. Yan was tending to the flowers in the courtyard.

Everything seemed as usual.

As always, Jiang Ciyou first went to the study to grind ink for the old man and chat with him for a while.

Afterwards, she returned to her room to begin packing her belongings.

She had decided it was time to move out.

In truth, she hadn’t lived in the Yan family home every day in the past. She often stayed elsewhere, and the Yans had long since grown used to it.

But this time, she intended to leave for good.

Three years in this house had left her heart reluctant to part. Most of all, the Yan family had treated her as their own daughter, offering her shelter and warmth when her life was at its lowest.

Sometimes, she thought that if Yan Feng never returned, living quietly with the Yans for the rest of her life might not be such a bad thing.

But ever since Yan Feng came back, everything seemed to drift off course.

Bo Jinxi was right—Yan Feng would never look back. She and Yan Feng had already become two parallel lines, never to intersect again.

What meaning remained in clinging to this empty shell?

Perhaps, it was time to truly let go of her obsession.

Time to begin a new life of her own.

Lost in a tangle of thoughts, she was startled when the door was suddenly flung open with force.

Yan Feng’s furious figure appeared in the doorway.

He strode in and seized Jiang Ciyou by the arm, shoving her hard.

She had been crouched, packing her suitcase, and toppled straight to the floor with his push.

"Yan Feng, what madness is this?" Jiang Ciyou snapped, her voice unyielding.

"Jiang Ciyou, how dare you ask me? What did you do to Xia Ling, pushing her to the brink of miscarriage?"

Hearing the word "miscarriage," Jiang Ciyou paused for a moment.

Yan Feng, seeing her innocent expression, sneered, "Don’t pretend. It wasn’t enough to steal Xia Ling’s interview—you had to humiliate and slap her in public. How did you become so cruel? If anything happens to the child she’s carrying, I won’t forgive you."

Jiang Ciyou finally came to her senses.

She stood up, smoothing her hair with quiet elegance. "Did Xia Ling tell you I stole her interview?"

"She didn’t have to. I know you too well. You’ve always been competitive. When we were young, whatever I learned, you learned too, always striving to outdo me and snatch what belonged to others, stealing all the attention."

Yan Feng’s mouth twisted with ridicule. "If you could treat me that way, of course you’d do it to Xia Ling."

Jiang Ciyou had always been that sort of person.

When they were children, he took up golf, and she showed up to play as well—always outperforming him, earning everyone’s praise.

When he gave up golf to study Go, she took up Go too, winning awards at home and abroad, even becoming the last disciple of Grandmaster Zong Lü.

Frustrated, he abandoned Go altogether.

Later, he took up taekwondo; she followed suit. When he was still only a red belt second class, she had already achieved a black belt sixth dan.

All his life, he could never beat her in a fight.

It was as if, for the first half of his life, he had always lived in her shadow.

Jiang Ciyou was surprised that Yan Feng would bring up their childhood.

Indeed, she had always followed in his footsteps as a child. She simply wanted to spend more time with him, so she would take an interest in whatever he liked.

But she had never intended to overshadow him, much less to steal anything.

She cared nothing for fame or accolades.

She had never imagined Yan Feng would see her that way.

But by now, explanations were pointless.

Jiang Ciyou sighed. "Yan Feng, whatever I say now, you won’t believe me. In your heart, there’s only Xia Ling."

After a pause, she said, "Since that’s the case, let’s part ways."

Only then did Yan Feng notice that Jiang Ciyou had been packing.

Two large suitcases stood in the room.

Her clothes and daily necessities were already packed to the brim.

Yan Feng’s laughter grew harsher. "Threatening me again? Jiang Ciyou, can’t you come up with something new?"

Jiang Ciyou crouched to zip up her suitcase.

Then she walked over to Yan Feng.

Her voice was calm, yet carried a quiet strength.

"This time, it’s real. I’ll move out tonight, and later I’ll explain everything to Grandpa and the others."

Just then, the butler called everyone to dinner.

Without another glance, Jiang Ciyou strode out.

The atmosphere at dinner was stifling.

Both Jiang Ciyou and Yan Feng were preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Halfway through the meal, Jiang Ciyou set down her chopsticks.

"Grandpa, Dad, Mom, I have something to say."

Seeing her serious expression, the others looked to her in concern.

Mrs. Yan spoke first. "What is it, Ciyou?"

"Thank you all for taking care of me these past three years. I plan to move out tonight."

Mrs. Yan was shocked, her face paling. Then, realizing the cause, she rounded on Yan Feng with a barrage of scolding.

"Did you do something again to upset Ciyou, you wretch? Apologize to her at once!"

Jiang Ciyou stopped her gently. "Mom, I’ve decided to separate from Yan Feng."

"You’re getting a divorce?" Mrs. Yan could hardly believe it.

Jiang Ciyou replied evenly, "Actually, we never registered our marriage, so this doesn’t count as a divorce."

Stunned expressions appeared around the table.

Mr. Yan was confused. "But you two had a marriage certificate. It’s still in the drawer at home."

"That’s a fake," Jiang Ciyou said. "Bought online for less than ten yuan, shipping included."

Mr. Yan’s face darkened. "Nonsense, utter nonsense."

Back then, the old patriarch had forced Yan Feng to marry her, but Yan Feng had a change of heart at the civil affairs bureau. To appease the family, she’d found a forger online and doctored a marriage photo.

The truth was, she and Yan Feng had never been husband and wife.

Mrs. Yan stood and struck her son’s shoulder with her fist. "It was you, wasn’t it?"

Throughout, Yan Feng’s face remained stormy, and he said nothing.

He hadn’t expected Jiang Ciyou to be serious this time.

Was she forcing him? Forcing him to choose between her and Xia Ling?

But Jiang Ciyou’s expression was serene. "Mom, don’t blame Yan Feng. He’s not at fault. He just doesn’t love me. There’s no law in this world that says he must. Don’t push him."

Mrs. Yan began to cry. "But you two grew up together. I’ve always thought of you as my daughter-in-law. How am I supposed to accept this?"

"Mom, Dad, Grandpa, even if Yan Feng and I separate, you’ll always be my family in my heart."

"But feelings can’t be forced. Yan Feng loves Xia Ling, and she’s already pregnant. I don’t want to torment them, nor do I wish to torment myself. So I want to end this and give myself a new beginning."

Mrs. Yan was stunned. "Xia Ling is pregnant?"