Chapter One: Regaining Freedom

  Prologue

  A slender figure stands in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the magnificent commercial view of this international metropolis. Delicate fingers encircle a half-full highball glass, slowly bringing it to her lips...

  Two years, neither long nor short, yet she seemed to have experienced a century. Finally, she could stand proudly and upright in front of them with her chest out.

  All those ups and downs are still vivid in my mind, as if they happened yesterday. The heart-wrenching pain, the desperation, the helplessness...

  Those things, those pains, those hatreds, she can't forget!

  Can't forget that bitter tears and sweat piled up in the process, there is a pair of hands that never leave or abandon her when she falls.

  There is such a person who says to her, "Even if the whole world lets you down, at least I'll be with you." Such an unwavering and devoted him.

  There was someone who told her "A woman who is not ruthless will not have a stable position"

  "Xīn yú jiě, shí guò le." The person behind her interrupted her thoughts.

  Shen Xiangyu turned around, her beautiful mouth curved into a cold arc. Yes, the time had come, those people, some things, were what she truly needed to face now!

  She must win at all costs, be ruthless and merciless, can't become a pawn in the hands of her enemies like her father did, because from this moment on, she will be the one calling the shots!

  [Main Text]

  Two years ago——

  At dawn, the early sun stretches out from the clouds with a weak morning light, indicating that a new day has arrived, a new life, and a new beginning.

  Clang clang, the iron gate of the New Territories Women's Prison opens continuously, striking a chord in the quiet morning. A cold and clear voice echoes through the usual corridors.

  "Xin Yu Shen, check your personal belongings!"

  The woman's slender and tall figure watched as the instructor placed each item on the table, simple yet revealing: a purse, a skirt, shoes, and that wedding ring which didn't originally belong to her...

  After finishing the inventory, she walked out of another door under the leadership of the instructor, wearing the skirt she wore on the day she came in. However, this skirt had been ravaged by time and was now a dull yellow, with no visible floral pattern. It was also damp, moldy, and emitted a musty smell.

  When the last gate of the prison slowly opened, her footsteps quickened, like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, even if it had just learned to fly, wanting to rush towards that vast sky at the fastest speed, wanting to take big mouthfuls of fresh air.

  Just as she was about to step out of the door, she stopped in her tracks. Everyone said that once you walk out this door, never look back.

  However, she still turned back to take a look. When she was first sent in, she was so afraid that she didn't dare to look or think about it, and even had the thought of death. Four years have passed, and she has walked out of this cage that restricted her freedom, so she wants to see clearly and remember some things, and put down some things.

  She continued walking forward, taking deep breaths, and the air rushed into her nostrils. It turned out that this was the taste of freedom, which she had not experienced for a long time.

  But now, her freedom is destined to make her inferior, destined to start from scratch.

  At this time, a fellow prisoner who was also released today sat in the car with his loved ones and waved at her, "Shen Xinyu, I'll send you to the city."

  "No need, thank you. I'd like to walk a bit." She declined and waved goodbye as the car quickly drove away along the road. Shen Xiangyu watched as the car disappeared from her line of sight, then tightly hugged her bag and started walking along the highway on foot.

  In the past, Shen Xiangyu would never have walked such a long distance. When she went out, there was either a driver to pick her up or several sports cars waiting for her to choose from. Similarly, she also had a loving father and a husband and child. Thinking that she still called that ruthless man her husband, a cold smile spread across her face as she laughed at her own foolishness. She should say ex-husband.

  After walking for a long time, she finally saw the bus stop and ran to catch up with the bus. She was panting.

  The driver, seeing her disheveled appearance, frowned and said gruffly: "Miss, if you want to take the bus, pay your fare quickly. If you don't have money, get off the bus. Don't waste my time."

  This was Shen Xiangyu's first time taking a public bus, and when she heard the fare collector, she immediately took out money from her bag and paid, then found a seat by the window.

  The car drove along the straight highway, Shen Xiangyu looked at the familiar yet strange scenery outside the window, and her heart was inexplicably touched. She knew that this long-lost city, she had returned, she had returned safely!

  Now she doesn't think of anything else, the only thing she wants to do is go to Qingyuan to see her father. It's been four years since he was alone and lying there, having given all his love to her. She just wants to go see him and accompany him.

  When she was born, her mother died in childbirth. It was her father who raised her and gave her all his love and everything he had.

  However, she didn't even get to see him one last time. Her father used to be busy with work but would always come back home on time to have dinner with her and give her whatever she wanted.

  Every year on her birthday, he would painstakingly prepare parties and gifts for her, limited edition dolls, precious jewelry, cool cars, and the dress she is wearing now was specially made by a famous French fashion designer at the request of her father. Who could have thought that this would be the last gift from her father, and also the only one left to her? Now it has become like this, originally snow-white, turned yellowish with age, moldy.

  She remembered that night, she was hugging this skirt and joyfully gesturing in front of her father, just like before, she was selecting clothes to show off in front of her father.

  "Red is too gaudy, I don't like it. Black is too dull. Blue... Dad, which one should I choose? Hurry up!"

  She rummaged through her closet just to meet with Lu Qi Rui, but Dad patted her head and said: "My daughter looks beautiful in anything."

  On the day of her wedding, she saw her father in tears. After decades of business, he was emotional as he watched his daughter get married. He reluctantly handed over his hand to Lu Qi Rui, hoping that his daughter would be happy.

  She used to think that marrying Qi Rui would make her the happiest little woman in the world, she wanted to have a child with him, a child of theirs, and form a happy family. Only, this happiness was like a glass bottle, and it shattered into pieces at the slightest carelessness. After giving birth to Xiaoxi, she only then found out that he had a mistress outside.

  She didn't tell her father because she didn't want him to worry about her and wanted to continue maintaining this marriage.

  On her 22nd birthday, she pretended to be happy and accepted the dress from her father, put it on, and went out to celebrate with friends. But that night, her life underwent a huge change!

  Digression

  New article "Women are not ruthless, status is not stable", the more Wenwen appears in the back, the more it reflects the theme of women being ruthless and unstable, the rise of women, here is not only love, but also many unexpected things that relatives can't think of, it will be a complete story, in short, it will definitely not disappoint relatives, thank you very much.