After returning to the Gu family mansion, Li Xinyue stayed unusually quiet.
Not because she was unhappy.
But because she was remembering everything.
Every mistake.
Every person she trusted.
Every person who betrayed her.
She knew what would happen next.
Lin Meiqi would come.
She would pretend to care about her.
She would slowly plant doubts in her heart.
And in her previous life, Li Xinyue believed every word.
But this time…
Things would be different.
“Madam.”
The servant’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Miss Lin has arrived.”
Li Xinyue’s fingers paused.
Finally.
The woman who destroyed her previous life had appeared.
“Let her in.”
A few moments later, Lin Meiqi entered the living room with an elegant smile.
“Xinyue.”
She walked closer warmly.
“Congratulations on your marriage. I was busy these days, so I couldn’t visit earlier.”
In her previous life, Li Xinyue had been happy to see her.
She believed Lin Meiqi truly cared about her.
But now…
She could see the hidden ambition behind that gentle expression.
“Thank you,” Li Xinyue replied calmly.
Lin Meiqi looked around the mansion.
“So this is the Gu family’s home.”
Her eyes flashed with envy for a moment.
“It must be difficult being married to General Gu.”
Li Xinyue looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
Lin Meiqi sighed softly.
“Everyone knows how busy he is. Military men are always away. You must feel lonely.”
Those words.
That same sentence.
The beginning of the misunderstanding that ruined her marriage.
But this time, Li Xinyue only smiled.
“Gu Zhen has responsibilities. I understand.”
Lin Meiqi was surprised.
“You don’t mind?”
“No.”
Li Xinyue lifted her cup of tea.
“Because I know what kind of person he is.”
Silence filled the room.
Lin Meiqi stared at her.
The old Li Xinyue would have complained.
She would have questioned Gu Zhen’s feelings.
But this woman was different.
“Xinyue, are you really happy?”
Lin Meiqi asked softly.
Li Xinyue looked at her calmly.
“Yes.”
“Because Gu Zhen is my husband.”
Those simple words made Lin Meiqi’s smile freeze.
For the first time, she felt that Li Xinyue was no longer someone she could control.
That night, Gu Zhen returned home late.
He expected his wife to ignore him like always.
But when he entered the dining room, he stopped.
A warm meal was waiting.
Li Xinyue sat at the table.
“You are back.”
Gu Zhen looked at her in surprise.
“Why didn’t you sleep?”
“I was waiting for you.”
Those words shocked him.
In one month of marriage, she had never waited for him.
“I just wanted to have dinner with my husband.”
For the first time, Gu Zhen felt that maybe something between them was changing.