C1 He Walked out of the Cage

North of the city, at the county jail.

The sun hung high in the sky, but it failed to bring much warmth to the earth. The pale sky made the place feel especially cold and bleak. Inside the high walls, a sudden gust of wind swept up dry, yellow leaves, depositing them at the feet of a woman who had just changed out of her prison uniform.

Facing the iron gates that had confined her for five years, Gu Beixue's eyes were filled with a mix of emotions. "Five years," she murmured to herself.

The guard, who was not used to seeing someone like Gu Beixue here, offered some words of encouragement. "Now that you're out, make the most of it. Learn from your mistakes, and don't waste your life."

"Okay," Gu Beixue replied calmly. Her thin, oval face showed no hint of joy or sorrow, giving her an air of someone who had seen it all.

A fresh breeze brushed against her delicate skin, bringing a slight chill. A few leaves landed on her shoulder, but she didn't seem to notice. Her gaze traveled through time and space, recalling the day she was brought here in a police car, beginning her five-year sentence. No one had come to see her off.

Gu Beixue felt abandoned, left with an unknown world and a divorce agreement. Though she had always worn prison clothes, her own clothes from before were still well-preserved. But now, having lost twenty pounds, they hung loosely on her frame.

As she stepped through the iron gates, her calm, dark eyes flickered like a candle in the wind, revealing her excitement. She tried to control her breathing but couldn't suppress the thrill of regaining her freedom.

Over the years, she had felt disheartened and even considered giving up. She, Gu Beixue, had been born with a silver spoon, a privileged young woman who never expected to end up a convict at such a young age.

Yet, Gu Beixue had endured. From the moment she walked out of that hellish prison, she was ready to seek her revenge.

Staring at the only black SUV outside the prison, Gu Beixue noticed the familiar yet distant license plate and walked over calmly.

The car doors opened with a swift motion, and a middle-aged man in a suit stepped out, nodding slightly in respect. "Miss Gu, please get in."

She recognized him as Mooh Cheng, her ex-husband's butler.

Miss Gu, she thought with a bitter smile. Mrs. Bai was clearly a thing of the past now.

"Where is he?" Gu Beixue asked habitually, her tone reminiscent of the once-imposing Mrs. Bai.

"Director Bai has a tight schedule," Mooh Cheng replied efficiently.

Gu Beixue found it ironic that he could calculate her release date so precisely. He was still the same, wanting to control everything.

After a pause, she asked, "How is Qing'er?"

"Don't worry, Miss Gu. She's doing well," Mooh Cheng answered without a hint of emotion.

"I want to see her." It had been five years, and she hadn't heard a word about her daughter. Was she really a disgrace to Qing'er?

Of course, it was possible the child was too young to understand. After all, she had gone to prison right after giving birth, never having the chance to bond with Qing'er.

"I'm sorry, I don't have the authority to take you to her. Director Bai arranged everything personally. I hope you understand," Mooh Cheng said, his demeanor as composed as ever.

Personally arranged, yet he's supposedly so busy, she thought with a wry smile.

Gu Beixue steadied her chaotic thoughts, gazing out the car window. "They're together now, aren't they?"

Saying it out loud made her heart tremble. She never imagined she'd become a casualty of their relationship.

But then again, Bai Luo and that woman were a perfect match, destined for each other. She had forced herself into their lives and ended up with this outcome.

Mooh Cheng's response was brief, "Yes."

A hint of mockery flashed in Gu Beixue's eyes, but she said nothing more.

The car stopped in front of an upscale apartment complex. Mooh Cheng led Gu Beixue to a standalone apartment, handed her a key, and said, "Miss Gu, this is your new home."

Is this Bai Luo's charity? Gu Beixue surveyed the meticulously decorated house, clearly prepared in advance. "Home? Ha, I've lost everything. What do I need a home for?"

Mooh Cheng calmly continued, "This is your home now."

"Ha." Gu Beixue could only respond with a cold laugh at Mooh Cheng, who was clearly one of Bai Luo's loyal operatives, always protecting his boss with impeccable precision.

"Miss Gu, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. Please take care." With that, Mooh Cheng placed a black card on the table.

"Alright." Gu Beixue felt a wave of fatigue.

Without delay, Mooh Cheng left and headed straight to Bai Luo's villa.

A black Maybach was parked at the entrance. After getting out, Mooh Cheng bent down by the passenger window and said, "Director Bai, I'm back."

The window rolled down slowly, revealing a man whose presence commanded respect without effort. His mixed-heritage features gave him the aura of a cold, aristocratic vampire, and his fierce eyes were hard to meet.

"Everything arranged?" Bai Luo asked, his face expressionless.

"Yes, Miss Gu accepted it, and she seems emotionally stable," Mooh Cheng reported.

"Did she have any requests?" Bai Luo asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Miss Gu wants to see Qing'er," Mooh Cheng replied.

"Impossible!" Bai Luo's tone was firm and unyielding, his gaze drifting into the distance, as if the image of a tall woman appeared in his mind.

Gu Beixue, even after serving your time, don't think you'll ever be truly free!

Inside the apartment, Gu Beixue was comfortably lounging in the bathtub, her long, fair legs creating ripples in the water. Watching the splashes, she felt as if years of torment had finally washed away.

She had planned to go her separate way, cutting all ties for good. Yet, just after being released, she found herself entangled again with that heartless man, which left her with mixed emotions. She refused to accept Bai Luo's charity!

Quickly getting up and rinsing off, Gu Beixue didn't take a break. She grabbed her few belongings and left. She might be down on her luck, but she wouldn't let Bai Luo humiliate her with his so-called generosity.

Slowly opening a small pouch, she found a diamond necklace and a well-crafted gold ring—one of the few remnants from her dowry. Looking at these items, memories flooded back, and she felt like a fool. She had naively believed that giving her first time to Bai Luo would make him fall in love with her.

Back then, she was ecstatic about the prospect of their relationship. Now, her heart felt like it had turned to ash.