The oppressive silence of the house had become Mei Lian's only companion. It was a suffocating, physical weight she had learned to carry, a constant presence that pressed down on her every day. But one afternoon, the stillness was broken by the cheerful, insistent ring of her phone. The caller ID showed a name she hadn't seen in over three years: An An.
Her hand trembled as she answered, the sound of her friend's voice a sudden, jarring connection to a life that felt like it belonged to another person.
"Mei Lian! I just landed. I'm moving back!" An An's voice was full of a bright, carefree energy that Mei Lian hadn't realized she missed so much. "Can you come pick me up? My new apartment is a mess, and I could really use a ride."
The suggestion was a lifeline. A chance to breathe outside the suffocating confines of her marriage, if only for a few hours. When she told Gu Yichen she had to go, he simply nodded, his face betraying no emotion. It was as if she were a business partner informing him of a temporary leave. This detachment was a stark reminder of her place in his life.
The moment Mei Lian saw her friend in the arrivals hall, a genuine smile spread across her face for the first time in what felt like forever. An An's hug was a warm, genuine embrace that felt more real than anything Mei Lian had experienced in months.
An An's new apartment was small and cozy, a comfortable chaos of half-unpacked boxes and simple, functional furniture. It was a stark contrast to the sprawling, sterile mansion Mei Lian now called home. Mei Lian helped her unpack a few boxes, their easy banter filling the air as if no time had passed at all. An An pulled out a bottle of wine, a housewarming gift.
"Let's have a drink," An An said, pouring two glasses. "Now, spill. What's going on with you? The news said you came back and got married. I thought you were a runaway bride!"
Mei Lian took a slow sip, the familiar warmth of the wine spreading through her. She felt the walls she had so carefully constructed begin to crack. The words tumbled out, a torrent of all the pain, fear, and loneliness she had been holding inside. She talked about the wedding, her father's shocking demand, the empty house, and the night Gu Yichen came home drunk. An An listened, her expression a mix of shock and profound sadness.
"He whispered her name?" An An asked, her voice quiet.
Mei Lian nodded, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. "I'm just a substitute, An An. I'm living her life, wearing her name, and sleeping with her husband. He doesn't even see me."
An An reached across the small table and held her hand tightly. "That's not true, Mei Lian. He may not see you now, but he will. You're not just a substitute. You're you. You're a survivor. And you are so much stronger than you think."
The words, simple yet powerful, were a balm to Mei Lian's wounded soul. For the first time in a long time, she felt seen. For a few hours, she wasn't Gu Yichen's wife, nor was she Huayin's sister. She was just Mei Lian, sitting on the floor with her best friend, a little tipsy from the wine, and able to breathe again. She posted a photo of herself smiling with An An, the happiness in her eyes genuine for the first time in years.
However, the break had to end. The drive back to her gilded cage felt shorter, but the dread was still there, a familiar ache in her chest. As she stepped back into the silent foyer of the villa, the suffocating atmosphere enveloped her once more. Her husband's cold gaze met hers from the top of the stairs, and the brief taste of freedom was gone, replaced by the bitter reality of her life.