Elder young master Li, I'm not your wife anymore

Static rang before voices started zooming in.

"News just came in-turns out a total of 30 million yuan was spent by Young Master Gu of the Gu Corporation Group. Sources say it was an extravagantly reckless spending spree," a female voice resounded, followed by a male's.

"Oh Lu Nan, Young Master Gu might be the heir to the family inheritance, but that doesn't change the fact that he's a second-generation rich kid. So it's only right he enjoys these years of freedom."

"Ning Son, your excuse of him being a second-gen rich doesn't explain his lavish behavior. Speaking of which, yesterday marked the signing of a collaboration contract between Young Master Qiu and the youngest Lord of Li Entertainment Corporation. A foresight that could elevate the Chinese entertainment industry globally. Yes, they're second generation-but they're making history."

The male host of the show turned blankly to the female host, eyes widening before he gave a slow nod.

"Your words make sense, but let's just conclude that those are true geniuses and can't be compared to anything less. Talk of Li Yangzhou, for example-the pinnacle of successors in this generation."

The female host suddenly jerked up, waving her hands excitedly. "Li Yangzhou is a sheet that can't be stained by comparison! The number one bachelor in the country!"

The male host chuckled. "Lu Nan, there are rumors that Li Yangzhou might have entered an arranged marriage, so your fantasy about him will have to remain a fantasy."

The female host froze. "Well, the wife of a man like Li Yangzhou... Can she bodily enter the internet to claim him...?"

The huge screen went blank, and the only audience to the show in that room-Bai Lianhua-held the remote tightly in her hand, staring at the blank screen.

She sighed, gently setting the remote down. Adjusting herself on the soft armchair, her gaze wandered... yet somehow, it landed on the divorce papers placed on the table.

She quietly tucked a strand of her black hair behind her ear as her eyes turned misty.

Of course-the number one bachelor was her husband. The man she so dearly loved. But when had anything ever fallen into place?

It turns out his childhood love had always occupied his heart. Even when she tried her best to be perfect, he had always compared her.

The rich, eldest master Li Yangzhou-the man whose name is most feared in the business industry, who could easily move mountains with mere words.

She had him. Wrapped around her hands... and yet, she couldn't keep him.

---

Bai Lianhua found herself in a massive office, seated at a brown spread table. Across from her was a man who kept staring at her with interest.

She sat quietly, slightly trembling, the black pen in her hand hovering over the divorce papers. All she had to do was sign.

But Bai Lianhua was so unwilling. Why should she leave the man she loved so deeply? The man who made all others feel irritating-because no one else could ever compare to him.

In her all-black dress, her pale skin appeared even more dignified. Yet, her beauty didn't seem to move the man standing behind her.

That man... was Li Yangzhou.

The epitome of perfection. The man all women dreamed of but could only admire from afar.

Behind her, Li Yangzhou stood, donned in an expensive suit. His tall and dignified figure fit seamlessly into the suit, making him look like a perfect model.

His black hair was slicked back, fully revealing a face that looked as though the heavens had taken time to carve it. His handsomeness was unimaginable-but it sent chills down anyone's spine due to the coldness in his gaze.

Yet no one knew that, inside, a raging storm brewed within him. His complex emotions were in turmoil.

His heart felt like it was losing something. But he refused to admit it.

To him, the only one in his heart was Qian Ruxe-his first love. The thought of having someone else in her place was unsettling.

In fact, the arranged marriage had always felt like a problem. Maybe that's why he transferred all his aggression onto Bai Lianhua. Why he still hung out with Qian Ruxe, listened to her, and gave her all the attention Bai Lianhua never received.

But... why did his heart feel so unsettled now? With this divorce?

Shouldn't he feel free instead?

---

The scholarly man seated behind the desk finally spoke.

"Miss Bai, I hope you'll get used to your new title. Are you really sure you want only the meager alimony you asked for?"

The Li Corporation Group couldn't possibly give her a share of the company-since she called for the divorce without a valid reason. So instead, she was offered assets. But even then, she asked for so little.

"I'll stick with my earlier choices," Bai Lianhua said with a smile that wasn't truly a smile.

Summoning all her courage, she signed the divorce papers, holding back her tears with all her strength.

She signed, glanced briefly at the man across from her-who wore a sneer on his face-and then slowly got up. She turned toward the door where Li Yangzhou stood, her gaze clinging to him as she held back the urge to pour out her heart.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she admired his face one last time.

She might never be this close to him again.

---

"Congratulations, Bai Lianhua! Now you're a full-grown woman. No one has to force you to eat healthy anymore," a joyful voice rang out as Mrs. Bai skillfully placed a bowl of soup in front of her daughter.

They were at the Bai family residence, the entire family gathered in a grand dining hall for dinner.

The table was filled with a variety of dishes. Four chairs placed neatly around it, with the high seat belonging to Mr. Bai-the head of the family.

Sitting nearby was Young Lord Bai Xu, a fair-skinned man with a hint of blue in his hair, looking no older than twenty-five.

Bai Lianhua giggled as she warmly pulled the soup bowl closer.

"You make it sound like arranged marriages are actually a good thing, Mom. It might as well be hell."

"Nonsense. You think your father and I would put you in the wrong hands?" Mrs. Bai glanced at her husband and smiled before turning back to her daughter.

"You'll actually love the choice we made for you."

"Wait-Bai Lianhua is getting married? This has to be a joke, right?" Bai Xu frowned, clearly displeased.

"You're all grown up. You expect Lianhua to stay with you forever? Of course she has to get married," Father Bai said with a frown, before softening as he turned to Lianhua.

"This old man would've liked to tease you a bit about who your suitor is... but the first date is scheduled for tonight."

He paused, then asked:

"Lianhua, what do you think of Li Yangzhou?"

---

"The Li Yangzhou? Of China?" Bai Lianhua, who currently had a soup pot to her lips, couldn't help but burst out.

"Yeah, whatever you call him, he's just a little one to me," Father Bai said casually, picking up a dumpling with his chopsticks.

Bai Lianhua turned her gaze toward her mother, who was still seated at the table.

Slowly nodding her head, Mrs. Bai responded, "Exactly, that Li Yangzhou. I'll let your father explain why that is."

"You're aware of the Bai family's greatest crisis three generations back, but what you don't know is that this crisis was all due to the Li family.

See, back then, the Li family was on the verge of total destruction. The government wanted them gone because of the power they had accumulated over time, and other families were all too happy to oblige.

That's why the Li family has always had a cold attitude toward the system. Anyway, the Bai family was one of the few that offered to help. I don't know what the family head was thinking at that time, but the bet was won, and the Bai family emerged stronger than ever.

Aside from that, the old men of that time made a marriage alliance, intended to unite our families in future generations. If our generation had produced a young mistress earlier, the current Madam of the Li family would have been your aunt."

Father Bai flashed a smile at her, seemingly proud of how it all turned out.

"But it seems all the blessings have fallen on you, as you are the current mistress. Li Yangzhou is one of the finest successors the Li family could have had-and he's all yours, no complications.

Aren't you proud of your father for getting you such a man?"

Bai Lianhua rolled her eyes at his childish behavior, but her heart fluttered with excitement at everything she had heard.

"Li Yangzhou..." she slowly muttered, ignoring the piercing gaze from her brother across the table.

---

That night, she sat in front of her mirror, her long black hair flowing down her length, dressed in a silky purple dress.

Her door creaked open as her mother entered the room, walking toward her with a tray of jewelry.

She smiled as she placed the tray on the vanity table, feeling proud of the beautiful daughter she had raised.

"You know, I wore these exact same pieces of jewelry on a date with your father," she said fondly.

Bai Lianhua glanced at her mother, her gaze drifting to the few white strands in her hair and her still-smooth face-a face that had once been a striking beauty in her youth.

Looking over the jewelry, she nodded. They could go with anything she wore.

"Thanks, Mum."

"But Lianhua, show a little skin-why such a plain dress?" her mother pouted, making Lianhua chuckle, warmed by how loving her family was.

"Mum, it's my era. I want this to be my first impression on him. It's not like I'm going there to seduce him."

That night, she finalized her look by tying her hair into a bun, letting a few strands fall to reveal her fair, slender neck.

When she arrived at the venue-the top floor of a towering skyscraper-she was early. She didn't mind waiting, even knowing he would be late.

When the elevator finally dinged open, revealing rows of bodyguards, Bai Lianhua's eyes focused on just one figure.

The man in the expensive brown suit.

Nothing could compare to that moment-the heart-pounding sight of him.

---

Now, Bai Lianhua sighed, recalling those past memories.

She tried to stand confidently in front of him, showing no signs of weakness-but her body felt fragile.

At last, she walked past him, stepping into the hallway. Her heels clicked loudly against the floor, her steps quickening despite herself.

The tears she had fought so hard to hold back finally fell, her black hair falling over her face. But she knew-he knew. He must have felt her heartbreak. And yet, he did nothing to stop her.

"Li Yangzhou, I love you... but you're better off with the woman you love."

Right then, her heart felt resolved.

She needed a fresh start.