Breaking free

Li Chengxiu had spent years living in the gilded cage of Shao Qun's obsession. The man who claimed to love him had only ever sought to control him, breaking him down piece by piece until he barely recognized himself. But tonight, everything would change.

Standing in front of the mirror in their shared apartment, Li Chengxiu took a deep breath. His reflection showed a man who had once been soft-spoken, easily swayed. No more. He had packed his bags. He had planned his escape. And this time, there would be no turning back.

When Shao Qun arrived home, expecting dinner and docility, he instead found Li Chengxiu standing by the door, suitcase in hand.

"Where do you think you're going?" Shao Qun's voice was deceptively calm, but Li Chengxiu had learned to hear the storm beneath it.

"Away from you." His voice was steady, unwavering. "I'm leaving, Shao Qun. And you won't stop me."

For the first time, Shao Qun looked truly caught off guard. "You can't leave. You belong to me."

Li Chengxiu laughed, a bitter sound. "I was never yours. You just convinced yourself I was. But I see the truth now—I was a possession to you, not a person. And I won't live like that anymore."

Shao Qun stepped forward, but Li Chengxiu did not back down. The fear that had once paralyzed him had been burned away by the realization that he deserved better.

"If you ever truly loved me," Li Chengxiu continued, "then let me go."

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, unexpectedly, Shao Qun grabbed a knife from the counter and, without hesitation, plunged it into his own abdomen.

Blood blossomed against his shirt, his face twisted with pain, but his eyes never left Li Chengxiu's. "If you leave, I'll die," he gasped.

Li Chengxiu froze. The old him would have rushed forward, would have stayed, trapped by guilt. But not this time.

"That's not love, Shao Qun. That's manipulation." His voice trembled, but his resolve did not. "Hurting yourself to keep me here proves exactly why I have to go."

Shao Qun stumbled, falling to his knees, and for a fleeting moment, Li Chengxiu did feel pity. But he turned away.

"Call an ambulance," he said over his shoulder as he stepped through the door. "And get help—not for me, but for yourself."

With that, he walked out into the night, into freedom.

Chapter 2: A New Dawn

Li Chengxiu took a deep breath as he stepped onto the quiet streets, the weight of years of emotional chains lifting from his shoulders. The night air was crisp, and for the first time in a long time, he felt truly alive.

He had no plan beyond leaving. His suitcase felt heavier with every step, but his heart felt lighter. He boarded a bus to a distant city—anywhere but here.

As dawn broke over the unfamiliar skyline, Li Chengxiu found himself standing outside a small café, exhaustion gnawing at him. A kind-looking woman behind the counter offered him a warm smile. "Long night?"

"You could say that," he admitted, taking a seat by the window.

A voice interrupted his thoughts. "New in town?"

Li Chengxiu turned to see a man sitting at the next table. He had an easy-going smile, warm eyes—nothing like Shao Qun. "Yeah. Just... starting over."

The man extended a hand. "I'm Yan Rui. If you need any help settling in, let me know."

Li Chengxiu hesitated before shaking his hand. Maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something new.