*Chapter 22: The Game of Success*
The following afternoon, one of Zhao Liang's friends invited them to a hotel opening. His latest luxury project stood tall in the heart of the city, glass walls glinting beneath the sun.
Mei Yan clutched Li Xue's hand as they walked through the grand lobby. "Can you imagine living in a place like this? Marble floors, gold chandeliers… It feels like another world."
Li Xue smiled faintly. "Sometimes another world isn't as perfect as it looks."
The friend — tall, confident, with a quick tongue — guided them through, showing off with both pride and humor. "See that staircase? Cost me more than your entire penthouse, Zhao. Don't scratch it when you walk."
Even Zhao Liang cracked the faintest smile. "If this collapses, I'll bill you for my shoes."
The banter drew laughter from the group, but Li Xue's eyes lingered on the friend. There was more than arrogance in his gestures — there was hard work, exhaustion hidden beneath charm. He wasn't just rich; he was relentless.
That night, as applause filled the grand ballroom, Li Xue found herself wondering if success was its own cage.
And when Zhao Liang's hand tightened on her wrist — too tight, too cold — she realized some cages were far crueler than others.