*Chapter 60: Flickers of Hope*
The weekend arrived with faint sunlight filtering through tall windows. Li Xue attended a study group, notes in hand, surrounded by peers who laughed and struggled together. For a few hours, the chains of ink and contract were distant, replaced by the rhythm of learning, the camaraderie of classmates.
Shen Wei and Mei Yan lingered nearby, watching her, teasing lightly, their own bond deepening. Han Qiang's updates on work were scattered with humor, yet his eyes often flicked toward Li Xue, worry hidden behind amusement.
Back at the penthouse, Zhao Liang's absence was noticeable. When he returned, he didn't speak, merely observing. Li Xue's pulse quickened, but she forced herself to breathe slowly. The brief weekend freedom had given her a taste of hope, however faint, that life could exist outside the rules, outside the fear.
Memories surfaced again — whispered promises, laughter, soft touches — all reminders of the life she once imagined. And though fear still lingered, the threads of friendship, fleeting freedom, and quiet resistance wove together, creating fragile spaces where hope might one day grow