Chapter 313: The Prison of Love

The summer breeze wafted through the window, bringing with it the faint scent of flowers. It was soothing, but it couldn’t quell Fang Zhou’s anger. He stood there, looking intently at Han Xi, his eyes filled with frustration and reproach. If his emotions had a physical form, they would be flickering flames.

“You know why we broke up, don’t you, Han Xi?” Fang Zhou’s voice was calm, devoid of any hysterical shouting, yet it conveyed his emotions clearly.

Han Xi’s face turned a bit pale, her lips trembling slightly as if she was recalling unpleasant memories. Her voice faltered, unable to respond to Fang Zhou’s question. Her mind was flooded with scenes from a year ago, just before they broke up.

Back then, they had just passed the three-month honeymoon phase and entered a period of normalcy common to all couples. Han Xi had thought it was fine, believing they had developed a good understanding of each other and could even move forward.

However, she had overestimated herself—or perhaps underestimated Fang Zhou’s sense of independence.

At that time, Fang Zhou had quit his job at her company to become a game streamer. His channel was gaining popularity, with followers increasing steadily. Despite declaring in his streams that he had a girlfriend, his good looks and gaming skills attracted many female fans. They would flood his chat with calls of ‘hubby,’ ‘baby,’ and ‘darling.’

Fang Zhou had tried to mute them, but his growing popularity made it impossible to manage completely. His fans were a mixed bag, and even with keyword filters, they found creative ways to bypass them. Fang Zhou, needing his fanbase to make a living, couldn’t afford to focus solely on keeping these fans in check.

Everything seemed to be going well, but Han Xi couldn’t accept it. She couldn’t stand the thought of so many women calling Fang Zhou ‘hubby,’ and she wanted him to have a more stable career than streaming.

In her traditional business mindset, streaming was not a long-term plan. She arranged for people to negotiate with Fang Zhou’s network to have him dismissed, while also trying to convince him to start his own business.

But there are no secrets that remain hidden forever. Fang Zhou accidentally saw Han Xi’s chat history, realizing she was behind it all. Furious, they had a huge argument, leading to Fang Zhou leaving her and eventually breaking up.

Now, Fang Zhou brought up the past, his face calm, making it hard for Han Xi to gauge if he was still bothered by it or if he had moved on.

“I’ve changed now. I support your streaming career wholeheartedly,” Han Xi said, trying to explain. She was now Fang Zhou’s top supporter, pouring money into his team, no longer trying to interfere with his career. She was willing to support him quietly, as long as he stayed with her.

However, Fang Zhou interrupted her, “No, you still don’t get it.”

“What I mind isn’t just your lack of support for my career. It’s your controlling nature and insensitivity.” His eyes shone brightly, reflecting the sunlight and making him seem even more resolute.

“I’m a person with free will, with my own ideas and opinions. I’m not like a train that has to follow your tracks,” he said firmly. “In other words, I’m not a puppet. When it comes to matters involving me, you should respect my opinions first.”

His words hit Han Xi hard, leaving her speechless and drained. Her lips lost their color, and she looked visibly deflated.

Han Xi suddenly thought of her recent argument with her mother and found it ironic. She had always tried to avoid becoming like her father, but it seemed she had inherited his traits completely—domineering, uncompromising, and unwilling to let others have their own thoughts. Even those she loved couldn’t have any extra freedom.

What’s the difference between this and a prison disguised as love?

Han Xi had always believed that as long as she didn’t restrict Fang Zhou’s physical freedom, she was giving him the greatest sense of security. But now she realized that wasn’t enough. People are like thinking reeds, and even if placed in a pond, the wind could carry them away.

Silence filled the room, the stifling heat amplifying the tension. Han Xi felt suffocated, unable to meet Fang Zhou’s gaze, which felt like a knife slicing through her. It was as if she was experiencing the pain she had inflicted on Fang Zhou—thinking she had written a book of love, only to find it filled with selfishness.

Staring at his shadow on the floor, Han Xi struggled to find her voice.

“Sorry, it might be presumptuous of me as someone you’ve invested in, but I can’t accept this arrangement,” Fang Zhou said calmly but seriously. He wasn’t saying this lightly. If Han Xi wanted any chance of being with him, she needed to remove this interference.

Their relationship gap wasn’t just material but also spiritual. The past was like a festering wound in their hearts; it needed to be cleaned out for anything meaningful to grow.

When Han Xi was crazily in love with him, Fang Zhou felt it too. But he wasn’t the impulsive teenager he once was, driven by hormones. Feelings alone weren’t enough; a lasting relationship required responsibility to both himself and the other person.

Fang Zhou’s words left Han Xi stunned, realizing that if she wanted to be with him, she had to change her ways fundamentally.