The Heiress's Game

The plane flew through the clouds, and outside the window was a thick, impenetrable night.

The roar of the engine was isolated outside the cabin walls. Gu Yunjin leaned back in the spacious first-class seat, her fingers unconsciously twirling her phone. The screen would occasionally light up as she flipped it, reflecting her thoughtful profile.

She had to admit that Bai Junze was someone who could easily make people fall in love.

It wasn't the kind of deliberate flirting, nor was it a flowery, romantic offensive—on the contrary, his power came from an almost clumsy earnestness.

She was the kind of person who could have mobilized half of Yunjing's resources to create a grand spectacle for her, but instead chose to squat by the stream and weave a crooked flower wreath herself.

He's the kind of person who can manipulate the business world at will, yet he frankly tells her, "The steak has its own ideas."

It's that focused look you have when peeling shrimp, and then you say in a calm tone, "I'll peel shrimp for you every day from now on."

These moments, piled up together, were like a gentle rain, silently seeping into the cracks in her heart that she herself thought had long been sealed off.

But only there.

Gu Yunjin opened her eyes and looked down at her reflection in her phone screen.

Her expression was calm, without the dreamy sweetness of a woman in love, nor the tears welling up after being moved.

She was simply examining herself with a clear mind—examining her attraction, the direction of the relationship, and the man who was being attracted to her.

She thought of her mother, Su Wanning.

Her parents' marriage was once a sensational story – the most dazzling actress in the film industry married the youngest tycoon in the business world, and the whole city was in the spotlight on their wedding day.

Su Wanning retired from acting for Gu Zhenxing, becoming a housewife and focusing all her fame on one man's eyes.

And then what? In the second year of their marriage, Gu Zhenxing had an affair.

Later, Su Wanning gave all her love to her and never shared a single bit with anyone else.

Gu Yunjin knew from a young age that love is the most unreliable variable.

It arrives with a thunderous roar, and leaves without a word.

To stake your life on another person's love is tantamount to handing over all ownership of yourself to someone else.

In her world, loving herself always comes first, and then loving others comes second.

She has feelings for Bai Junze—she doesn't deny it.

Hormones between men and women are chemical reactions written in their genes; there's no need to deny it, and there's nothing to be ashamed of.

His presence made her heart race, made her close her eyes that afternoon by the stream, and made her look back at him again and again at the airport security checkpoint.

But that doesn't mean she'll be led by the nose by this affection.

Infatuation is an impulse, marriage is a partnership, love is fuel, and she is the driver.

Drivers can enjoy the roar of the engine, but they will never take their hands off the steering wheel.

It seems that Bai Junze likes her more than she likes him.

It's not just a little more, it's significantly more.

Judging from his level of tension, his level of involvement, and his unguarded concern—he was more deeply, faster, and more proactive than she was.

She was very satisfied with this.

It wasn't because she wanted to take advantage of his feelings, but because she understood all too well what kind of balance a healthy relationship needed.

An evenly matched relationship is ideal, but the current situation where "he likes her a little more" is the safest for her at this stage.

This means she can remain clear-headed while being loved, and maintain her own pace while enjoying the relationship.

She doesn't need to worry about gains and losses, doesn't need to carefully guess the other person's intentions, and doesn't need to change herself to please anyone.

Falling in love with someone is nothing special. Anyone can have a racing heart or a surge of hormones.

Every day, countless people in this world fall in love, are deeply in love, and vow to be together forever.

What's truly remarkable is the ability to persevere in loving.

One year, three years, ten years, thirty years—after seeing all the worst aspects of the other person.

After experiencing all the mundane wear and tear, after being tempted and exhausted in turn, I still choose to peel shrimp for the same person every day.

When Bai Junze said, "I'll peel them for you every day from now on," his eyes didn't dodge and his tone didn't hesitate.

She picked up the piece of shrimp and put it in her mouth, and thought it tasted really good.

But she knew even more clearly in her heart that whether this promise could be kept depended not on the moment it was spoken, but on whether he would remember today's promise in the countless days that followed.

It's still early, everything is still early.

She will keep moving forward, and will get a little closer to him every time they meet.

I will learn more about him in every conversation and respond to his feelings at every meaningful moment.

But she will never allow herself to become a second Su Wanning.