Chapter 3: Awakening

Why did she always obey her parents in everything? Because she was just a pawn! A pawn has no will of its own; in the story, she was whatever the book said she was.

She couldn’t see through her parents’ manipulation, nor did she notice her husband’s growing impatience with the Ning family. She simply followed her parents’ orders, doing whatever they told her to do.

“Ning Chu, your ranking dropped from first to second. If you don’t get back to first next time, you’ll go hungry for a day.”

“Ning Chu, who told you to eat that junk food outside? Throw it away and go back to your room to work on your exams. Ning Chu, I’m doing this for your own good. Do you want to fall to second place again?”

“Ning Chu, why are you hanging out with that Chen girl who doesn’t study? You’re not allowed to play with her anymore. Ning Chu, if you befriend people who don’t study, you’ll become unmotivated too. I’m doing this for your own good. You must obey.”

“Ning Chu, this is the heir of the Dantai family. You need to please him and marry into his family. We’ve supported you for so long; it’s time for you to repay us.”

“Ning Chu, we’re all doing this for your own good. You should listen to your father and mother.”

“Ning Chu, if the heir of the Dantai family doesn’t accept you, then you’ll have to marry Dong Xingce, the president of Dongyuan Group. But he’s already forty, so I hope you can win the favor of Dantai Chao, the Dantai family heir. The Ning family’s finances are unstable now; we need a major infusion of capital! Apart from the Dantai family, only Dongyuan Group can help us.”

“Ning Chu, you must listen to your parents…”

She did everything they told her, including the arranged marriage. Yet now she had awakened. The claim that it was all for her own good was a lie—they were only looking out for themselves.

As for her husband, Dantai Chao, heir to the Dantai family, he was regarded as the perfect figure in their social circle.

Not just because of his elite family background, but his appearance alone was striking—handsome, exuding noble grace and presence. His every word and movement was imitated by others but never quite matched. He had been the prize coveted by many noble ladies.

Moreover, his intellect was exceptional: he entered university at sixteen and earned his doctorate by twenty-three, after which he began inheriting the Chaoyang Group. Under his leadership, the company’s value multiplied several times, becoming even more formidable.

Dantai Chao was definitely not a man given to indulgence in pleasures; he was extremely rational. His daily life and work were almost robotic in perfection. When they were married, she was surprised, thinking it must be because he found her easy to control.

Clearly, there was no love between them. After all, what love could there be in an arranged marriage? Especially not for a workaholic whose only true passion was his work.

Ning Chu finally opened her eyes. She was lying in a hospital bed. The nurse, who had been giving her an injection, was startled when she suddenly awoke. “Oh! You’re finally awake!”

Her eyes shifted around, her head still a little dizzy. When she sat up and reopened her eyes, her gaze had changed. If the previous Ning Chu was a seemingly obedient but soulless girl, now her true spirit had returned.

The nurse raised her bed and looked at her. Ever since she arrived, everyone had been saying, “You’re finally awake.”

At that moment, Ning Chu’s assistant, Zhang Yan, came in. “Madam, you’re finally awake! I’ll call the master immediately.”

“Wait.” Ning Chu grabbed Zhang Yan’s hand just as she was about to press the call button.

“Madam?”

Ning Chu looked at her. “Don’t call.”

“Okay, okay.” For some reason, Zhang Yan suddenly felt that the previously gentle and mild madam was now completely different—the aura in her eyes was unlike anything before.

After some instructions, the nurse left. Ning Chu then asked Zhang Yan, “How long have I been unconscious?”

“Five days. The doctors found no physical problems—just said you were shocked.”

Ning Chu nodded. “What about my parents? And Dantai Chao?”

Zhang Yan hesitated. Madam had just addressed the master by his name. “Um?” Ning Chu looked at her expectantly. Zhang Yan shivered. “The master stayed by your side at first, but had to leave for company matters. He came back twice after that. There was some trouble with business in City N, so he went there yesterday.”

“Still, the master told me to take good care of you.”

Although Zhang Yan relayed messages from Dantai Chao, Ning Chu knew his nature—a workaholic. This was perfectly normal. Before, she might have felt disappointed, but now… she didn’t care.

A pawn destined to die—how could she waste time worrying about a husband she barely loved?

“As for your parents, Mrs. Zhou comes every morning to see you. Your father also visits, but because of company matters, he stays only briefly. Mrs. Zhou usually stays about an hour.”

Ning Chu sneered. “An hour.” She nodded, acknowledging that her parents’ love for her was worth about an hour.

Zhang Yan thought her madam seemed different since falling ill. Was that a sneer just now?

Zhang Yan knew how obedient and gentle the madam usually was. She married the master because, as everyone in their circle said, Mrs. Zhou had raised her well—turning her into the top socialite, which earned her the chance to marry the master.

Madam always obeyed Mrs. Zhou’s words and respected her parents deeply. Whenever she had time, she returned to the Ning family to visit. But just now… was she mocking Mrs. Zhou and Mr. Ning?

Because Ning Chu forbade Zhang Yan from telling anyone, neither Zhou Erqin, Ning Xingxian, nor Dantai Chao knew she had awakened.

“Does anyone else know I was unconscious?”

Zhang Yan shook her head. “No, the master has kept it very secret.”

Ning Chu took her phone from Zhang Yan’s hand. “I understand. You can go now. I need to rest. Don’t tell anyone I’m awake.”

“Yes, madam. I’ll be outside. Call me if you need anything.”

“Mm.”

After Zhang Yan left, Ning Chu lay back down and closed her eyes. The scenes she had witnessed while unconscious were still vivid in her mind. Now awakened, she realized how foolish and weak she had been.

So foolish that she couldn’t see anything clearly. But now she was no longer foolish. The pawn can be cast aside—she would live for herself!

The next day, Zhou Erqin arrived at the hospital and saw Ning Chu sitting up. “Chu Chu! You’re finally awake! Since you’re awake, I’ll book a plane ticket for you to City N right away.”

Ning Chu was puzzled.

After Zhou Erqin explained, Ning Chu learned that when Dantai Chao went to City N, someone photographed a woman standing in front of him, smiling and talking. Although Dantai Chao’s face was unclear, the woman clearly recognized him—Wanyan Yu, a woman rumored to have had an affair with Dantai Chao before.