“Xiao Liu, that’s a pretty awful thing to say. What do you mean, ‘selling our daughter’? We raised Shengnan all these years, and now she’s going to become part of your family—so of course you need to give us something to show your appreciation.”
“If you’re not even willing to treat her well before marriage, then how can we trust that you’ll be good to her after she’s married into your family?”
Liu Wei stepped forward. “Auntie, I’m a revolutionary soldier. If you can’t even trust me, who can you trust?”
“If you don’t trust us—the people’s soldiers—does that mean you don’t trust our Party either?”
“Auntie, I don’t mean to criticize you, but your political awareness is seriously lacking. You really ought to undergo some proper re-education.”
That scared Li Cuicui half to death. It brought back memories of that dark era, and she hurriedly replied, “Xiao Liu, don’t talk nonsense! How can you say I don’t trust the Party?”
“Auntie, just think carefully about what you’ve said. Write up a thorough self-criticism—and remember, it has to be deep and sincere. When I come back to pick up Shengnan, you give it to me. If it’s not profound enough, you’ll have to rewrite it.”
After that speech from Liu Wei, no one in the Wen family dared to say another word, and the matter of the bride price quietly fizzled out.
After meeting the family and handing over the gifts, the engagement was settled.
Liu Wei left after lunch. Li Cuicui, frustrated, took her anger out on Wen Shengnan, hitting her hard. “What kind of man did you find, huh?”
Wen Shengnan was just as resentful inside. She thought much the same as her mother. Back then, when she’d set her sights on Yue Mingyuan, it wasn’t really because she liked him as a person—it was because she’d learned he was Yue Guohuai’s son, and on top of that, he’d become a combat hero at such a young age.
Then she found out Yue Mingyuan was actually going to marry Ye Zhiqiu—and that he’d given her such an extravagant bride price. How could she not be jealous?
In what way was she inferior to Ye Zhiqiu? Why did Yue Mingyuan still treat her so well even though she was already “damaged goods,” while she, Wen Shengnan, had given her virginity to Liu Wei, only for him to humiliate her like this?
Seeing Wen Shengnan stay silent, Li Cuicui froze for a moment, then grabbed her by the hair. “You little wretch! Tell me—are you no longer a virgin? Did that old man take advantage of you?!”
“Ow! Let go of me!”
Wen Shengnan was already furious, and Li Cuicui’s harsh words only made things worse. She shoved her mother hard, sending her tumbling to the ground.
Li Cuicui let out a yelp and then went silent. Wen Shengnan, still seething, didn’t even glance back as she slammed the door and stormed out.
She didn’t know where to go. Aimlessly wandering the streets, she unconsciously found herself at the department store.
The store had just gotten in a new shipment of women’s clothing. Wen Shengnan browsed left and right, loving every piece she saw.
The one that caught her eye most was a red, waist-cinching dress. If she could wear that on her wedding day, it would all be worth it.
Of course, she’d also need a pair of red high heels and a little red clutch purse.
On the day Ye Zhiqiu married Yue Mingyuan, she’d watched from a distance. Ye Zhiqiu had worn that exact outfit, and she’d looked absolutely stunning.
Among the sea of people, you could spot her in an instant.
Wen Shengnan made up her mind—she would sweet-talk Liu Wei into buying her the whole set.
She didn’t really care about the bride price anyway; no matter how much it was, it would never end up in her hands. Since Liu Wei wasn’t paying it, that just meant they’d have more money left over for their life together.
But this outfit—this was something that would truly be hers. She wouldn’t let Liu Wei shortchange her on this.
As she left the department store, pondering how to coax Liu Wei, she suddenly heard someone call her name: “Wen Shengnan!”
She turned around and barely made out that the person was Jiang Miao. Before she could react, Jiang Miao hurled something at her face—and suddenly, everything went blurry, and her face burned as if it were on fire.
“Ahhh—”
Wen Shengnan clutched her face, collapsing to the ground, writhing and screaming in agony.
Beside her, Jiang Miao wore a wild, gleeful smile. “Wen Shengnan, this is your karma for what you did to me!”
Ever since Jiang Miao had returned, she’d been waiting for this chance. And today, she’d finally caught Wen Shengnan alone.
She’d never truly considered Wen Shengnan a friend, but she’d never guarded herself against her either. How could Wen Shengnan have betrayed her like that?
She knew Wen Shengnan had been kicked out of the cultural troupe too—but that wasn’t enough. She was dragging her straight to hell with her!
Jiang Miao was arrested by the police, and Wen Shengnan was rushed to the hospital.
Her face was disfigured, and her eyes had been blinded by the acid.
Meanwhile, the Wen household was in complete chaos. When Wen Shengnan had shoved Li Cuicui, her mother’s head had struck a rock. By the time someone found her and got her to the hospital, it was too late—she couldn’t be saved.
Liu Wei learned about all of this a few days later and didn’t hesitate for a second—he broke off the engagement.
Wen Shengnan tried to curse him, but her vocal cords had also been damaged. Now she was blind, mute, and disfigured.
And because she was responsible for her own mother’s death, her family disowned her.
When Fan Xue told Ye Zhiqiu about all this, she couldn’t help but sigh.
They both knew that Wen Shengnan had brought this upon herself. Still, it was a pity—if only she hadn’t been so consumed by jealousy, she could have had a perfectly good life.
“Yaya.”
Fan Xue had arrived while Yaya was still asleep, so she’d only gotten a quick glimpse of her from afar.
Now, seeing the little girl clutching a plush cat in one hand, holding Huo Jiusi’s hand with the other, with Little Bear and Little White following behind—Fan Xue was completely charmed.
“Auntie Xue’er.”
Yaya trotted over and threw herself into Fan Xue’s arms. Fan Xue was delighted. “How did Yaya know I’m Auntie Xue’er?”
“Auntie Xue’er talked to Yaya on the phone! Yaya remembers. Auntie Xue’er’s voice sounds like a nightingale—so pretty.”
“Oh my, my little sweetheart! How can your little mouth be so sugary?” Fan Xue felt her heart melt for the first time, just like that chocolate cake she’d had in Jiangning.
She scooped Yaya up, and Yaya gave her a big smooch on the cheek. “Auntie Xue’er, Yaya likes you.”
“Auntie likes Yaya too—so, so much.”
Before Ye Zhiqiu came back, Fan Xue had bought Yaya a ton of things in Jiangning, and she’d brought even more this time.
Knowing Yaya loved plush cats, Fan Xue had searched all over the capital but couldn’t find one. However, she did come across an elderly lady selling plush tiger toys that looked quite well-made. She gave her a little extra money and asked her to make a cat plushie instead.
“Yaya, do you like this little cat?”
Fan Xue pulled out the plush cat. Yaya’s eyes lit up, and she nodded emphatically. “Yes!”
“Auntie is giving this little cat to Yaya. Can Yaya give Auntie another kiss?” Fan Xue leaned her cheek close to Yaya, tapping her own face with her finger.
Yaya wrapped her arms around Fan Xue’s neck, stood on tiptoe, and planted several big kisses on her cheek. “Auntie Xue’er, is that enough?”
“Yes, yes!”
Fan Xue grinned from ear to ear, more determined than ever to have a daughter of her own someday.
