"She ran off. They say she ran off with a truck driver from another province. Two days before she left, she even sold her job, took the money, and left without even taking her own daughter."
"It's a tragedy. The Bai family really messed up this time. It would've been so much better to give the job to that kid, Changqing. So what if she's fifteen? They could have just fudged her age by a couple of years."
"Shh! About that... I heard Bai Mi herself was the one who went begging and pleading to take over the position. The secretary thought it was too shameful and told everyone to keep it quiet."
...
"I don't know! I don't know! I should be demanding a person from your family! My perfectly fine son married your daughter, and to this day, we don't know if he's alive or dead."
"Why are you taking it out on her? Go home. We're not going to blame your family because our son married your sister. We'll just consider him dead. If the children are to stay, then they can stay."
...
"Dad, why won't you and Uncle let me tell Changqing? She has a right to know the truth! My uncle was killed by Fang Jun! If that son of a bitch hadn't stolen the money and run..."
"Insolence!"
"How am I being insolent? Isn't it true that Uncle came home, found out he'd been robbed, and went to the station by himself to catch that bastard because he didn't want the family to worry? And that's when the accident happened!"
"You're still talking? Still talking?! I'll beat you to death right now, you brainless fool! Which sounds better: that he died saving someone, or that a scandal in our family got out?"
"What does that have to do with Changqing knowing the truth? No matter how naive she is, she's not going to blab about it everywhere. It's not fair to her that you won't tell her.
And how did that bastard Fang Jun know where my aunt and uncle kept their money? Wasn't it all because of that troublemaker Bai Mi? And look what happened! A total loss, and someone ended up dead..."
"You're still talking! Still talking!"
"Enough!" a voice roared. "You think your father and I have no reason for not wanting Changqing to know? If she finds out and makes a scene, that family will be destroyed."
Outside the door, a thin figure clamped her hands over her mouth. With a THUD, she slid to the floor. Through her unstoppable tears, she recalled her father's last words.
'Try to let it go. Don't hate!'
'Dad, how can I not hate?!'
...
Her hair seeming to have turned white overnight, Old Mrs. Xu knelt before the graves of her son and daughter-in-law. "In front of your parents, you tell me. Are you going to take the exam or not?"
"Grandma, don't force me."
"Changqing, with this old bag of bones around, the family can hold on for a few more years. Be good and go take the exam. You can't go on like this. Consider it a plea from this old woman."
...
"Is the old lady still not eating? Listen to your big brother's advice. If you want to catch that bastard, you have to take the college entrance exams. Only by getting out of here and gaining some influence can you get revenge.
Look, isn't this heaven giving you a chance? They haven't held the exams for years, and now they're back. Isn't this fate telling you to go, giving you the chance for revenge?
Listen to me. Your grandma is so set on you going that she's on a hunger strike. Just come with me. It's not like we're never coming back. What can you possibly accomplish holed up in this backwater valley?"
...
"Go on. Go see what a university is like for your father's sake. Don't worry about home. With your uncles and aunt here to look after things, I guarantee nothing will go wrong."
Looking at her infant brother and sister in their swaddling clothes, then at her elderly grandparents, the rail-thin girl looked up, took a deep breath, knelt, and kowtowed three times with heavy thuds.
...
"What?" The young man dug at his ear in disbelief. "Huh? What did you say? You're taking a leave of absence? Are you insane?! Throwing away such a bright future to go to the South?"
"For one year. Help me cover for one year. Just one year."
"You have news that bastard is in the South?"
...
In a bustling city, a lone figure toiled from dawn till dusk. Under a dim light, she crossed another street off a hand-drawn map.
...
"Hey, handsome! Business is good, huh? Back for more stock?"
"Boss, I'm not here for stock this time. I know you're well-connected, and I'd like to ask for a favor. Your little brother here needs to make a trip to the other side, and I was hoping you could lend a hand."
...
In a city of neon lights and debauchery, the solitary figure, with no family to turn to, was heading home exhausted once again. Seeing three thugs closing in with ill intent, she drew a dagger.
...
At the end of an alley, in a small, unlicensed clinic, a figure with a newly stitched and bandaged arm stood up. She paid, refused the doctor's offer to treat her other wounds, and turned to leave.
"Wait. Are you from the north?"
"Yeah."
"Where from?"
"North City."
"Well, what do you know, a fellow townsman. Mind telling me what you're doing here? Don't get me wrong, I just think you look familiar. And don't worry, I'm not interested in scrawny little girls. Doctor Hei can vouch for me."
"...Looking for someone."
"Did you put an ad in the paper?"
"An enemy."
"Hahaha... Don't go, I'm not laughing at you. How about this? You seem like you can handle yourself. I have a shop on the main street up ahead and I'm looking for a delivery person. You in?"
...
Looking at her granddaughter kneeling on the floor, the old woman's fists, which had been pounding on the girl's back, gradually stopped. Her teary eyes glanced at the stack of bills to the side, and with a wave of her hand, she sent the money scattering across the floor.
"Grandma~"
"Don't call me that. I'm not your grandma; I'm your enemy. Did you find him?"
"No."
"Still looking?"
"..."
"Forget it. Your wings are all grown now. I can't control you anymore."
...
In a spacious office in a large building, a young man in a gray suit had just dismissed a guest with his secretary and was about to loosen his tie when there was a knock on the door.
"Big Bro, we have news."
...
In a parking lot, a figure stood in the shadows of a streetlight, staring into the distance. As a certain person—someone "he" would recognize even if they were turned to ash—drew closer, "he" let out a cold sneer.
...
"Big Bro, when do we make our move?"
"According to the plan, in July..."
"Big Bro, you have a phone call."
"Hello, who is this?"
"Is this Changqing? This is your uncle. That good-for-nothing Bai Mi suddenly came back, and the shock sent your grandma to the hospital. Can you come back for a bit?"
"I'm on my way. Please, do me a favor and keep her there."
...
「At the hospital entrance.」
"Uncles, why are you all standing at the entrance? Good thing I spotted you from the car. How's Grandma? What did the doctor say...?"
"Don't go in yet." Xu Dazhu hurriedly stopped his niece, who was dressed in men's clothes. "Secretary, why don't you be the one to tell her? I can't bring myself to say it... Mom..."
Bai Xinsheng shot Xu Dazhu a glare, then looked at Changqing, whose expression had changed drastically. "Changqing, don't get worked up just yet. Um, your grandma is old, and your brother and sister are still young..."
...
"It's not worth it. She's trash. Have you forgotten your father? What did he teach you? Your grandma's spirit in heaven wouldn't want you to dirty your hands."
Bai Xinsheng desperately held onto an arm, terrified that the hand on that arm would squeeze any harder and take a life. "Quick, look at your brother and sister! If something happens to you, too, what will they do?"
"Sis, I'm scared... I'm scared."
"Sis, WAHHH... You're all we have."
Looking at her younger brother and sister, who were so frightened they didn't even dare to cry loudly, the young woman closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let her hand fall limply to her side. "Get out!"
...
"Big Bro, my men have sent the woman to the man, just as you ordered."
"Don't just kill them with one blow. Doesn't the man want to marry into her family? Let's give him a helping hand. I want them to get everything they've ever wished for, and then lose it all, piece by piece. Let them suffer together."
...