In May in Haicheng, the grass grew tall and the orioles sang.
In the Xiang family's courtyard, all manner of roses had already started vying to bloom, and the climbing vines had hung down long, creating an exquisite view visible from afar.
When Xiang Wan came home from school, her mother did not greet her as usual, and only her cat, Niannian, which she had raised for eight years, was dozing on the vine chair in the yard.
She picked up the cat and stepped into the living room, asking the nanny, "Where's my mom?"
The nanny, Aunt Zhang, responded in a low voice, "Resting in her room, she might have caught a cold from the weather fluctuating between hot and cold these past days."
Xiang Wan felt somewhat anxious and her delicate eyebrows involuntarily knitted together; she knocked on her mother An Yunhua's door for a long time but received no reply.
She vaguely sensed something was amiss, but didn't think much of it.
Before going to sleep at night, An Yunhua entered her room disheveled, holding a glass of milk in her hand.
Her mother was the type of woman who was meticulously elegant to the extreme; even at home, she would never allow herself to look so unkempt.
Xiang Wan was slightly astonished, but thinking perhaps it was the torment of illness, she placatingly moved forward, "Mom, you should rest early if you're not feeling well. The servants can handle small tasks like bringing milk."
An Yunhua said nothing but just gazed steadily at her. Under the not-so-bright lamp, An Yunhua's complexion looked terrifyingly pale, her eyes filled with red blood streaks and brimming with a trace of luminescence.
Xiang Wan didn't notice her mother's abnormality and took a big sip of the milk, then suddenly furrowed her brow, "Mom, what did you put in the milk? It's so bitter..."
An Yunhua, her voice hoarse, said, "Drink it all... don't leave a single drop!" With that, she forcefully pushed the cup to Xiang Wan's mouth.
Xiang Wan never liked bitter things, and her whole body resisted, "I won't drink it..."
"You have to drink it even if you don't want to!"
An Yunhua suddenly acted as if she had gone mad, grabbing Xiang Wan's jaw and pouring the milk into her mouth. Some of the milk dripped down the corner of Xiang Wan's mouth, staining her pure white nightgown.
Xiang Wan finally broke free from her mother's grasp, and the glass fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.
She was shaken, slightly agitated; her mother had always been extremely gentle with her since she was little, "Mom! What are you doing?!"
An Yunhua looked at the now-empty milk glass on the floor and suddenly started laughing.
Her laughter was somewhat unsettling, and the despair that showed in her eyes was poignant, "Wanwan... don't blame mom, mom had no choice..."
Xiang Wan couldn't understand, feeling slightly astounded but more perplexed and frightened. The lingering bitterness in her mouth reminded her that something must have been added to the milk...
She suddenly remembered that her father hadn't come home for dinner that evening, and she subconsciously guessed, "Did you have a fight with dad?"
"There will be no more fighting... never again..." An Yunhua's shoulders slumped as she alternated between crying and laughing, then suddenly reached out to cup Xiang Wan's face, "Have a good sleep, and mom will stay right here with you..."
In this situation, Xiang Wan was definitely unable to sleep. She wanted to ask her mother why she was acting so strange, but a sudden dizziness made her lose control and she collapsed on the edge of the bed.
The image of her mother's face began to blur before her eyes, and she could feel the intense sadness emanating from her.
As she collapsed helplessly, she heard her mother's choked voice, full of intense hatred, "Zuo Xingyun has returned, he killed your dad! Our family's sky... has fallen! Rather than let you fall into the hands of those scum, it's better if I personally... see you off!"
Zuo Xingyun...
Suddenly, a stern and clear-cut handsome face emerged in Xiang Wan's mind, a face she thought she had long forgotten.
He hadn't been gone for eight years? How could he possibly have killed her father!
She dared not believe that her father, who had always cherished her as a treasure in the palm of his hand, would suddenly pass away. Just that morning her father had still been doting, asking her how she wanted to celebrate her 18th birthday...
Suddenly, she saw her mother walk rigidly towards the window, her bare feet stepping on the shards of the cup, her feet instantly drenched in blood.
Yet her mother seemed completely oblivious to the pain as she continued forward.
Xiang Wan realized something and panic surged in her heart. She struggled to rise from the bed, intent on grabbing her mother, but fell heavily to the floor.
All she could do was watch helplessly as her mother plunged out the window.
The night wind howled, lifting the white sheer curtains as if trying to salvage something, but besides a trail of blood-red footprints, it could retain nothing.
After a thud came Xiang Wan's heartrending scream, "Mom—!"
Immense grief, accompanied by overwhelming dizziness, overcame her, and her ears began to ring.
In the second before she lost consciousness, she saw the door being broken open.
A group of people in black clothes rushed in and stood respectfully on either side, bowing their heads.
And the tall man slowly walking in, was none other than Zuo Xingyun, who had been away for eight years...