Song Yanyan's POV:
Dinner at the Song household was always a battle of wits and wills, and tonight was no exception. As the entire family gathered around the table, my uncle Song Hao and his wife Zhao Yujie, along with their two children Song Dong and Song Fangfang, joined us for the evening meal.
It started off pleasant enough, with my father sharing the news of a successful business deal he had secured during his trip to Japan. But of course, it didn't take long for the vultures to start circling.
"So, Yanyan, I see you're not eating much as usual," Song Fangfang remarked, her tone dripping with feigned concern. "Maybe you should lay off the desserts, hmm? Wouldn't want that pretty face of yours to get more chubby than it already is."
I rolled my eyes so hard, I'm surprised they didn't get stuck. "Gee, thanks for the unsolicited health advice, Cuz. Maybe you should worry more about keeping that big mouth of yours shut and less about the size of my ass."
Zhao Yujie jumped in, her brows furrowed in mock sympathy. "Now, now, Song Yanyan, there's no need to be so defensive. We're simply concerned about your well-being, that's all."
I scoffed, fixing her with a withering stare. "Concerned? Please, Auntie Dearest, spare me that fake concern shit. We all know you're just how much you find amusement in mocking me for my weight and the acne on my face while even make up itself can't hide your ugly ass face."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my father's lips twitch, as if he were struggling to hold back a laugh. Good old Dad, always the silent observer, never one to intervene unless things really hit the fan.
Song Hao, sensing the tension, tried to diffuse the situation. "Now, now, let's all just calm down and enjoy our meal, shall we?"
I turned to him, my eyebrow raised in challenge. "Oh, Uncle, I'm perfectly calm. It's these vultures circling me that seem to be the ones getting all riled up. Maybe they need to lay off the caviar and champagne, hmm?"
The table erupted in a chorus of shocked gasps, and I couldn't help but let a triumphant grin spread across my face. These people may have thought they could push me around, but they had another thing coming. This body no longer belonged to that girl they could bully anytime they wanted, I was Amber, the sassy, street-smart transplant, and I sure as hell wasn't going down without a fight.
As the dinner descended into a war of barbs and insults, I could feel my father's gaze on me, a glimmer of pride flickering in his eyes. Hey, maybe this dysfunctional family of mine wasn't so bad after all - at least I had one parent who could appreciate my brand of sass and resilience.
As the dinner descended into a war of barbs and insults, I couldn't help but relish the chaos. These people clearly thought they could push me around, but they had another thing coming.
I noticed Song Yangyao trying to make a show of herself, playing the dutiful, innocent daughter in front of our father. Pfft, as if. I shot her a pointed look, a silent warning. "Don't even think about it, Sis. Or do you need a refresher on what I told you the last time you tried to pull that holier-than-thou act?"
I watched Yangyao's face shift, the mask of perfection cracking ever so slightly. Gotcha.
Our mother, Chen Xinyi, tried to interject, her tone saccharine. "Now, now, let's all just calm down and enjoy the meal, shall we?"
Oh, no, Mummy Dearest, I'm just getting started. Before I could unleash another volley of sass, Song Dong, my cousin, piped up, his face twisted in an ugly sneer.
"Look at you, Yanyan, sitting there with your fat ass and acne-ridden face. Maybe if you spent less time shoving food down your throat and more time on your appearance, you'd actually be a decent-looking human being."
I felt the rage bubbling up inside me, but I refused to let it show. Instead, I leveled him with a cool, calculating stare. "Wow, Dong, I'm impressed. I didn't know you had it in you to string together such a scathing insult. Must have taken you all day to come up with that one, huh?"
He sputtered, his face turning beet red, and I knew I had struck a nerve. Before he could respond, I continued, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "But hey, at least I don't have to worry about my face, 'cause I can always slap on a few pounds of makeup to cover up my insecurities, right?"
The table erupted in stunned silence, and I could see my father trying to hide a smirk behind his hand. These fools really thought they could mess with me and get away with it. Well, they had another thing coming.
As the tension continued to simmer, I leaned back in my chair, a triumphant grin spreading across my face. Bring it on, Song family. I was ready to go toe-to-toe with the best of them.
The tension at the dinner table was palpable, as my cousins, aunt, and uncle continued their relentless barrage of insults and jabs. I met each one with a sharp-tongued retort, refusing to back down or show any sign of weakness.
Finally, my father, Song Bo, had seen enough. He cleared his throat, commanding the attention of the entire room. "That's enough, all of you," he said, his voice stern. "This is a family dinner, not a battleground. Let's try to enjoy the meal and each other's company, hmm?"
The table fell silent, save for the clinking of utensils against porcelain. I caught my father's eye, and for a brief moment, I saw a glimmer of approval in his expression. Perhaps he wasn't as oblivious to the family dynamics as I had thought.
As dinner progressed, the atmosphere remained tense, but the verbal sparring had, for the most part, subsided. I focused on my meal, determined not to let their petty jabs and insults ruin my appetite.
Once the final course had been cleared, I excused myself and retreated to the sanctuary of my room. As I settled at my desk, intent on tackling my homework, my phone buzzed with a message from my friend, Yang Lixia.
"Yanyan! You have to check this out," the message read, followed by an image of a flyer. "There's a dance competition coming up in a month. You should totally enter! I know how much you love dancing."
I stared at the flyer, my heart racing with excitement. Dance had always been my passion, a way for me to express myself and escape the confines of this family's dysfunction. But as my gaze lingered on the date, a twinge of doubt crept in.
The competition was in a month. That meant I would need to lose weight, and fast, if I wanted to stand a chance of winning. My eyes drifted to my reflection in the mirror, and I couldn't help but see the flaws that my cousins and aunt had so gleefully pointed out.
A surge of determination washed over me. No, I wouldn't let them win. I would show them all that I was more than just a chubby, acne-ridden disappointment. I was Amber, the sassy, street-smart girl with a heart full of fire and a will of steel.
Grabbing a pen and paper, I began jotting down a plan of action. First, I would need to overhaul my diet and fitness routine, cutting out the junk food and ramping up my workouts. I would need to be laser-focused, pushing myself to the limit if I wanted to achieve my goal.
As I mapped out the details, a sense of excitement and anticipation began to build within me. This was my chance to prove myself, to show this family that I was more than just the forgotten, overlooked daughter. I would win that dance competition and shove it in their smug faces, once and for all.
With a newfound sense of purpose, I set aside my homework, instead immersing myself in research and planning. The next few weeks were going to be a grueling battle, both physically and mentally, but I was more than ready for the challenge.
This was my moment, my opportunity to rise above the ashes of their disdain and forge a path of my own. And I would be damned if I let anyone or anything stand in my way.