Chapter 2
The resolve not to waste her second chance burned within Yun Xin like a small but steady flame. Yet that flicker of determination was abruptly interrupted by a sharp, grating voice outside her door.
"What are you still doing in bed, you good-for-nothing? Just because you had a fever yesterday doesn't mean you can lie around pretending to be sick!"
It was Meng Cue, her adoptive mother.
The sound of her voice sent a jolt through Yun Xin, dragging her back into a past she had hoped to leave behind. The memories came rushing in: years of disdain, insults, and the constant reminder that she wasn't wanted. For as long as she could remember, she had been little more than a servant in this household.
Her adoptive parents, Meng Cue and Yun Huai, had three children, with Yun Xin as the eldest. Yet instead of being treated as part of the family, she was relegated to the role of a maid—expected to cook, clean, and care for her younger siblings. They adored her younger sister, Yun Sue, and brother, Yun Jianshe, lavishing them with affection while Yun Xin endured their scorn.
Her work was never good enough. Her presence was never welcome. And the abuse, though not constant, had left scars. Meng Cue had no qualms about striking her with a broom when she failed to meet expectations, and Yun Huai would slap her when he felt the need to assert his dominance. Still, there was always a line they wouldn't cross. Yun Xin had seen it in their eyes—the fear of something unspoken, a hesitation that had always puzzled her.
Outside, Meng Cue's voice rose again.
"If you don't get up right now, you'll regret it!"
"Hmph! She's faking it, Mom," Yun Sue chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain. "She just doesn't want to work. I bet she didn't even have a fever."
Yun Xin's fists tightened under the covers. Her sister's voice stirred another memory—one she now recalled with perfect clarity. Five years ago, on a bitter winter day, Yun Sue and Yun Jianshe had pushed her into a freezing puddle in the neighborhood. They had held her down, laughing as if it were some harmless prank. Her hands trembled at the memory of their laughter, the cold seeping into her bones as she struggled to breathe.
"Get out from there!" Meng Cue barked again, her patience clearly wearing thin.
Yun Xin exhaled slowly, forcing her trembling hands to still. If this second chance was a gift, she wouldn't waste it. She wouldn't endure their cruelty like before. And she wouldn't forget.
The door burst open with a loud bang, slamming against the wall. Meng Cue stormed into the room, her eyes narrowing as they swept across the small, sparsely furnished space.
"Oh, so you're alive, you waste," Meng Cue sneered, her voice laced with mockery. "Why didn't you answer me? Do you think you can pretend your way out of your chores?"
Her eyes darted around the room, lingering on the desk and shelves as if searching for something valuable. Yun Xin knew the look all too well. Meng Cue had made a habit of taking anything of worth from her—a pen, a coin, even gifts Yun Xin had once tried to hide.
"Mom," Yun Xin said softly, her voice faint but steady. She pushed herself up slightly, leaning against the wall as though the effort exhausted her. "I still have a fever. I don't think I'll be able to cook today."
Meng Cue's lips twisted into a scowl. "I don't care if you're sick. Get out there and cook. Now."
Her mother's words were sharp, but Yun Xin noticed something else—the flicker of greed in her eyes as she glanced toward the corner of the room. It was a small detail, but one that stoked Yun Xin's growing resolve.
As Meng Cue stormed out, muttering curses under her breath, Yun Xin let herself fall back against the wall. Her fever had broken the night before, and though her body still ached, she was far from helpless.
She pressed her fingers to her temple, closing her eyes. Her mother's venom, her sister's cruelty, the years of neglect—they were no longer weights to bear. They were fuel for the fire burning inside her.
This time, Yun Xin wouldn't cower. She wouldn't bow her head or let them trample her spirit.
This time, Yun Xin would take her revenge.