Luo Wei slept soundly, not waking until the next day's noon. She rubbed her drowsy eyes with her slender, fair fingers and adjusted the blanket as she prepared to get up.
"Rip—"
Her entire body ached, and she couldn't help but let out a soft whimper.
Was that man single for eight generations? Why was he so rough? It seems this ordeal wasn't worth it, just pure suffering.
Luo Wei silently cursed a few more times in her heart. She took a couple of steps forward, only to feel a sharp pain between her brows. Trembling, she made her way to the cabinet and took out the medicine box, only to find it empty.
Her face clouded with frustration. How could she have forgotten about this? She had run out of medicine long ago and had been too busy with the pet shop to find time to visit the hospital.
After a moment, Luo Wei changed her clothes. The densely scattered kiss marks on her neck were just barely covered by her high-collared outfit. She planned to go to the hospital to get the medicine.
"Ring—"
Luo Wei picked up her phone and gazed down at the caller's name with furrowed brows. It was Zhu Shulan, her foster mother, who had been cruel to her since childhood. When Luo Qianqian slandered her, Zhu Shulan only believed Luo Qianqian's side of the story.
A harsh slap on her tender face, no food, insults, and being locked in a dark room were all commonplace. Luo Wei used to think she had done something wrong to make her foster mother hate her, but it wasn’t true. No matter how humble and pleasing she was, Zhu Shulan wouldn’t spare her a glance. Her eyes were always full of her elder sister, Luo Qianqian.
If she didn’t love her, why did she adopt her? Living so humbly—wouldn't it have been better not to be adopted at all?
Luo Wei steadied herself and pressed the answer button.
"Hello, Mom."
As expected, she was about to be scolded. Zhu Shulan's angry voice echoed in her ears. "Where on earth have you been? How many times have I called you? You left without a word, and do you know how much trouble you caused for Qianqian?"
"If anything happens to Qianqian's career, I won't let you off."
Luo Wei endured the physical pain while listening to her foster mother's reprimands, her body nearly giving out.
"Mom, if you have nothing else to do but scold me, I'll hang up now."
Zhu Shulan continued to yell, "Come back here! Right now!"
Luo Wei was about to refuse, but the other end of the line abruptly hung up.
With no other choice, Luo Wei postponed her hospital visit and headed downstairs to a pharmacy to buy some birth control pills. She swallowed one, finally feeling a sense of relief. If she got pregnant with a stranger’s child, she would live a life filled with guilt. She couldn’t let the child grow up without a father. Her life was already miserable; bringing a child into that misery wouldn’t be right. In a way, this was an act of kindness.
Luo Wei opened a ride-hailing app and called for a taxi. A few minutes later, she got into the car and headed to the Luo residence.
The car slowly drove down the road, eventually stopping in front of the Luo family's main gate.
Luo Wei paid 76 yuan and felt a bit reluctant as she watched the amount deducted. It was somewhat expensive; that money could have covered several meals. She had always been frugal, and spending so much at once made her heart ache because making money was so hard.
...
At the Luo residence.
"My dear daughter, don't cry. It breaks my heart. I've already called that ungrateful girl back, and I'll help you vent your anger later. Be good."
Zhu Shulan comforted Luo Qianqian gently as she held her. "Mom, I feel so awful. My future is ruined. The director said he’d never hire me again." Luo Qianqian sobbed softly, her face shifting expressions that made her look like a pitiful victim to any outsider.
"Nonsense! My precious daughter's career is as bright as the stars. Later, I'll teach that jinx a lesson. I shouldn't have agreed to adopt her back then—what bad luck."
"Mom, don't be angry. Be careful with your health. My little sister is still young and doesn’t understand things. Just talk to her; don’t get too upset."
Luo Qianqian gently coaxed Zhu Shulan, her eyes hiding a malicious glint as she continued to deceive her.
"You are too kind. If she were even half as good as you, I’d be at ease."
The two continued chatting, unaware that Luo Wei had already arrived at the door.
Luo Wei stood there, looking at the mother and daughter, who were leaning on each other, sharing mutual sympathy. It was ironic; she had always felt like an outsider.
Yes, an outsider. Without blood ties, how could they be called a family?
They had never intended to accept her as family. No matter how hard she tried, she had nothing. Zhu Shulan glanced sideways and noticed Luo Wei standing at the door, her face full of disdain and disgust. Luo Wei silently walked in, holding her breath.
Zhu Shulan took three quick steps forward and raised her hand to slap Luo Wei hard across the face.
The pain hit Luo Wei like a wave, and she stared blankly, covering her slapped cheek, where a clear handprint was visible. She couldn’t say a word, her throat tightened. After all, it wasn’t the first time she had been hit.
The pain on her face couldn't compare to the pain in her heart, which spread to every part of her body. She bit her lip, refusing to let the tears fall.
"Look at the trouble you’ve caused. You’ve been nothing but trouble since the day you were born. You're a jinx. You left without a word and caused Qianqian so much trouble. You will apologize to the director immediately," Zhu Shulan demanded angrily.
Luo Wei listened to the accusations from her so-called foster mother and let out a cold, twisted laugh. "Apologize? Or should I sleep with him?" Her voice trembled.
Zhu Shulan stared at Luo Wei in disbelief. This usually submissive girl was now talking back.
"You dare talk back to me? I'll beat you to death!" Zhu Shulan roared as she lunged at Luo Wei for another slap.
Luo Qianqian pretended to intervene, gently holding back Zhu Shulan. "Mom, don’t get so worked up. I’ll apologize on her behalf. She’s still young and doesn’t understand."
Hearing Luo Qianqian’s fake concern, Luo Wei felt nauseous. "Luo Qianqian, stop pretending. You know exactly what you've done."
"Sister, what did I do? I'm just trying to help, yet you talk to me like this." Luo Qianqian lowered her head, sobbing pitifully.
Zhu Shulan’s fury flared when she saw Luo Wei refuse to admit her mistakes and talk back instead. She raised her hand again, but it was caught tightly mid-air.
Luo Wei held Zhu Shulan’s hand firmly, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Go ahead, hit me. Hit me until I die. I don't want to live anymore anyway."
Luo Wei gritted her teeth, her eyes full of defiance and stubbornness.
"Do you think I won’t?" Zhu Shulan, feeling challenged, was furious. Today, she would teach Luo Wei a lesson so she would behave and listen in the future.
"Of course, you will. What can’t you do, Lady Zhu? Besides beating your foster daughter, what else are you good at?"
Zhu Shulan was left speechless, her face turning ugly as she muttered, "My family must be unlucky to have adopted a jinx like you. You're going to be the death of me."
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