“Thank you, Mom!” The girl sat in front of the old rosewood-framed mirror, cooing sweetly to her mother.
“Today, help me braid three braids. Xiaolu has two braids, and I want one more than her to see if she still thinks she’s pretty.” The mother lovingly stroked her daughter’s hair, her nimble fingers weaving through the jet-black strands. Soon, the daughter’s head was full of small braids. In the mirror adorned with gilded floral patterns, the woman picked up her red curls, intertwining them strand by strand. After a while, with many small braids hanging on both sides and the back of her head still curly, she couldn’t manage to braid her entire head. Carefully examining her reflection, she now looked like someone who had just escaped from a collapsing asylum wall… Ridiculous, she laughed out loud, her mouth open even wider, resembling it even more. She clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably until tears came out… Mom, even if you had a peach wood comb, I wouldn’t be happy and auspicious anymore. Desolation and silence galloped in, freely roaming the room. Her tears fell silently, and she leaned over the vanity to sob loudly.
Chapter 2
Lai Hui woke up in the morning to see the luxurious gold carvings, but to her, it was all desolate and bleak, like a graveyard overgrown with withered grass. Barefoot, she jumped out of bed, stepped onto the cold floor, and did the first thing she did every morning – she pulled back the curtains to let the sunlight in. But today was overcast, with no sun. Her phone on the vanity rang, displaying a number all too familiar. She slid the phone to her ear. “Come to a banquet with me tonight, get ready early!” “Okay!” “I can’t go with you to pick out clothes, ask Cheng Lan to accompany you!” “Okay!” The sky was a blurry gray, and suddenly, it was as if a bucket had been overturned, pouring down heavy rain that battered the tender hibiscus petals, twisting the bright red in the gray rain mist. The road was full of puddles, and car tires splashed huge sprays of water. In the back seat, Lai Hui jolted, and the driver in front immediately apologized. “I’m sorry, Miss Lai!” “It’s okay!” she settled back, responding indifferently.
