Metamorphosis of an Ugly Girl – Part One

To call Qingqing Zhong Wuyan was already a compliment, for Zhong Wuyan only had a mark on half her face, whereas Qingqing’s entire face was dark. Growing up, no one in the mansion had spoken to her, and she was unaware of her own appearance. Only her mother and Hong Mama occasionally sighed when looking at her, but she never understood why. However, from books, she knew Zhong Wuyan was an ugly woman, which made her feel both shocked and panicked. Her mother and Hong Mama avoided her gaze, which deepened her sorrow, and she recalled the emperor’s words from the day before about how fortunate a family would be to have such a daughter, to which her father had awkwardly responded, “As long as someone doesn’t mind her…” indicating her ugliness. Every woman, regardless of her understanding of the world, cares about her appearance; it’s a woman’s nature. Hearing such a description for the first time, Qingqing was overwhelmed with sadness and shame, as if countless people were mocking her. Suddenly, she let out a loud cry and ran out as fast as she could, with people unable to catch up. She ran and cried, cried and ran, leaving through the back door and continuing for a long time until it grew dark, and she was too exhausted to run further. Looking up, she realized she had unknowingly reached the riverbank on the outskirts of the city. She touched her stomach, which was growling with hunger, and found a patch of grass to sit down casually. The sadness in her heart had lessened somewhat, and only then did she remember that running away like this would mean facing unknown punishments upon her return. As she was lost in thought, a man suddenly said, “Miss, why aren’t you heading home at this late hour?” Qingqing, startled, looked up to see two men on horseback not far from her side. Since the place was covered with grass, she hadn’t heard the sound of hooves. The man who spoke was slightly in front, dressed in fine clothes, his voice loud and clear, his demeanor spirited. He was only sixteen or seventeen, with sharp brows and bright eyes, red lips and white teeth, handsome yet possessing a noble and imposing air that made one dare not look directly at him.