Dong Qin frowned, showing impatience, “I don’t like being lectured.” She put on a shirt, stood up with bare legs, and took a sip of cola from a bottle. Zuo Shaoqing squinted at the delicate curves of her daughter’s neck and back; Dong Qin was a beauty, just like her younger self. However, she lacked the haughty charm she had in her youth. Dong Qin had a standard oval face, thick bangs, and long eyelashes, like an Eastern version of a Barbie doll, beautiful yet sweet.
“Dong Qin,” Zuo Shaoqing extinguished her cigar, “The driver will pick you up tomorrow. Stop fooling around. If you really can’t help it, I’ll introduce you to some young men from wealthy families. If you want to play, at least play with someone of a higher class.” She stood up, “I’m leaving. I don’t want to see anything from this dump in Jinghao Lu’s house. See you tomorrow.”
Dong Qin leaned against the wall, watching her mother’s luxurious silhouette disappear behind the door. She suddenly felt almost suffocated; the harsh sun outside could not penetrate the dark, terrifying room. In a daze, she seemed to hear her cries from three years ago. Don’t, don’t leave me here alone. Someone, save me… anyone… But no one answered her, no one saved her. She gripped the cola bottle tightly, feeling utterly exhausted, wishing to sleep forever, seeing no light of tomorrow.
The Nightmare
The next day, the driver came early in the morning, knocking loudly. Upon seeing Dong Qin, he only gave a slight nod, then picked up her small suitcase and placed it in the luxurious black Mercedes. Dong Qin felt that he barely looked at her, his respectful demeanor tinged with disdain. What, looking down on the mistress’s child? She smiled silently, growing even more silent. It seemed her mother wasn’t as well-off in the Lu family as she claimed. At least, even a driver could openly despise her, and by extension, despise herself.
“Don’t go through the garden road, take the lakeside route,” she instructed indifferently after getting into the car.
“Sorry, the madam instructed me to get the young lady home as quickly as possible,” the driver politely declined, maintaining his composure.
