Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“Compared to me, they seem to like you better as their child.”

I said, “Just to get you to come see me, they were even willing to say something like I enjoy celebrating my birthday.”

He pressed his lips together, as if he had understood something.

“…I’m sorry.

“Your mother said you two had just had a normal argument. I thought you would want to mend your relationship with them.”

He said softly, “I won’t do this again.”

He still didn’t take back the small box in his hand.

“This gift is something I wanted to give you. I wove this safety pendant myself. I wanted to give it to you and wish you a happy birthday.”

I didn’t take it.

“I don’t want it. Leave.”

Very seriously, I told him once again, “Lin Yu, I hate you. I really hate you.

“Please don’t come and disturb my life again.”

That birthday passed without a ripple.

I’d originally prepared six candles. After lighting the third one, I suddenly felt tired.

I looked up and swept my gaze around the empty apartment. Even though I’d deliberately decorated it in warm orange tones, it couldn’t hide the stillness.

It felt a little pointless.

So I simply blew out the three candles I’d lit, threw them into the trash, and used a fork to put a bite of cream into my mouth.

The sweetness was soft and rich, and my mood improved a little with it.

I cut a small piece of cake, opened a bottle of Coke, and curled up on the sofa to watch the replay of last night’s Spring Festival Gala.

The skit wasn’t particularly interesting. I had just decided to switch to a movie when I received a call from an unknown number.

I picked up.

It was Lin Yu’s mother.

At first, she asked me in a gentle tone how I was doing. She said a lot, so much that I grew impatient.

“Auntie, what exactly do you need?”

She gave a little laugh and said, “Lulu, I didn’t know Lin Yu went to meet you for a blind date this time. But his advisor told me he was planning to introduce him to an academician’s granddaughter.

“Your circumstances are far too lacking. Our family could never accept a daughter-in-law like you… Lulu, even if Lin Yu came to you on his own, don’t get any other ideas. Do you understand?”

I was silent for a moment, then found it absurd.

“So instead of managing your own son, you came to warn me not to get delusional?”

She smiled. “Our Lin Yu is a genius, while you… Heh. Lulu, I’m only saying this for your own good.”

“Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to lecture me?”

I sat up and cursed at her coldly.

“I call you Auntie, and you really think you’re my elder? I don’t even listen to my own parents. What the hell are you supposed to be?”

After saying that, I hung up.

I was still furious.

I raked a hand through my hair, took Lin Yu out of my blacklist, and called him.

The anger that had been building since yesterday surged up, and I tore into him the moment the call connected.

“Are you insane? Is your whole family insane?

“You show up out of nowhere just to humiliate me? Do I look that cheap to you?

“You people…”

I kept cursing nonstop for a long time. Only when I finally felt like I’d vented enough did I shut my mouth and pick up the Coke beside me for a couple of sips.

Only then did I hear Lin Yu’s voice.

“I’m sorry, I…”

Before he could finish, I ended the call and blocked his number again.

I felt much better.

Going crazy really did feel great.

Three years ago, when I had just arrived in this city, I went to the most famous temple here, knelt before the Buddha, and swore an oath.

“From now on, I will never let myself suffer in silence again.”

I had suffered too many grievances before. I had had enough.

Now, even if it killed me, I would never let myself be bullied again.

My iPad had gone untouched for too long, and the screen had gone dark, pitch-black, reflecting my expressionless face.

Looking at that face that resembled my mother’s so much, I gave a mocking smile.

I no longer cared about even my biological parents.

In this world, who else could make me bow my head?