Chapter 5
College life was better than I imagined.
I joined the university math competition club and met Xu Hengjing, a senior two years ahead.
He was upright and gentle, completely unlike me, who lived in the shadows like a rat.
He drew me in like the sun; I couldn’t help but approach.
I liked him.
Coincidentally, he liked me too.
On a sunny afternoon, he held a bouquet and confessed.
Around us were classmates he’d enlisted to help.
They cheered and blessed us.
Xu Hengjing kissed the back of my hand lightly.
The young man smiled boldly and radiantly.
Looking at the mole by his eye, my heart softened unbelievably.
Such a beautiful life—I had it briefly.
For the first college break, Qin Ziyao didn’t return.
She went to Iceland to see the northern lights.
He Shu said nothing, but I could tell she was unhappy.
I’d noticed early on He Shu’s favoritism toward Qin Yu.
She already favored sons over daughters, and with Qin Yu’s leukemia,
She valued this son above all.
So Qin Ziyao not returning to visit Qin Yu upset her.
She was aging, her hair graying from worry.
Years of surgeries had made her sensitive and irritable.
The day before New Year’s, Qin Yu’s condition suddenly worsened; he entered the emergency room.
Qin Yuanhang was out of town and couldn’t return; the servants were busy at the old house for the holiday.
In the hospital, it was just me and He Shu.
Outside the operating room, He Shu clutched my hand tightly, staring unblinkingly at the doors.
In that moment, I, the illegitimate daughter, became her only comfort.
Thankfully, it was a false alarm.
Qin Yu was saved.
The joy of regaining what was lost made her forget everything; she hugged me and sobbed.
She cried, and I cried too.
I said: “Draw my bone marrow again. I’ll do anything to make Brother better.”
She patted my head: “Silly child, this illness isn’t that simple.”
After that rescue, He Shu feared losing Qin Yu even more.
She moved everything from home to the hospital, even the prayer room.
She ate only vegetarian to pray for Qin Yu; I joined her.
Gradually, she became extreme, arguing with Qin Yuanhang after just a few words.
Qin Yuanhang’s company was busy, and I knew he had more than one mistress outside.
A chronically ill son and a deranged wife frustrated him.
His absence during this rescue ignited their conflicts completely.