My family has one enormous, very public secret.
Ever since she was born, my mother has been bound to a system: the Beauty System.
Apparently, if she ever drops out of the top three on the Beauty Ranking of the Four Seas and Eight Realms, she will die.
At first, neither of my parents was remotely worried.
With Mother’s looks, holding her place for another few hundred thousand years would be no trouble at all.
But sometimes the unexpected arrives without the slightest warning.
When my parents joyfully welcomed their first child, a floating Beauty Ranking of the Four Seas and Eight Realms appeared out of thin air beside the bed.
And there, in first place, was my eldest brother, whose name had only just been decided: Zhou Yi.
My parents were a little bewildered, but didn’t think much of it.
Until they had their second child.
My parents and big brother once again greeted the new baby with delight.
Once again, the ranking appeared in midair.
First place changed hands again.
It now belonged to my elder sister, Zhou Er.
That was when Father panicked.
He moved out of their bedroom that very night.
For several years afterward, he didn’t dare set so much as one foot inside after sunset.
Every evening, they would hold hands in the corridor, gazing at each other as they lingered over their farewell.
Then my brother and sister would each take one of them by the hand and escort them to their separate rooms, with my parents looking back every few steps.
They pined so badly their eyes practically glowed green, but at least Mother’s life was safe.
