I had been born with little feeling for others.
When Mother struck me with a ruler for my sister’s sake, I did not shed a tear.
When my brother threw out the cat I had raised, I did not plead with him.
When the childhood friend I had grown up with asked for my sister’s hand, I calmly wished them well.
Without attachment, there could be no hurt.
I was content that way.
But I married a man who clung to me and loved me alone.
Xie Fuyu liked making me laugh, watching ripples disturb my expressionless face.
He taught me to hold on to the things I cared about.
So I began to fight for his love.
I would not let him go to wine houses or spare another woman so much as a glance.
Until my sister fell into the water and miscarried, and I would not let him go to help.
With a trace of disappointment, he snapped, “Meng Shiying, you never used to be this petty.”
Before long, he tired of me and took several aloof, quiet women as concubines.
Every one of them looked so much like the girl I had been.
I fought for half my life, and none of it brought me a good ending.
Then I was reborn on the day Mother arranged my marriage.
I bowed my head.
“Mother… the third young master of the Xie family and I are not suited.”
