The first half of the winter break was perfectly fine.
Every day, He Yao finished the assignments Zhan Jingrui gave her, reviewed her studies, and submitted her homework for Zhan Jingrui to correct. They would chat occasionally, eat meals, and sleep.
Her life was fulfilling and regular.
Until the morning of New Year's Eve, when she went grocery shopping at the supermarket.
Less than ten minutes after entering the supermarket, she ran into He Chuan, who was also shopping with a girl.
After a long time, their eyes met, and both were stunned.
After a two-second reaction, He Yao turned and ran. He Chuan hurriedly settled his girlfriend and then shamelessly followed her.
"Stop!"
"My mom said you had a falling out with the family and moved out of your mother's place, not only blocking her number but also threatening to never let her manage you again. I thought you'd be living miserably, but I didn't expect you to become more radiant."
"Good for you, He Yao. It's true that being beautiful is a great advantage. Honestly, tell your brother, have you met someone rich?"
He Yao broke free from his hand and glanced at the girl watching them from afar behind him. She thought, "How blind can someone be to fall for this kind of trash?"
"What business is it of yours? My mother doesn't care about me, so why should I report to you?"
He Chuan had been scheming since he was young. He knew He Yao was fostered in his home and had no one to back her up, so he always found ways to exploit her.
He was instrumental in developing He Yao's current gloomy and volatile temper.
They had fought since childhood and were accustomed to speaking to each other without courtesy.
"Hey, you little brat, you've changed since you found someone rich. You're talking back to me more and more!"
"Who wants to bother with you? If it weren't for your mom constantly calling my dad to complain..."
He Yao had no patience to listen to his nonsense and interrupted him.
"I don't have time to listen to your nonsense. I don't believe you have such good intentions to care about me. It's better if we draw a clear line between us from now on and pretend not to know each other."
"You don't have to repay the money you owe me anymore, He Chuan. Stay away from me."
After saying that, she tried to leave. He Chuan, in a fit of anger, blocked her path.
"How dare you talk to me about money, you ungrateful white-eyed wolf!"
"Let me ask you, when other people's relatives get promoted or become wealthy, don't they bring their own family along? What about you? Huh? At least I was raised by my parents since I was little. I'm not asking you to..."
He Yao knew that all this talk, no matter how grand it sounded, was simply because he was short of money and wanted to extort some from her.
She would not satisfy him.
He Chuan was a bottomless pit without conscience or shame.
His uncle and aunt's doting love had spoiled him to the point where he had lost the value of living.
If you give him money, there will be a first time, a second, and countless more. She wasn't that kind-hearted, nor did she have the ability to indulge him forever.
"What happened between your parents and my mother has nothing to do with me. They will settle their own accounts; you don't need to keep reminding me."
"I don't have money, and even if I did, I wouldn't give it to you. Move aside."
He Chuan had recently found a girlfriend, and their dates were too expensive. He could no longer find an excuse to ask his family for pocket money.
After all, it was the New Year. His girlfriend had come all the way out to wander around the supermarket with him for half an hour without buying anything. It was awkward. Then he saw the radiant He Yao.
Could he let her go so easily?
With a "clang," he grabbed her shopping cart and smiled sinisterly.
"Are you going to be tough with me? Since childhood, have you ever gotten anything I wanted away from me? He Yao, don't be ungrateful."
"Since I'm in a good mood now, obediently transfer 500 yuan to me. Otherwise, if I get angry, even a thousand won't save you!"
A clown.
Every time He Yao faced him, she couldn't help but ask heaven what kind of sin she had committed in her past life to encounter such family members in this one.
She was a girl too, and he was extorting her money to spend on another girl... The difference between people was too great.
She released the shopping cart and pushed it towards him: "If you can't save me, then so be it. I'll wait for you to deal with me. Use all your might."
After saying that, she walked around the shopping cart, preparing to quickly avoid him and leave the supermarket.
However, she still underestimated He Chuan's perversity.
Failing to get money and being humiliated by He Yao, he became furious and violently rammed the shopping cart into He Yao's back.
He Yao fell to the ground, her head ringing, and stars swam before her eyes.
Other customers, seeing her conflict with He Chuan, came to help her up and asked if she was alright and if they should call security. He Yao thought about it and decided against it.
After all, it was the New Year.
He was also the only son of her aunt and uncle.
"It's nothing. He's my brother, and we were joking around and got carried away."
On New Year's Eve, He Yao didn't eat.
Firstly, there was no food at home. Secondly, her left shoulder and head hurt from the fall that day, and she didn't want to move.
She slept until almost midnight. Zhan Jingrui called her. Hearing her groggy voice, he felt heartbroken.
"Why are you sleeping so early? Are you too bored being alone?"
"It's alright."
"Alright means you don't need me. It seems I was overthinking."
The little playful affections between couples were to act spoiled and say things they didn't mean. Zhan Jingrui had learned this quickly without a teacher.
He Yao coaxed him with a smile: "No, I didn't want you to worry. It is indeed quite boring."
"Then I'll come back earlier to accompany you."
"Can you?"
"If you want me to, I can."
"Then come back a week earlier."
"Okay."
After the two finished their call, He Yao couldn't fall asleep. Perhaps it was due to the fall today, but she felt very nauseous.
Tossing and turning for most of the night, He Yao finally fell into a dazed sleep as dawn approached.
She slept until nearly noon. As soon as He Yao got out of bed, she heard the sound of an urgent doorbell ringing outside.
Besides Zhan Jingrui, no one else had ever come to this house.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, who would come to her home?
Could it be that she told Zhan Jingrui she missed him last night, and he rushed back today?
He Yao suppressed the excitement in her heart and opened the door a crack. Before she could even see who was outside, the door was pushed open with a great force.
Her uncle, aunt, He Chuan, her mother, and that man, all with grim expressions and an imposing aura, barged in.
Needless to say, it must have been He Chuan's doing. She hadn't expected him to follow her yesterday!
Before He Yao could say anything, her mother raised her hand and slapped her.
Her uncle and aunt walked around the room, sizing up the layout, and exclaimed.
"Oh my god. A mere girl, just by being pretty, is doing better than us who have worked hard for half our lives!"
"Living in such a nice house, using such good appliances. No wonder she didn't want to come home. She's too amazing..."
"Sister, I'm not saying this to criticize you, but your heart as a mother is too big. You let her not come back and don't even visit her at school. Look at her now..."
He Yao's mother, looking furious, pointed at her nose.
"Who is that man? Where is he now? What's your relationship with him? Speak!"
"He Yao, He Yao, I worked so hard to raise you, and you... Where is he? Make him get out here!"