It was another July day. The heat was so intense that no one wanted to leave the fan or go out into the sun.
" But even in this scorching heat, no one was present in the Liu family's luxurious home except Liu Yifei . Despite having such a large house, the Liu family only had one maid, who occasionally helped Liu Yifei with her chores. Because the Liu family was very frugal, they wouldn't have to pay the maid much if they didn't make her work too much.
Liu Yifei came back from doing laundry, her cheeks were red and drenched in sweat from the sun. Although her skin was slightly darker than the average person in China, but working and going out in the harsh sun all the time had made her complexion even darker.
"In a way, Liu Yifei was the least beautiful in the Liu family, and even her step-siblings often bullied her for this reason.
Liu Yifei was about to go to the kitchen to finish her chores when suddenly the extra phone in the living room started ringing. Liu Yifei quickly went to the phone and received the call. It was from her stepmother.
"Hello?" it's me." Liu Yifei said, her voice tight with discomfort.
"Where the hell were you?" Li Mengya said sharply.
""Does it really take this long to answer a call?" or were you ignoring me on purpose?"
Hearing her stepmother's shrill voice, she bit her lip and tried to stammer out something, but she couldn't answer her.
Seeing no sound from Liu Yifei, Li Mengya's blood boiled and she angrily shouted into the phone.
"You useless girl," Li Mengya hissed.
"Do you actually think you can ignore me?"
"I'll deal with you when I get home."
"No, no Aunt… please, I wasn't ignoring you," Liu Yifei said, her voice shaking with fear.
She has been through a lot of physical abuse, so she is absolutely confident that her stepmother does whatever she says.
Hearing her frightened voice, Li Mengya's face flashed with a proud and triumphant smile.
"So you've finally come back to your senses," her voice remained calm, almost patient.
"Now listen to me carefully."
"We are reaching home in 3 hours. Get all the best things ready for lunch. We have a guest with us, so don't disappoint me."
With that, Li Mengya immediately disconnected the call without hearing Liu Yifei's reply.
Liu Yifei sighed with relief as she placed the phone back on the living room table where it had been before.
This phone is kept at home so that in case of emergency, the family can be contacted as Liu Yifei does not have her own phone.
Although Liu Yifei is the eldest daughter of the Liu family, she does not have a phone while her half-siblings have their own phones. Her father refused to buy her a phone because he said it was expensive.
Without further ado, Liu Yifei immediately headed to the kitchen. She then instructed the maid, who was already working in the kitchen, what she needed to do, and she began preparing the food.
She has been cooking since a very young age, so she is very good at cooking.
"Time skips."
Liu Yifei was done with all his work and had almost finished decorating the dining table.
Her clothes were drenched with sweat and her neatly tied hair was just beginning to fall on his face. The sweat was making her clothes stick to her and she felt like she should go and take a good bath and clean herself up. She was feeling tired. It was 2pm and she hadn't had time to sit down since morning.
She was on her way back to the kitchen when "The doorbell rang impatiently.
She paused for a moment when she heard the doorbell, but as soon as she realized it, she immediately ran to open the door.
But the person standing at the door was impatient, so the person pressed the doorbell again, harder this time.
As soon as Liu Yifei hurriedly opened the door, standing in front of her was her stepmother, Li Mengya.
You only have 10 minutes, so get ready quickly and come for lunch.
Li Mengya hurriedly handed a bag to Liu Yifei and said
Liu Yifei didn't understand anything, but she took the branded bag in her hands and headed towards her room so that she could quickly complete the order given by her stepmother.
Liu Yifei entered her room, her heart skipping a beat as she glanced at the branded bag she was holding. When she peeked inside, disbelief washed over her.
These were clothes she had only seen from a distance, never touched, never held.
Wearing them felt like a dream far beyond her reach.
She had no idea what her stepmother's intention was in giving her those clothes.
Yet she knew one thing
" she could not refuse her order."
Within ten minutes, Liu Yifei was ready.
The moment she looked at herself, discomfort crept in. The dress felt far too short, clinging to her in ways she wasn't used to. She had never worn anything this revealing before.
Even the color didn't suit her. it looked wrong against her skin, as if it didn't belong to her at all. She didn't dwell on it for long. The awkwardness sat heavy in her chest, but she pushed it aside.
Gathering her courage, Liu Yifei stepped out and walked toward the dining area.
The moment she stepped into the dining area, Liu Yifei came to a halt.
The long dining table was already full,,, crowded with people who were family only in name. Faces she lived among, yet never truly belonged to.
But her attention soon shifted.
Her gaze lingered on two unfamiliar figures seated among them. Were these the guests her stepmother had mentioned?
As her eyes settled on one of them, recognition flickered through her. She knew that person. Nearly a month ago, she had helped the elderly woman without expecting anything in return.
She hadn't imagined she would ever see her again, least of all here.
She was still standing there when, all of a sudden, her stepmother called out to her.
"Fei Fei," she said sweetly, her voice almost affectionate. "Why are you still standing there? Come here. Look who has come to see you today."
The moment Liu Yifei heard that sugary, pleasant tone, a jolt ran through her.
It felt as if every hair on her body stood on end. The sweetness in her stepmother's words didn't comfort her, it unsettled her. Beneath that gentle tone, she could sense something calculating, something false.
Still, she kept her composure. She didn't react too strongly.
Instead, she played along with her stepmother's act, stepping forward calmly.
After all, she wanted to know the truth" what had caused this sudden change in her stepmother's behavior.
By now, everyone's attention had shifted to Liu Yifei. Even her father was looking at her, a smile resting on his face" a smile that appeared gentle to others, but felt painfully artificial to her.
No one else noticed it. Only Liu Yifei could recognize that practiced, hollow expression.
Before she could take in the faces around the table, a voice suddenly reached her ears... warm, affectionate, calling her gently.
She froze.
It was none other than the same elderly woman, the elderly woman Liu Yifei had helped before, now unexpectedly a guest in her home. Looking at Liu Yifei with soft eyes, the old woman spoke.
"Come, child, Liu Yifei. Sit down and have lunch with us."
As she said this, the woman rose from her seat, took Liu Yifei's hand, and gently guided her toward the empty chair beside her, urging her to sit.