I spent seven years being utterly devoted to Chu Heng, to the point where his friends called me pathetic.

Yet, he turned around and ended up with my younger sister.

To prevent me from disrupting their relationship, my parents sent me to a rehabilitation center.

I became what they wanted me to be, but it drove them crazy.

I was deeply in love with Chu Heng.

For him, I was fiercely possessive, chasing away any woman daring to approach him.

But I never imagined he would choose my sister.

My sister had always liked to take things from me since childhood, and this time, she took Chu Heng.

At the banquet, seeing Qu Yan nestled in his arms, apologizing to me with a pitiful look, claiming she just loved Chu Heng too much, I lost it.

I fought back my heartbreak and tried to pull her away from Chu Heng.

She, however, deliberately leaned over, knocking into a wine tower, hitting her head on the table, and blood poured out.

She feigned innocence, saying, "Don't blame sister; she must have done it accidentally."

A taunting smile flashed across her lips before she passed out.

Chu Heng pushed me to the ground, calling me cruel-hearted.

My parents slapped me, calling me a beast for harming my own sister.

In their anger, they sent me to a rehabilitation center.

Just out of the center, I saw a familiar car.

It was Chu Heng's.

In the past, I would have been overjoyed to get in, taking it as proof of his love for me.

But now, I felt a chill all over, not daring to look, and turned away.

The horn blared impatiently, and Chu Heng leaned out of the window, calling me.

"Get in."

I silently complied, avoiding his probing gaze.

Catching a glimpse of his profile, a wave of nausea hit me.

Chu Heng once said he felt like vomiting at the sight of my face.

Now, it was me who felt like vomiting at the sight of his.

Chu Heng's expression was strange, but he said nothing more, only showing deeper displeasure in his furrowed brows.

He took me back home.

Today was my father's fiftieth birthday, and Chu Heng sternly warned me not to embarrass my father again, speaking as if he were the son instead of me.

Mentioning Qu Yan, he awkwardly twisted his knuckles, a ring glinting there.

I remained silent, not a hint of curiosity.

He angrily grabbed my chin, forcing me to face him.

Unable to resist his strength, I gagged a few times.

Chu Heng immediately released me in disgust.

"Don't think about ruining my relationship with Yan Yan again, or I won't let you off."

I gave a bitter smile. What could be more terrifying than these past three years?

Seeing Chu Heng's disgusted expression now, I felt a strange sense of relief.

I truly didn't want to be entangled with him anymore.

Returning to the Qu family, the once lively and festive atmosphere was gone, with everyone frozen in place as if paused.

Their eyes held awkwardness, disdain, and mostly a sense of astonishment at seeing an outsider.

Indeed, anyone would find my current appearance odd.

In the sweltering summer, I was wrapped tightly in long sleeves, only my face and hands exposed, looking like someone attending a funeral.

This appearance was naturally out of place at such a high-society banquet.

Even my parents showed no warmth when they looked at me.

In front of everyone, I reflexively knelt on the ground, showing utmost respect.

When I raised my head, the bruises were clearly visible.

The teachers had said that our bodies and skin are gifts from our parents; they are our lifelong support and deserve the utmost respect.

Therefore, when meeting parents, one should show utmost respect.

"Father, Mother, your unworthy daughter has returned."

I tearfully expressed heartfelt gratitude and regret for past actions.

I watched as my parents' expressions shifted from awkwardness to relief.

"Admitting and correcting mistakes makes a good child."

Qu Yan, like a little princess, clung to Chu Heng, looking at me with a gaze full of sisterly affection.

"Sister, let bygones be bygones."

Everyone's eyes were on me, waiting to see if I would lose it.

But I didn't even glance at Chu Heng, nodding gratefully, "We're all family. Family unity leads to happiness."

For the past three years, this phrase was like scripture, repeated over and over in my mind.

That evening, Chu Heng dropped me off at my former apartment.

After I turned eighteen, my parents kicked me out, and I had no choice but to live alone in this old, shabby place.

The hallway light had been broken for ages.

I used to be afraid of the dark, but having faced far scarier things, even the darkness now felt oddly comforting.

Dust covered the furniture, and the old wooden floorboards creaked with every step.

Chu Heng looked around with an exasperated look. "Are you really going to live here?" he asked.

I nodded.

Where else could I go?

Before I was sent to the rehabilitation center, my parents had taken all my money.

I found an old piece of clothing and started cleaning the room, stirring up a storm of dust.

Chu Heng couldn't stand it any longer. With a grimace, he pulled me back to the car.

He drove off in silence.

I fastened my seatbelt, curling up in the passenger seat, and asked, trembling, "W-where are you taking me?"

The car sped through the city, taking us to his private apartment.

"I'll have someone clean up the place. You can stay here for now, " he said.

I gave him a polite nod of thanks, though I still avoided looking at him.

He ruffled his hair in frustration, grabbed my chin, and forced me to meet his gaze.

I struggled to look away.

"Why won't you look at me?" he demanded.

I gritted my teeth. "It makes me nauseous."

"Nauseous?" Chu Heng said through clenched teeth. "Funny how you weren't so sick of me when you were the one pursuing me.

Is this another one of your games?"

I shook my head with difficulty. "I don't dare to anymore. I only see you as family now."

"Family?" he scoffed, looking me up and down. "You better mean it."

He didn't seem to believe me.

Once he let go, I quickly stepped back, putting some distance between us.

That night, I had a nightmare.

In it, countless versions of Chu Heng surrounded me, prying my mouth open and forcing me to swallow wriggling, live worms.

I retched, desperately trying to throw up, but only managed to spit out half.

The other half slid down my throat, writhing and multiplying in my stomach.

The next day, I asked Chu Heng to drop me off in the city center.

I barely had time to steady myself before he drove off.

Staring at the job posting outside a café, I hesitated.

Without money, I couldn't get by.

But I was without a degree or any work experience—would anyone hire me?

I hadn't even graduated college when they sent me away.

A staff member at the door noticed me eyeing the job ad and approached. "Are you here for the job?" she asked.

I nodded.

She led me to the manager, who didn't make things difficult. He asked me a few basic questions and told me to start work the next day.

The monthly salary was four thousand, with the trial period at thirty-two hundred. It wasn't much, but it was enough to live on.

I planned to work while studying, hoping to finish my degree someday.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I asked the manager if I could get a five hundred advance. He agreed without hesitation.

I had asked my parents for money before, but they always insisted I learn to support myself and not rely on them.

Yet Qu Yan received tens of thousands in monthly allowances.

Lost in thought, I wandered down the street, not noticing a child running toward me.

He knocked me down, and my knee hit the ground hard.

The child's mother arrived and immediately started blaming me, saying I should have watched where I was going, accusing me of trying to extort them.

As more people gathered, I felt like I was back in the camp, surrounded by those who pulled my hair and forced me to drink filthy water.

I broke out in a cold sweat and couldn't even speak to defend myself.

Just then, a warm hand rested on my shoulder.

I looked up into a pair of caring eyes.

"Are you alright?"

The gentle voice of a young man eased some of the shadows in my heart. I shook my head and, with his help, got to my feet.

"Ma'am, it was clearly your son who ran into her. Instead of teaching your child, you're blaming an innocent bystander, " he said.

The woman's face turned red and white with anger. "You're lying!" she shouted.

The young man raised his camera. "It's all recorded here. Shall we call the police?"

Grumbling, the woman grabbed her child and left.

I thanked him gratefully, learning through our conversation that his name was Shi Luo, and he was a journalist.

When I returned home, I saw the house had already been tidied up.

Chu Heng was sitting on the couch, looking quite displeased.

"Where have you been? Coming back so late?"

"Looking for a job."

"A job? Do you think I can't support you?"

He naturally assumed ownership of me, his eyes full of disdain.

Suddenly, his expression changed as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me onto the couch. "Who did this?"

Following his gaze, I noticed the wound on my knee had reopened, blood trickling down.

I hadn't felt it, having grown numb to pain after enduring far worse in the past three years.

There was a ripping sound.

The fabric on my knee was torn apart, some of it sticking to the blood, pulling at my skin.

Instinctively, I reached out to stop him.

"Mr. Chu, men and women should keep their distance."

"Now you act all shy? You weren't so reserved when you were running after me."

Chu Heng inhaled sharply, his eyes fixated on the scars crisscrossing my wrist—some deep, some shallow, some new, some old.

With a trembling voice, he asked, "What is this? Are you trying to manipulate me?"

I wouldn't dare.

I value my life.

If Chu Heng were to send me back for another three years, I might not survive.

I lowered my head, hiding my wrist in my sleeve.

"Mr. Chu, don't joke around. I see you only as my sister's fiancé now."

He let out a derisive laugh, though his eyes seemed conflicted.

"It's getting late, Mr. Chu. You should head back."

"Hmph." With a cold snort, Chu Heng left.

I was left fretting over my torn pants.

They were my only pair.

After sitting for a while, I felt a bit hungry and decided to make some instant noodles.

But then Chu Heng returned.

Was he not done mocking me?

"You're eating this?"

He tossed my noodles into the trash.

"How pitiful."

A black bag landed in front of me. I opened it to find several new outfits.

I figured he was just being nice to his fiancée's sister.

I obediently changed into them.

He pulled me back onto the couch and began treating my wounds.

The alcohol stung fiercely against the cut, but I endured it all.Despite his disdain, there was an undeniable care in his actions.

"You don't feel pain?" he asked, surprised. Three years ago, I would have cried to him over the slightest pain.

"Even if it hurts, I can't cry out."

"Why not?"

"No reason. That's just what the mentor said."

Chu Heng was silent for a moment. "You really listen, don't you?"

Of course, the cost of disobedience was something I couldn't afford.

"What cost? What cost?"

I had accidentally spoken my thoughts out loud.

"Nothing."

I quickly pulled down my pant leg, not wanting to recall those memories.

Chu Heng, not satisfied with my answer, asked again, "What exactly is the cost?"

Seeing my silence, he suddenly asked, "Why do you always wear long sleeves?"