Chapter 1: Chapter 1 When he was cremating his daughter, he was celebrating the birthday of his son who was like the white moonlight. Chapter 1: Chapter 1 When he was cremating his daughter, he was celebrating the birthday of his son who was like the white moonlight. As per the rules, relatives are not allowed to witness the cremation at the Crematorium.
Lin Zhiyi paid a fee and, supporting herself on the icy iron-framed bed, entered the incineration chamber.
There was a scorching sensation in the air and ashes flying in the sunlight.
Perhaps it was cremains.
Soon, her precious baby would become just like that.
Lin Zhiyi, dressed in a black gown, the smallest size unable to conceal her withered form.
A pair of eyes, red and swollen from crying, were, however, unusually calm at this moment.
She reached out to touch the pale, rigid little hand under the white cloth and placed two pink origami stars in her daughter’s palm.
“Xingxing, wait for mommy.”
The staff member stepped forward to pull Lin Zhiyi away and lifted the white cloth, revealing Xingxing’s face.
Already eight years old, yet still small and skinny, her clearly defined ribs receding into a hollow at the bottom.
Staring at the hollow, tears once again welled up in Lin Zhiyi’s eyes.
It was she who had failed to protect Xingxing!
The staff member said softly in an attempt to console her, “Please accept my condolences. At least after your daughter’s passing, her kidneys saved another child, who will live happily in her stead.”
A trace of cold disdain flashed in Lin Zhiyi’s eyes as she let out a sarcastic laugh.
“Yes, that child is my husband’s illegitimate son, and right now, their family of three is throwing a grand birthday party for him. Do you know? Today is also my daughter’s birthday.”
The staff member was taken aback, completely at a loss as to how to comfort the woman in utter despair before him.
Lin Zhiyi looked at Xingxing and smiled bleakly, “Go ahead and burn her, don’t miss the auspicious time, I hope my daughter finds a better family in her next life.”
The staff member sighed softly, shaking his head as he moved the body to the front of the incinerator.
Perhaps out of sympathy, he shielded the process.
However, Lin Zhiyi was not afraid at all because Xingxing was finally free.
No longer would she be despised by her father every day.
“Mommy, why doesn’t daddy like me?”
“Mommy, why does daddy like Aunt Song’s son?”
“Mommy, does daddy dislike you because of me? I’m sorry, mommy.”
Such a good daughter of hers!
And to think Gong Chen had her killed!
He had promised to take his daughter to the largest amusement park on the eve of her birthday, fulfilling her long-cherished birthday wish to spend time alone with her father.
But he turned around and pushed his daughter into the surgery room to a kidney for his son.
Then he left her to die alone infected on the hospital bed.
And Lin Zhiyi, the mother, was the last to know!
She could never forget rushing into the ward to see her daughter’s rigid corpse.
And the child’s bloodstained watch still ridiculously dialing her father’s number on the bedside.
After the call connected, only one sentence came from the other side.
“Don’t go crazy like your mother.”
Listening to the busy tone, Lin Zhiyi clung to her daughter, fighting back tears for fear of scaring her precious baby.
In fact, from the moment Song Wanqiu returned to the country with her child, accusing Lin Zhiyi of persecuting them mother and son, Gong Chen had forced her into the well-known role of the madwoman.
Especially when Gong Chen saw them mother and child ー Song Wanqiu crying about giving birth to a premature child with kidney problems abroad ー the way he looked at them.
Such a refined man, yet so incredibly harsh.Disregarding her explanations, he still cursed, “Lin Zhiyi, you’ve harmed Wanqiu and my son; I will make you pay back double.”
Gong Chen did as he vowed, and everything should have ended now.
When Lin Zhiyi came back to her senses, she held a pink funeral urn in her hand.
She clutched the urn tightly, “Xingxing, we’re going home.”
The wind lifted the hem of the woman’s gown, and under the sunlight, it was so desolately poignant.
Lin Zhiyi returned to the marital room she shared with Gong Chen, organized her daughter’s belongings, and then sat holding the urn until evening.
There was the sound of a car stopping outside.
Afterward, a black figure, sharp and composed, entered.
Eight years had gone by, but he was still as charismatic and forbidding as the first time she’d seen him.
He still ignored her.
Gong Chen didn’t look at her as he passed by and went upstairs.
A few minutes later, when he came back downstairs, he had changed into a suit he’d treasured for many years.
That was the suit he wore when he and Song Wanqiu got engaged, designed especially for him by Song Wanqiu.
Gong Chen still didn’t look at Lin Zhiyi.
For eight years, he had continuously given her the cold shoulder .
When he thought about tormenting her, he would press her onto the bed, and after venting, leave without turning his head.
He even forbade Xingxing from calling him Dad.
Perhaps Lin Zhiyi was too quiet today, Gong Chen paused in his steps, but he didn’t turn back.
“I won’t be back tonight, tell Xingxing not to call me for no reason.”
Lin Zhiyi touched the urn in her arms as if she could still feel Xingxing’s warmth.
If he had looked at her for just one second, even a second, he might have noticed the urn.
Gong Chen was arranging his cufflinks, saying coldly, “Think about what you want for the divorce, we’ll finalize the procedures in a few days. I don’t want the child.”
Lin Zhiyi remained calm.
At least, Xingxing would belong only to her from now on.
Gong Chen’s hand hesitated, but he still didn’t pay any attention to Lin Zhiyi.
“In light of Xingxing saving Sichen, I will take care of all subsequent medical and nutritional expenses. But I don’t want to see you again. Consider this your last atonement.”
Lin Zhiyi thought to herself that indeed she wouldn’t see them again very soon.
Gong Chen felt inexplicably irritated. As he was about to turn away, the call from Song Wanqiu came.
Upon answering, the peaceful room was filled with the sound of a child’s excited shouting from the other end of the phone.
“Daddy! Come quickly! Mom and I are waiting for you.”
Gong Chen’s voice rose, unconsciously quickening his pace.
He completely failed to notice the woman behind him clutching something tightly in her arms, becoming progressively more rigid.
Lin Zhiyi took out the cake she had ordered for Xingxing from the fridge earlier.
She lit the birthday candles.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…”
She sang, while spilling gasoline around her, from upstairs to downstairs, not sparing any corner.
For she had no intention of sparing herself.
If only she had been stronger and refused to marry Gong Chen…
None of this would have happened.
After everything was prepared, she sat back at the dining table holding the urn.
“Xingxing, happy birthday, wait for Mommy.”
Lin Zhiyi threw the birthday candle toward the curtain…
Gong Chen made a high-profile entrance with Song Wanqiu and her son.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, everyone praised the happiness of the trio, and there were plenty who denigrated Lin Zhiyi.
The only exception was a doctor friend of Gong Chen’s, who frowned and hurried over to him.
“Third Young Master, I’m sorry, please accept my condolences.”
“Your daughter… she died from a postoperative infection, Mrs. Gong took her to the Crematorium today.”
“How much did Lin Zhiyi pay you?” Gong Chen asked, expressionless, as he took a sip of his drink.
“Haven’t I already sent you the death certificate? You said you received it.”
At that, Song Wanqiu nervously tightened her grip on her son’s hand.
Then, Gong Chen’s phone rang.
“Third Young Master, the mansion is on fire.”
Gong Chen’s glass fell to the floor with a crash, and he turned to leave.
He didn’t know how he managed to speed to the mansion, but upon arrival, he found the house ablaze, as if something had pierced his heart.
The curtains fell away, revealing Lin Zhiyi sitting in front of the birthday cake with the urn in her arms.
She smiled at him as if it were their first meeting.
“Goodbye, I hate you, if only we could start over…”
Before she could finish, the entire house collapsed.
Perhaps it was a final illusion, but Lin Zhiyi thought she saw Gong Chen drop to his knees.
Her Xingxing had come to get her.
In the afternoon, the scorching sun blazed.
The atmosphere inside the Gong Mansion was even more like being roasted over a fire.
A teacup smashed to the ground with a sound, its shards painfully cutting the skin, jolting Lin Zhiyi back to reality.
She knelt in the middle of the hall, blankly looking at the room full of people.