The nails that bit deep into the palms of the girl drew blood.
"Let me see him."
The girl who spoke stood trembling in front of a large mansion, her eyes red. There were tear stains on her cheeks, and she was biting her lower lip with force. Gaunt and thin, she looked like the softest gust of wind could topple her.
Across from her was another girl, but their appearance were heavens and earth apart. Where Hui Yin's hair lacked luster, Nian Zhen's hair was thick and shiny. Where Hui Yin's cheeks were almost caved, Nian Zhen's cheeks were soft and rosy. Where Hui Yin's body was frail and sick-looking, Nian Zhen's body was healthy and elegant-looking.
Anyone looking at the two of them will definitely not believe that Hui Yin had once captured every man that looked at her because of her breathtaking beauty.
Because of Lu Shen, Hui Yin gave up everything in exchange for his love. She made herself submissive to become a good housewife, and suppressed her dreams to gain the approval of his family. Because of Nian Zhen's advice that were vinegar layered with honey, she believed that taking care of herself was too excessive, that Lu Shen and his family would think of her as superficial if she bought anything for herself other than the basic necessities.
Slowly, Hui Yin let herself go. Her clothes became more matronly, her beauty slowly disappearing with rough care. She stayed late each night to cook for Lu Shen while he was busy, and woke up early each morning to cook him breakfast. Less than a wife, she was more like a slave in their years of marriage.
And all of this effort only earned her a frosty glance from him.
He didn't acknowledge her as his wife. He could barely even look at her, sometimes. And all along, Nian Zhen was there, reassuring Hui Yin that she would take care of it, since she and Hui Yin were best friends, and because she and Lu Shen were childhood friends. Hui Yin thought that Nian Zhen was telling Lu Shen of her good points, of how good of a wife she was, and slowly change his mind.
Little did she know that Nian Zhen's meaning of 'taking care of him' was vastly different from hers.
While she slaved everyday like a housekeeper, they were enjoying exploring the sheets in the master bedroom where she slept at night. While she was made fun of by her mother-in-law for being too ugly, Nian Zhen was slowly becoming the dignified daugher-in-law that Mrs. Lu had always wanted. While she looked at Lu Shen with lovestruck eyes, he was already looking at someone else with love.
Right now, as the two girls faced each other, their fates had now been definitely reversed.
Nian Zhen slowly curled her lip as she glanced at the decrepit Hui Yin. "What are you doing here? Don't you know that trash are not allowed in our home?"
Hui Yin flinched. That large mansion was once her home. Now, she couldn't even enter the front gates.
"I need to see him," she repeated, clenching her fists.
"Where did you get that confidence?" Nian Zhen sneered at her with contempt. "He doesn't want to see you. In fact, he told me that waking up next to you during all those years felt like he was trapped in an endless nightmare. Now, at least, he could wake up and see my beautiful face. You're trash, Hui Yin."
Although she was already used to his insults, Hui Yin could still feel her heart breaking. Just how many times had that man broke it, and broke it again after it scarred, and still she clung to him, begging for scraps of his love.