When Su Yue returned to the Su family home, everything seemed just like she remembered it—warm lighting, familiar furnishings, and the subtle scent of freshly brewed tea lingering in the air. Su Fangru and Su Jindong, her parents, were sitting in the living room, enjoying a quiet afternoon together.
The moment her mother saw her, she froze, gasping audibly. “You child…”
Su Jindong, who was carefully peeling grapes for his wife, snapped his head up at the sound of his wife’s voice. The glistening, translucent grape in his hand slipped through his fingers and tumbled to the ground.
“Yueyue—how did you become so thin?” Fang Ru stood up in shock, her eyes wide as she took in her daughter’s dramatic transformation.
Su Yue had always resembled her mother. Ever since childhood, she had the kind of body that easily gained weight, and no matter what methods she tried, she could never slim down. Yet now, the weight that had stubbornly clung to her figure for years had vanished. How could her mother not be astonished?
Suddenly, a sharp crash broke the stunned silence.
“Bang!”
Su Jindong had accidentally knocked the fruit saucer off the coffee table. It clattered to the floor, and the fruit scattered in all directions.
“I knew it… I knew it!” His handsome face, usually calm and dignified, was now contorted in a rare display of fury. He clenched his teeth, voice trembling, “Yueyue, did something happen to you in the Jiang family? Did that madman mistreat you? Did he starve you? Tell Dad! If that lunatic dared lay a finger on you—”
His voice cracked with rage. Looking at his now slim, almost delicate daughter, he felt like a firestorm had ignited in his chest.
He was ready to storm into the Jiang residence and throttle the blind bastard himself.
In the original book, it had been written clearly—Father Su and Mother Su doted on their daughter endlessly. Whatever she wanted, they gave. If she pointed to the stars and the moon, they’d do their best to pluck them down for her.
Back then, when the original Su Yue had been schemed into climbing into Jiang Ci’s bed by the female lead, she had stubbornly decided to marry him, even after the female lead was set to wed Jiang Muhang. That twisted desire—to get closer to Jiang Muhang—pushed her into making that choice.
At first, her parents were adamantly opposed. Jiang Ci was infamous: blind, disfigured, mentally unstable. What parent in their right mind would agree to such a match? But Su Yue had been obsessed. She’d gone on a hunger strike, threatening her own well-being until her parents—blinded by love and worry—relented.
Now, looking at their formerly plump, pampered daughter turned thin and fragile, Su Jindong’s heart shattered.
Seeing the misunderstanding in their eyes, Su Yue hurried forward, her tone gentle and reassuring. “Dad, Mom, you’ve misunderstood. No one bullied me. I’ve just been trying to lose weight, and I finally succeeded.”
She twirled lightly on her feet, her voice cheerful. “Don’t I look good now?”
Su Jindong frowned deeply, concern etched into every line of his face. “Yueyue, don’t lie to your father. You used to be chubby, and no matter what, you couldn’t lose weight. How could you suddenly slim down?”
Was she really that overweight before? Su Yue couldn’t help but wince inwardly at the original owner’s sad state. Honestly, she owed Jiang Ci a thank you—for giving her such an effortless way to shed weight and glow up. The slimming effect came with a beauty filter—talk about a golden finger!
“Yueyue, tell me the truth.” Su Jindong’s voice was stern but soft, trembling with suppressed worry. “If Jiang Ci’s abusing you, don’t be scared. Your dad will make things right.”
He looked ready to pick up a bat and head to the Jiang estate at that very moment.
“Dad, really—it’s not like that,” Su Yue said earnestly, sitting down on the sofa between her parents. She smiled, her tone coaxing. “Look at me—do I look like someone who’s been abused? My face is rosy, I’m full of energy!”
Her words melted the tension, and for the first time in a while, she felt what it was like to bask in a parent’s love.
“You really lost it all by yourself?” Fang Ru asked again, disbelief mingling with joy.
“Yes.”
A slow, delighted smile broke across Fang Ru’s face. “Oh, our Yueyue is so slim and beautiful now.” Her eyes roamed her daughter’s features with maternal pride. Su Yue’s once indistinct features had sharpened—her eyes now seemed bigger and more luminous, like clear spring water.
Su Jindong still looked conflicted, glancing at his daughter. Although she didn’t look malnourished, she was much thinner than before. He muttered reluctantly, “Still, I think girls look better with some flesh. You used to look like your mother—so lovely. Maybe you should gain some weight back.”
Su Yue’s eyes widened. “Dad, I don’t want to! Do you know how hard it was to lose all this weight? I’m finally pretty enough to flirt with Jiang Ci—it wasn’t easy at all!”
Su Jindong’s aesthetics, clearly, were quite unique.
His looks were undeniably top-tier—despite being middle-aged, he was still elegant and youthful. A change into jeans and a button-down, and he could easily pass for a university senior. But in contrast, his wife was plain-looking, with darker skin and a fuller figure. Su Yue had inherited her mother’s looks, and outsiders often whispered behind their backs.
Many thought Su Jindong had married Fang Ru on a whim, indulging in a “different taste,” and that the marriage wouldn’t last. But more than twenty years later, those same people watched in stunned silence as Su Jindong continued to treat his wife like a queen—adoring her, doting on her, and never once letting go.
In his eyes, Fang Ru was the most beautiful woman in the world.
Others pitied Su Yue for inheriting her mother’s looks, not realizing how blessed she truly was. Because in Su Jindong’s heart, his wife was beautiful, and their daughter—who resembled her—was just as perfect.
“What do you know?” Fang Ru glared at her husband, half amused. Did he think everyone had the same warped sense of beauty as him?
In the past, she hadn’t pushed her daughter to lose weight because she didn’t want to hurt her self-esteem. But now that Su Yue had transformed so stunningly, she couldn’t be happier. “Our Yueyue is gorgeous now! That Shen family lady always brags about her pretty daughter. Hmph! She’s nothing compared to our Yueyue.”
Pride beamed from her every feature.
Su Jindong, scolded by his beloved wife, didn’t dare retort. He murmured aggrievedly, “But I still think she was prettier when she looked like you.”
Fang Ru rolled her eyes and ignored him.
“Yueyue, since you’re home, stay the night, alright?” she said gently, her eyes hopeful. “Your room’s always clean and ready for you. Don’t leave today, stay with us.”
In the six months since Su Yue had married into the Jiang family, she’d only visited once—and even then, she left right after dinner. Her parents missed her terribly, their pampered treasure who used to hide behind their legs and demand sweets.
Looking at their eager, loving faces, Su Yue’s heart softened. “Mom, I plan to stay home for a while.”
“Really? That’s wonderful!” Fang Ru was overjoyed. “I’ll ask Sister-in-law Hua to cook your favorite dishes!”
She checked the clock and frowned. “Why isn’t that brat Su Zhi home yet?”
Just as the words left her mouth, the door opened and Su Zhi strolled in with a schoolbag slung over one shoulder.
“You brat!” Fang Ru began her usual lecture, arms crossed. “Only a month left until your college entrance exams, and you’re still wandering around. If you fail, don’t expect us to pay for a retake!”
Su Zhi brushed her off, catching sight of the slim, elegant figure on the couch. His steps slowed. “Sister?”
“Your sister’s back. Why don’t you hurry up and greet her?” Su Jindong snapped, his tone strict—a sharp contrast to the gentle way he spoke to Su Yue.
Su Zhi tossed his bag onto the floor and strode over. He leaned in, staring at Su Yue’s face in awe. “Are you really my sister?”
He blinked, stunned. “Did you get plastic surgery?”
“Stinky brat!” Fang Ru smacked him on the back of the head.
Su Zhi grinned, rubbing his head. “I’m just surprised! Sis, you’re gorgeous now.”
“I’ve been working hard to lose weight.” Su Yue chuckled, letting him sit beside her. She had never had a younger sibling in her previous life. Now that she did, she couldn’t help feeling a natural, familial warmth.
“No wonder people say losing weight is like plastic surgery. Sis, you’re drop-dead beautiful now—you’re almost catching up to me!” Su Zhi smoothed his hair and struck a pose.
“You’re the ugliest in the family, yet you have the nerve to be smug?” Su Jindong shot his son a glare. In his eyes, his son was unfortunate enough to take after him—while his wife and daughter were the truly beautiful ones.
Su Zhi pouted, and the family laughed together, the living room filled with warmth and joy. Su Zhi pointed to his own handsome face, puffing out his chest as he declared, “Dad, I look just like you! If you say I’m annoying, aren’t you just saying you dislike yourself?”
Then, like a pitiful little cub seeking shelter, he shuffled over to Su Yue with a grievance-filled expression and clung to her arm. “Sister, see? When you weren’t home, this is how they treated me. They always say I’m a troublemaker. You have to come back more often. If you’re around, they won’t have the heart to scold me.”
This younger brother, Su Zhi, had always adored his elder sister. In fact, the entire Su family cherished the original Su Yue deeply, doting on her with unconditional affection, allowing her to do whatever she pleased. She had grown up arrogant, proud, and impossibly indulged.
Su Yue’s lips curved into a gentle smile. “Alright, I’ll come back more often.”
She liked this—this warm, light-hearted atmosphere of home. It was soft and sweet, like honey drizzled into tea.
—
That evening during dinner, Su Yue truly understood what it meant to be part of a family.
Her parents and younger brother sat with her at the same table, each trying to outdo the other in serving her food. They checked if she wanted more soup, if the dishes suited her taste, if she was eating enough—all with bright eyes and heartfelt concern.
This kind of affection and care was foreign to her. In her past life, she had never known such sincere warmth. And beyond that, her parents were affectionate with each other, and Su Zhi’s antics brought laughter to the table. The harmony and joy in the air wrapped around her like a cocoon, soothing and safe.
After dinner, Su Yue returned to her room.
She had expected, given the original owner’s vain and pampered personality, that the room would be luxurious and showy, a shrine of vanity and excess. But to her surprise, the room’s design was quietly tasteful and understated.
Soft off-white tones dominated the space, exuding a peaceful calm. The floor was covered in a thick, plush wool carpet—when her feet sank into it, the sensation was airy, almost floating.
Then came a knock at the door.
Su Yue walked over and pulled it open to see Su Zhi standing outside with a bright grin, holding a plate in his hands.
“Sister, I brought you fruit. Your favorite—cherries! I already tasted one for you. Super sweet, I promise. Not a single sour one in the bunch.” He stepped into the room with exaggerated care, cradling the plate like a treasure. Every cherry was glistening red, freshly washed, gleaming under the light—cute and enticing, just like Su Zhi’s smile.
Without waiting for a response, he picked the plumpest, most radiant cherry and held it up to her lips. “Try it. Sweet, right?”
The moment she bit into it, sweet and tangy juice burst onto her tongue. She nodded. “Very sweet.”
Her gaze lingered on this younger brother of hers. With features so similar to their father’s, Su Zhi was growing into his looks—tall and striking, with that unruly spark of arrogance in his eyes. His grinning face held a roguish charm that was undeniably magnetic. He was exactly the kind of boy high school girls fell for.
“Sister, are you staring at me because you realized I got even more handsome lately?” Su Zhi boasted shamelessly, puffing up his chest.
Su Yue chuckled. “Yes, yes. My little brother is the most handsome.”
She studied him seriously and asked, “Have you been in a relationship recently?”
Su Zhi instantly scrunched his nose. “No way. Those girls are so annoying.”
Su Yue’s heart loosened a little. “Good. The college entrance exam is just around the corner. You should be focusing on your studies, not chasing girls. And if you really don’t like someone, don’t string her along. Be honest. Don’t flirt just for fun.”
“But sister,” Su Zhi blinked innocently, “you used to say those girls were just vain and materialistic. That it was fine to play around with them.”
Su Yue paused, momentarily stunned.
Then she gave a soft sigh and met his gaze. “That was before. From today on, things are different. Su Zhi, you can’t play with a girl’s feelings like that. Girls’ hearts are delicate—fragile and soft. If you don’t intend to stay, don’t step in.”
Now she understood why Su Zhi had such a casual attitude toward relationships. It was the original Su Yue who had encouraged it, dismissing feelings as shallow and worthless.
In the original story, Su Zhi had dated a girl who confessed to him shortly before the college entrance exam. But true to his nature, he quickly grew bored and ended things within two weeks. Unfortunately, the girl had genuinely fallen for him. She begged, pleaded, and cried, only to be met with Su Zhi’s cold indifference.
Overwhelmed by heartbreak and exam stress, she couldn’t bear it. She ended her own life.
Later, Su Zhi was ambushed in an alley by a group of thugs. He was beaten severely—his leg shattered, nearly amputated. The attacker was the girl’s brother, who came seeking revenge.
This time, Su Yue had returned home not just to experience warmth and love—but to stop that tragedy from repeating.
“I got it,” Su Zhi answered with a nonchalant shrug.
But Su Yue frowned and reached out to hold his arm. “No, I’m serious. Love isn’t a game. It can take lives. If you fall for someone for real, I’ll support you. But if it’s just for fun, I won’t allow it. Not anymore.”
Su Zhi blinked, puzzled. “Sister, what’s gotten into you? You’re saying things I’ve never heard from you before.”
Su Yue looked straight into his eyes. “Because I want you to be okay, Zhi. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Can you promise me?”
Su Zhi’s smile faltered. He picked up another cherry and popped it into Su Yue’s mouth.
“You’re so serious all of a sudden, sis… it’s kinda scary. But alright, alright, I promise. No more playing around.”
He didn’t understand what she was so worried about, but if she cared that much—he could listen, just this once.
Anyway, those girls were boring.
—
Night fell.
The moon retreated behind heavy clouds, casting a cool, dusky silence over the world. Even the air felt hushed, like something was waiting to happen.
In the secluded guest house, the room was deathly quiet.
Jiang Ci sat on the edge of his bed, dressed in pitch-black pajamas. His posture was rigid, his face expressionless, and his aura cold enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine.
Just like always, he laid down flat on the bed, arms stiffly by his sides—like a corpse laid in a coffin.
He closed his eyes.
But the silence was suffocating.
Moments passed.
He turned over slowly, blank-faced, curling onto his side as if trying to make himself more comfortable. Then, he reached out, fingers brushing against the cold mattress beside him.
Finding nothing there, he grabbed the pink pillow lying nearby and pulled it into his embrace.
The soft fabric was faintly scented—milk, sweet and clean. Su Yue’s scent.
Still not satisfied, Jiang Ci hugged it tighter and buried his face into it. The fragrance grew stronger, clinging to his nose, soothing his nerves.
But it wasn’t enough.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes again, frowned, and tossed the pillow away in frustration.
He pursed his thin lips and scoffed silently.
It wasn’t warm. It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t her.
Not like Su Yue.
It felt like holding air.
Jiang Ci exhaled heavily and shut his eyes once more.
The silence pressed in again.
Minutes ticked by before he suddenly sat up, walked barefoot across the floor, and crouched down to search for the pillow he had thrown.
His knee banged against the sharp corner of the cabinet with a dull thud.
Any normal person would have hissed in pain.
Jiang Ci didn’t flinch.
He continued searching silently, brows knitted, lips pursed. But no matter how he groped in the dark, the pillow was gone—flung too far out of reach.
Eventually, he gave up and returned to bed, empty-handed.
He lay there, his brows furrowing deeper.
—
Meanwhile, back at the Su family home…
In her own soft bed covered with pale beige silk sheets, Su Yue lay in serene comfort. The bed was plush and inviting, like a cloud cradling her to sleep—nothing like Jiang Ci’s cold, stiff mattress.
She closed her eyes and let herself sink into the warmth.
Ding.
A crisp bell rang in her mind, sharp and sudden.
Her eyes flew open, startled.
“Anger value: 1.”