"Sorry, the number you dialed is not in service. Please check..."
Xing Yixin dialed the only contact number she knew for Ji Ziyan. Unlike before, when the phone would always be answered, it had become a disconnected number that would never be dialed.
Xing Yixin let her arms hang limply, leaned against the wall, and looked out at the dark night.
Outside the window, thousands of lights shone, but not a single one was lit for her.
After Ji Ziyan left, Xing Yixin went to get off work and back as usual, but only she knew how empty she felt in the quiet of the night.
She couldn't hold back her helplessness and burst into tears.
Xing Yixin cried more than once because of Ji Ziyan's departure. A person who needs courage to even cry cried loudly because of Ji Ziyan's departure.
Today, Xing Yixin made a major decision—to break free from her family of origin.
Wang Peizhen contacted Xing Yixin a few days ago, saying that she was sick and asking her to come home and visit her.
Xing Yixin went back home, only to find out it was a scam; the real purpose was to introduce her to a potential partner.
When Xing Yixin arrived home, she saw a short, fat man sitting on the sofa in the living room, while her biological father and younger brother were trying their best to please her with smiles.
The person who said he wasn't feeling well on the phone was busy in the kitchen, showing no signs of illness whatsoever.
"You're back!" Her father, who never bothered to speak to her, gave Xing Yixin a rare, cold greeting when he saw her come in.
"Hmm," Xing Yixin replied indifferently, her face expressionless.
"Sister, come quick, this is Brother Zhang..." Xing Feilong took Xing Yixin's arm, and Xing Yixin tried to pull away uncomfortably, but couldn't.
Xing Feilong pushed her to sit down next to the man who looked almost as old as her father.
Xing Yi felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave, but Xing Feilong held her down firmly.
"This is your daughter? She's quite pretty..." Zhang Ge, whom Xing Feilong mentioned, scanned Xing Yixin up and down, as if appraising the item and assessing its value...
"Hahahaha... She's been beautiful since she was little." Xing Yixin couldn't believe that these words would come from her extremely chauvinistic father.
He has never praised her once in his life.
"How is it? Are you satisfied?"
Xing Yixin frowned upon hearing this. "Satisfied?" Satisfied with what? Satisfied with her?
"It's alright, nothing special in terms of looks, not worth the price..."
"Actually, if it's just about being pretty, we don't necessarily need such a high dowry. The main thing is that she's not only good-looking, but also academically excellent! That way, the children she has will be smart too..."
Even the dumbest person would understand after hearing this!
So they were talking about her...
Ah... I see...
Xing Yixin shook off Xing Feilong's hand that was holding her down; now she understood the situation.
No wonder, no wonder he greeted her first today, no wonder he complimented her, no wonder he tricked her into coming home...
So, are her biological parents selling her as an item with a price tag?
So she was an object after all...
Xing Yixin picked up her bag from the sofa and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Xing Feilong stopped Xing Yixin, his tone no longer as intimate as when he was holding her arm, but impatient, yet it was the tone Xing Yixin knew best.
That's right! This is her brother! A brother who doesn't treat her like a sister, a brother who yells at her at will.
"What's it to you?" Xing Yixin was truly disappointed.
If Xing Yixin still held hope for her family before returning home, then when they sold her off like an item with a price tag right in front of her, her previously wavering heart suddenly knew what to do.
"How dare you speak to your brother like that!" Her good father finally abandoned his paternalistic image and slammed his fist on the table.
"I asked you to come back for a meal, and who are you giving me this attitude? You've had that deadpan look on your face since you walked in. Who are you trying to impress, your father?"
Xing Dajin's voice grew louder and louder as he pointed at Xing Yixin, his fat face jiggling as he spoke.
If there hadn't been a table between them, he probably would have rushed out and slapped Xing Yixin.
Xing Yixin turned her gaze to Xing Dajin's face, and it was rare for her to dare to look directly at her so-called father today.
From childhood to adulthood, Xing Yixin's greatest fear was her father, but today she was no longer afraid. Even if it meant mutual destruction, she calmly said, "From today onwards, we are no longer father and daughter."
After Xing Yixin finished speaking, she pushed Xing Feilong's arm away, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked toward the door.
"You brat, if you dare step out of this door, don't ever come back!"
Xing Yixin stopped opening the door and turned around to look at the house where she had grown up.
The walls were covered with photos of Xing Feilong as a child; there wasn't a single picture of her.
If a stranger came to this house, they would probably think that this family only has one son...
Xing Yixin looked at Wang Peizhen, who was peeking out from the kitchen doorway, with a complicated expression.
Ah! Look, so this is her home! This is her family!
A chauvinistic father, a weak and incompetent mother who favors sons over daughters, and a brother who bullies the weak and fears the strong...
It seems there's nothing worth remembering.
Xing Yixin withdrew her gaze and pushed the door open without a second thought.
Behind her came Xing Dajin's incessant cursing, but Xing Yixin dared not stop for a moment and ran frantically.
She was afraid, afraid that Xing Dajin would realize what was happening and take her back.
Once outside on a street with people, Xing Yixin couldn't hold it in any longer and leaned against a nearby tree trunk to vomit, but nothing came out.
She did it! She finally made up her mind to break things off with them and finally crawled out of that deformed home!
But why? Why does my heart hurt so much? It's so painful...
Xing Yixin's tears, mixed with cold sweat, dripped silently onto the soil.
She squatted on the ground, hugged herself, and cried bitterly, venting her emotions.
She misses Ji Ziyan so much... She misses him so much right now.
If he were by her side, would she not be so vulnerable?
Why did even he leave her? Why did everyone she cared about leave her?
It's often said that your family of origin isn't a sudden downpour, but a lifelong dampness. Oh, I see!
Xing Yixin returned to Yun City and resumed her normal work routine, but she became even more aloof.
She no longer cares about other people's opinions, and no longer pursues so-called interpersonal relationships.
In this life, there is no one she can rely on but herself. Xing Yixin is trying her best to redeem herself.
Wang Peizhen and Xing Dajin bombarded Xing Yixin with phone calls, and Xing Yixin blocked them. They then changed their phone numbers and continued to call, so Xing Yixin had no choice but to change her phone number as well.
Xing Feilong came to her residence to cause trouble, so Xing Yixin changed her address that same day, making it impossible for them to find her.
She actively distanced herself from things that hurt her, actively tried to improve herself, and sought out what she loved. Indeed, only one can save oneself!
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