Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Father, I Don't Want to Live Anymore After breakfast, I took a stroll around the Song Residence. This was my home now! I had to take a good look at this super-luxurious ancient mansion! The Song Residence was a pure, authentic Chinese courtyard. To someone like me, who was used to seeing towering buildings made of modern reinforced concrete, stepping into this place truly gave me a sense of the wonder of traveling through time and space. Our ancestors’ extraordinary and refined aesthetic sense was simply astonishing. Every brick and tile, every blade of grass and tree in this courtyard contained endless charm and wisdom. Within the courtyard, rockeries, pavilions, and towers were arranged in perfect harmony. The rockeries came in all shapes and forms. Some resembled fierce tigers descending the mountain, some looked like flood dragons emerging from the sea, and others were like immortal elders sitting in meditation. Under the sunlight, they cast mottled shadows that added a touch of mystery to the atmosphere. The pavilions and towers featured flying eaves and interlocking brackets, with carved beams and painted rafters. The exquisite woodcarving craftsmanship was breathtaking, and every detail displayed the ingenious skill of the ancients. In the center of the courtyard was a clear pond, like a massive piece of jade embedded in the ground. Lotuses bloomed in competition across the pond: red ones like flames, pink ones like rosy clouds, and white ones like snow. As the breeze passed, the lotus leaves swayed gently and the flowers danced lightly, releasing waves of refreshing fragrance. Red koi swam freely among the lotus leaves. At times, they gathered together as if whispering among themselves; at others, they scattered, each exploring the mysteries beneath the water. Their lively forms added a touch of vitality and energy to the tranquil pond. The residence was also filled with flowers of every color—passionate red, delicate pink, bright yellow, mysterious purple, and more. Each plant had been carefully cultivated and was growing exceptionally luxuriantly. They vied with one another in beauty, competing to display their charms as though they were holding a grand beauty pageant. When the breeze swept past, the flowers swayed gently and released waves of fragrance. Butterflies danced through the air, while bees busily flitted back and forth. It was a scene brimming with life. As I walked along the corridor with its carved railings and painted beams, I couldn’t help imagining how wonderful it would be if I had a camera right then. I could press the shutter—click, click, click—and capture this picturesque beauty, then take a few gorgeous selfies as well! “Luzhu, is Father at home?” After I had looked around enough, it was time to take care of business. Luzhu answered respectfully, “In reply to you, Miss, Master should be in the study at this hour.” “Then lead the way. I’m going to see Father!” Luzhu turned and led the way. We followed a winding path and, after walking for about ten minutes, finally arrived at the study. When we reached the study, I saw that the door was half open. A kindly-looking middle-aged man dressed in a splendid brocade robe was standing inside, his head lowered as he focused on something. A trace of shrewdness and wisdom showed in his eyes. This man was the father of the body I now inhabited—Song Deli. “Father!” I lifted my skirts and scampered into the study, throwing myself straight into his arms. Then I began fake-crying with little sobs, my voice plaintive and mournful, as though I had suffered some enormous injustice. “My darling girl, what’s wrong? Who bullied you? Tell Father quickly!” Song Deli was startled by my sudden action. He hurriedly set down what he was holding and wrapped both arms tightly around me, his eyes full of anxiety and concern. I lowered my head and pretended to cry, secretly calculating how to make my performance more convincing. So I secretly gave my thigh a hard pinch. In an instant, a sharp pain shot through me, and tears immediately burst from my eyes. I put on a sorrowful expression, then slowly raised my head and looked at Song Deli through tear-filled eyes. “Father, your daughter doesn’t want to live anymore…” I said between sobs. Song Deli’s face paled with fright. “My foolish daughter, you are Father’s very life! If you don’t live, Father won’t be able to go on either! You absolutely mustn’t do anything foolish. Whatever injustice you’ve suffered, tell Father, and I’ll stand up for you!” It seemed that Song Deli truly regarded his daughter as the apple of his eye. His words were filled with such sincere affection that I couldn’t help feeling moved, and my crying became a little more genuine. “Father, I went strolling through the market, and everyone was whispering behind my back that I was as fat as a pig and so dark that all you could see was a single tooth. Boo-hoo-hoo… I really don’t want to live anymore!” As I complained, I constantly wiped away my tears, making myself look as pitiful as possible. Upon hearing my words, Song Deli’s expression darkened. A flash of anger passed through his eyes, but it was soon replaced by heartache. He gently patted my back. “My good daughter, no matter what you look like, you will always be the apple of Father’s eye. You needn’t pay any attention to what other people say.” “But Father, whenever your daughter sees a handsome young man, she becomes very fond of him and goes up to strike up a conversation. Yet they all avoid me as though I were a plague! My heart hurts so much!” After saying that, I picked up my embroidered handkerchief and lowered my head slightly as I gently dabbed at my tears, putting on an utterly heartbroken expression. “If Yuan'er likes handsome young men, why go out of the residence to strike up conversations with them? Father can spend a fortune and buy you plenty of handsome male servants to wait on you day and night.” As expected of the richest merchant in the Jiang Kingdom—he really was an overbearing, utterly doting father. “But Father, what I want is for a young man to genuinely like me and cherish me, not to pretend to love me for the sake of money.” “This… Affection depends on fate. It can be encountered but not sought. You are my daughter, Yuan'er. With the vast fortune Father has earned for you, there’s no need for you to suffer the hardships of love!” “No, Father. I’ve made up my mind. From this moment on, I’m going to become thinner, fairer, and more beautiful!” “Good, good, good. My good daughter, I’ll support you in whatever you do.” Looking at the determination in my eyes, Song Deli smiled helplessly. “Father, I’ve heard that the pearls from the South Seas are large and round. If they’re ground into powder and applied to the face every day, they can make the skin fair and smooth. I want a whole case of South Seas pearls, Father~” I tugged on Song Deli’s sleeve and wheedled. “Good, good, good. I’ll have someone purchase them right away and deliver them to your room as quickly as possible!” Song Deli agreed without the slightest hesitation. “Thank you, Father. You’re the best father in the world. I love you!” As I spoke, I quickly kissed him on the cheek. The intimate gesture left Song Deli stunned for a moment, his expression going blank briefly. But soon, a loving and gratified smile returned to his face. “Father, I’ll return to my room now and won’t disturb you while you work.” Completely satisfied, I hurried away. Hehe… It probably wouldn’t be long before everyone in the residence knew that I had begun working hard to become thinner and more beautiful. By then, the changes in my appearance after bathing in the hot spring naturally wouldn’t arouse anyone’s suspicions. Close