Time must rewind to before, when Bai Yan was still alive.
Bai Qing looked at the family door expressionlessly. Bai Yan shouldn't be here at this hour. She could just go straight to her room and then…
The doorknob creaked open. The moment Bai Qing stepped inside, a bottle of liquor was smashed at her feet, making a loud noise!
Fragments of the bottle scattered everywhere, drawing a shallow cut on Bai Qing's calf. Blood seeped out, and the slight pain instantly numbed her entire leg.
Bai Qing furrowed her brows, startled by the sudden liquor bottle. Her heart pounded in her chest. She turned her head and met Bai Yan's bloodshot eyes, inwardly dreading it.
"Back so late? Where were you charming men?" Bai Yan strode towards Bai Qing and grabbed her beautiful long hair with a large hand, pulling forcefully.
The familiar pain of her scalp being pulled came, and Bai Qing screamed. Her handbag fell to the ground. Bai Yan grew more energetic, slapping Bai Qing from side to side.
"I want you to marry a rich man! You'll obediently be my wife and give me children!"
Bai Yan grew angrier the more he thought about it. He beat Bai Qing soundly. Bai Qing gradually became numb, hugging her body in an attempt to protect her face.
Such violence happened every day!
Perhaps Bai Yan was tired of hitting, and he kicked Bai Qing. Bai Qing lost her balance and fell into the pile of broken glass.
She propped herself up with her arms. Numerous small shards pierced her palms. She hissed in pain, and her palms immediately bled profusely.
"Don't pretend to be miserable in front of me! Clean up the floor quickly!" Bai Yan kicked Bai Qing's kneecap. Bai Qing let out a muffled groan of pain. Bai Yan left with satisfaction.
Bai Qing staggered to her feet and saw herself in the mirror. Her body was bruised and battered. Bai Qing couldn't help but pull at her sleeves, trying to cover the slight purple bruises.
Her calf was kicked and injured. Bai Qing dragged her injured leg and picked up the broom to sweep the debris on the floor. Suddenly, a piece of debris that was not cleaned up pierced the sole of her foot.
Bai Qing cried out in pain and instinctively reached out to support herself against the wall, but she pulled on her previous wound, leaving bloodstains on the clean white wall.
"This is bad!" Thinking that Bai Yan would get angry if he saw it, Bai Qing panicked and quickly used her sleeve to wipe it. As a result, not only did it not get clean, but her clothes were also ruined.
Bai Qing was both angry and anxious, her rage boiling within her. She angrily beat the wall with her fists. The blood from her palms flowed more and more, dripping onto the floor.
When would this life of constant beatings and scolding end!
After the anger, a sense of sadness filled her heart. Bai Qing lay on the cold ground in despair, looking towards Bai Yan's room.
The room door suddenly opened. Bai Qing scrambled to get up from the ground in fear, but it was too late. Bai Yan, who walked out of the room, saw her lazy behavior and started cursing, kicking and hitting her again!
"As soon as I'm not looking, you start slacking off! Just be lazy to death!"
Bai Qing covered her head, enduring Bai Yan's beast-like biting and tearing. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes.
No, this life would be like hell, endless, unless she ended it herself!
As long as, as long as this man disappeared, she would be saved!
Bai Qing gritted her teeth tightly, the taste of blood flooding her mouth. Every blow Bai Yan landed on her made her heart harden a little more!
She no longer wanted to live this kind of life…
The next morning, birds were chirping on the branches, and sunlight filtered through the window, casting a glow on the floor.
There was a faint sound from the kitchen. Bai Qing was meticulously preparing food. The open lunchbox contained exquisite pastries that looked very appetizing.
Bai Yan yawned and saw Bai Qing busy in the kitchen at a glance. He frowned. Before he could scold her, Bai Qing looked over first.
She had deliberately put on makeup today, covering her scars, making her look exceptionally beautiful and lovely.
"Brother, you're awake." Bai Qing's eyes twinkled, and she bloomed with a smile like a flower. She pointed to the toast baking on the dining table, "Have some toast to fill your stomach first."
Bai Yan looked at Bai Qing, who had changed her attitude, and sat down inexplicably. He took a bite of toast.
"The sun must have risen from the west today, making this kind of Western food."
Uncultured bumpkin…
Bai Qing's face darkened for a moment. Thinking of the plan ahead, she suppressed her inner displeasure.
"Brother, you should try different tastes once in a while. I'm almost done preparing the food. Eat quickly and change your clothes, we're going for a picnic."
"What trick are you up to?"
Bai Yan looked curiously towards the kitchen. Bai Qing was preparing all sorts of delicacies and packing them one by one. He scratched the back of his head.
"We haven't been out for a stroll in a long time. Hurry up and change your clothes, Brother!" Bai Qing said coquettishly, pushing Bai Yan into the room. Bai Yan was somewhat pleased, patted Bai Qing's small hand, and happily went to change.
Bai Qing watched the man's retreating back with cold eyes, wiping her hands vigorously on her apron.
After a lot of bustling, the two of them, who were prepared, walked out of the house, with Bai Qing driving.
After the car got onto the highway, it sped along, heading towards the sparsely populated seaside.
Bai Yan lived in the mountains every day, so seeing the sea for the first time felt quite novel. He even gave Bai Qing a slightly better look.
"Not bad, you know how to please your brother now. You should have done this long ago. Give up those unrealistic ideas early!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Bai Qing replied perfunctorily, her gaze very cold. She disdainfully turned her face away.
As an elite who had studied abroad, how could she be willing to be subservient to a man like Bai Yan!
"I didn't expect the sea to be so beautiful," Bai Yan sighed, and then ordered Bai Qing, "Where's the food you brought? Hurry up and get it, I'm starving!"
Bai Qing glanced at him, spread a picnic blanket next to the beach, and laid out the food one by one.
Bai Yan ate heartily, while Bai Qing sat aside, gazing quietly at the sea.
The sea, though calm on the surface, was turbulent beneath.
"Don't make this kind of Western food in the future, I can't get used to it!" Bai Yan's mouth was full of sandwiches. He looked at Bai Qing, who hadn't touched anything, "Why aren't you eating?"
"I don't have an appetite right now. Anyway, there's still a lot left, Brother, you eat."
Bai Qing curved her red lips, smiled slightly, and waved at Bai Yan.
Bai Yan paid no mind to Bai Qing. After eating his fill, he lay on the picnic blanket, looking at the sea with a relaxed expression.
He twisted towards Bai Qing and rested his head on her lap.
Bai Qing frowned in disgust. She patted Bai Yan and pointed to a patch of rocks in the distance, a shadow of gloom in her eyes.
"Brother, let's go take a look over there. I heard that you can often find shells in the rocks, and there are pearls inside!"