The bathroom light was too bright, almost merciless. Su Meili stood in front of the mirror, staring at the face that had once been hers yet felt so foreign after seeing it on from afar during years of absence. She watched with melancholy her reflection that was so offputting to Mei Li and her family.
She was wearing a cropped black t-shirt with a graphic design on the front, red and black striped arm warmers that extend up the arms with multiple chains draped around the neck, a spiked bracelet and a studded belt with a pink and black checkered pattern,contributing to the punk aesthetic. Her had a full-face edgy makeup on, with very pronounced eyeliner, extremely white foudation and bright red lipstick, complementing her hair dyed in red.
She remembered how the other soul qualified her as a "rebellious delinquent" and hurried to transform her image to adhere to her "good, perfect girl" image. But Su Meili did not want to look like her, even if it meant being less hated. She actually liked this edgy style, but her makeup skills were definetely mediocre.
Her fingers trembled as she reached for the tap. Warm water gushed out, and she scrubbed her face until the thick layers of makeup melted away, revealing the raw skin beneath. The face people found so beautiful on Mei Li but never noticed on her resurfaced.
She had a delicate face with full, naturally pouted cherry lips and large eyes shining with a defiant spark. Her skin was pale, though irritated from years of suffocating makeup paired with a lack of proper skincare. A sleek curtain of flashy red hair, framed her doll-like face, often falling forward as if to half-hide those stubborn eyes, creating a look that was both cute and slightly aggressive.
She leaned closer to the mirror, her lips curved faintly. She never appreciated her body before, but she would take good care of it now.
She put on some face cream and lib balm, going out with her bare face. But the four studs pierced in her ears, and her red hair glued in gel were a reminder of her outlier status. She tied her damaged red hair loosely, promising herself a proper trim later.
Her cheek was still red where Lin Fanghua slapped her when she sat in the car. The other three passengers were already waiting for her, and Zhao Dongyuan, her stepfather looked at her cheek before saying in a reproachful tone to Su Fanghua:
"Don't hit Su Meili every time. Look how red her cheek looks now."
Su Meili just bowed her head and put her seabelt. When turning to the side, she caught sight of her stepbrother, Zhao Haoran. He his plain white shirt couldn't hide his handsome features and poised manners. 17 this year, he looked mature and well behaved, the very image of the brilliant young heir.
The journey was fast but the incessant admonitions of Lin Fanghua, who was nervous at the idea of seeing the two elders, made it twice longer.
The Zhao family lived in a quiet residential area, far from the suburbs, in a sober and elegant mansion.
They were not a sprawling clan, but their name carried weight in the city.
Evening had already fallen, and the Zhao mansion glowed with warm lantern light. Inside, the air was filled with the mingled fragrance of polished wood and braised dishes drifting from the kitchen.
The family was already gathered in the grand living room. On the main sofa sat the two elders of the Zhao family.
On the right was Zhao Cheng, the second son of the elders, sitted with his wife, Kang Ya. Her hand was lightly resting on their daughter's arm, Zhao Yiran. Zhao Hong, their son, only ten, lounged restlessly at their side.
When their family of four arrived, heads turned and they looked surprised after looking at Su Meili's bare face.
While her parents greeted everyone, walked silently past them and sat in a corner seat.
She could feel the disapproving gazes of everyone aroud her body.
Let them think she was rude. She didn't care.
Kang Ya raised her brows ever so slightly, lips curving in amusement. Zhao Yiran leaned closer to her mother, whispering something that made them both smirk.
Li Sitong's face flushed, but she forced a smile.
The meal passed quietly, with the whole family harmoniously getting along, except her of course. She ate her food without any appetite, knowing Kang Ya and her daughter would not miss a chance to try to humilaite her, especially after today's incident.
And indeed, after dinner, as the family gathered for fruit and tea, Zhao Yiran let out a soft sigh, pressing her wrist dramatically.
"Ai, it still hurts from earlier… when I fell," she said, her tone delicate yet carrying far in the quiet room. Her gaze slid toward Su Meili. "Of course, I know Meili-jie didn't mean it. She just pushed me because I made her angry."
Kang Ya snorted. "That's not a reason to push you like she did. That's clearcly a lack of proper education."
Zhao Yiran's voice grew smaller, trembling with carefully measured grievance. "Mom, don't say that. I was my fault, I teased her a little a secret I discovered. I didn't expect her to shove me like that. She was so angry… I was joking but maybe it was the truth?"
Su Fanghua frowned. "What secret?"
Yiran lowered her eyes, hesitating just long enough to make evryone attentive to her next words. Then, softly: "That… she likes Haoran-ge."
At those words, the room froze.
Su Meili's eyes widened slightly,a dazed flicker passing through them as she remembered that there was indeed a time where she liked and admired this stepbrother of her. It had been so long that she had actually forgotten about it.
That single moment of hesitation was enough.
Lin Fanghua, face paling under the weight of the family's questioning looks, snapped. She stood abruptly and with a sharp crack, slapped Su Meili across the cheek, another time.
The sound echoed while Meili's head snapped to the side, her cheek burning hot. But the sting barely registered. Slowly, she lifted her gaze, blank expression betraying nothing but the faintest glimmer of something hardening deep within.
Her heart, already brittle, grew colder still.Colder than the polished marble floor. Colder than the false warmth of the Zhao family's smiles.
She lowered her gaze and said nothing.
But inside, a quiet vow took root. This family would never hurt her again.