Chapter 1

Fang Wenxiu, however, does not find her mother unattractive. She is her mother, and children should not disdain their own mothers. This reflects Fang Wenxiu's outlook on life

The call was made by Zhao Zhengsheng, who is the vice president of Fang Yuanshan Company. He has served Fang Yuanshan for half his life. To some extent, the fact that Zhao Zhengsheng conveyed the news of Fang Yuanshan's car accident to Fang Wenxiu carries more authenticity and gravity than if it were communicated by Fang Wenxiu's mother.

The sound of high heels stopped at the door as Fang Wenxiu turned around. Yan Lihua had just come down from the card table, impeccably dressed in a fitted suit skirt. Her face was powdered, her eyebrows were drawn, and her lips were adorned with a bright red lipstick. She wore seven-inch high heels and crystal long stockings on her legs, resembling a high-ranking white-collar worker emerging from an office building

A foul odor wafted through the open door of the house. The living room was tightly sealed with closed doors and windows, and the curtains were drawn tightly, blocking out any light. Dimly, one could see Yan Lihua sprawled across the sofa, with a puddle of yellowish-white vomit on the carpet and an empty bottle of alcohol thrown on the floor

When Yan Lihua came out, tears had washed her face, and her expression was so stiff that the makeup on her face resembled a mask that had cracked into several pieces

Fang Xiuwen returned to her room and began contacting the funeral home to arrange the time for picking up the deceased from the hospital After hanging up the phone, she sat in the chair, her head bowed as she hesitated while rubbing the screen of her phone

Fang Wenxiu sat against the wall, her hands resting lightly on her knees, gazing at Yan Lihua inside the door, a look of compassion appearing on her face. Zhao Zhengsheng stood beside her leaning against the windowsill, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.

When Zhao Zhengsheng heard the footsteps and turned to see Fang Wenxiu, she was wearing the basketball uniform issued by the school department, her long arms and legs exposed, and her face and head covered in sweat

Fang Wenxiu helped Yan Lihua clean her body, carefully placing her into the bed. Fang Xiuwen then went to the bathroom one last time, took out a towel, and sat at the head of the bed, watching the deeply sleeping Yan Lihua for a while. Then, she gently took Yan Lihua's hand out from under the covers and began to wipe it slowly.

The person answering the phone was Aunt. Fang Wenxiu calmly called out, "Aunt," but suddenly found herself unable to speak.

"Go on, go on. I will take care of it." Sister Zhu insisted on pushing her out.

According to the customs of my hometown, after a person passes away, the body must be kept in repose for twelve hours. During this period, no one is allowed to touch the corpse, not even if an elderly family member has died; even if the burial clothes were not properly put on at the time of death, the deceased must remain as they are.

Fang Wenxiu placed Yan Lihua's hand back, stood up to tuck the corners of her blanket, adjusted the air conditioning temperature a few degrees higher, and then walked out. She returned to her room, took a shower, and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep.

A woman's emotions are quite strange. Yan Lihua did not shed a single tear when facing her husband's corpse, but suddenly broke down upon seeing her husband's lover. She cried silently, trembling all over. Fang Wenxiu lowered her eyelids, while Zhao Zhengsheng silently watched her through the layers of smoke he had created.

After more than two hours of searching, I contacted a team founded by Taiwanese individuals in the mainland. However, the other party is not in this city. After reaching the person in charge, they stated that they could send two people over, and the quote is 30,000, excluding round-trip airfare

Fang Wenxiu helped Yan Lihua sit up, draping her arms over her shoulders, and bent down to carry her on her back. As they passed by the nanny who was still standing there, she said to her, "Please, Sister Zhu, tidy up a bit."

The nanny responded and went to get the tools, while Fang Wenxiu carried Yan Lihua upstairs

The senior who scratched her ran back as soon as the ball hit the ground, shouting back at her while running: "Sorry, Fang Wenxiu"

Yan Lihua had not been gone for long when Zhao Zhengsheng went out to take a phone call and never returned.

Fang Wenxiu let out a soft "oh," said nothing further, rubbed her face, and lowered her head into the kitchen. Fang Wenxiu is a very easy-going person; having lived in this household for over a year, she has hardly ever asked Sister Zhu to do anything for her.

Zhao Zhengsheng did not say anything and simply pointed towards the room opposite him

On the taxi to the hospital, Fang Wenxiu recalled that her father had not returned home for half a year. The home where Fang Wenxiu and her mother currently lived held little status in Fang Yuanshan's social circle. Under normal circumstances, as long as Fang Yuanshan was still alive, no one would notify them here.

Fang Yuanshan met a tragic end; his vehicle was trapped between two large trucks on the highway, with the front half of the rear truck crushing the roof of his car. When the person was pulled out, he was no longer recognizable as a human being

She went out, it seems someone invited her to play cards. Sister Zhu said to her while twisting her neck.

The taxi was a very worn-out Jetta, the driver did not turn on the air conditioning, and hot air rushed in through the windows, causing Fang Wenxiu to break out in a cold sweat in the back seat

Fang Wenxiu went to the bathroom, wet a towel with warm water, and came out to sit at the head of the bed, gently brushing aside her hair to wipe away the makeup from her face. The true visage of a well-maintained, smooth-skinned middle-aged woman gradually revealed itself. Fang Wenxiu looked at her almost tenderly, as she had always believed her mother to be beautiful

Yan Lihua's hands were well-maintained, fair and tender, and not dirty. Fang Wenxiu gently and meticulously wiped each finger with great patience. Fang Yuanshan had passed away, leaving only the two of them as the sole blood relatives in this world. Fang Wenxiu was unsure if Yan Lihua had thought about this. She glanced up at Yan Lihua, who had not slept well, her brows furrowed together. Fang Xiuwen extended her index finger and pointed at Yan Lihua's brow, causing Yan Lihua's features to immediately scrunch up in response, irritably shaking her head to avoid it. In this world, they were the only two remaining blood relatives, and Fang Wenxiu was uncertain if Yan Lihua had considered this. She looked up at Yan Lihua again, who was still troubled by her poor sleep, her brows knitted together. Fang Xiuwen reached out her index finger to touch her brow, and once more, Yan Lihua's features contorted in annoyance as she shook her head to evade the gesture.

There lies a person who died together with Fang Yuanshan. In Fang Yuanshan's car, there was a woman, who, like him, had severed hands and feet, her intestines torn and her abdomen ruptured, yet her face remained intact and still beautiful as a flower.

Zhao Zhengsheng stood steadily by the corridor window, his face devoid of expression, appearing somewhat resigned to the finality of the situation. Fang Wenxiu's steps grew slower and slower, and by the time she reached him, she had even stopped breathing, a breath caught in her throat.

My father has died. Fang Wenxiu heard herself say this, and the words unleashed a torrent of sorrow, catching her off guard. Yes, her father was dead. She felt her tears and snot streaming onto her phone, her hands sticky.

Fang Yuanshan is a tall man, unable to fit on the hospital stretcher, with his feet hanging out. He is barefoot, and it is difficult for someone without shoes to walk the road to the underworld. Fang Wenxiu's tears suddenly fell.

Fang Wenxiu withdrew her hand, afraid to touch her again. She had been living in the indifferent and discriminatory circle created by Fang Yuanshan for over a decade, perhaps even more than ten years. She loathed everyone around her, to the extent that no one could hope to approach her. Fang Wenxiu was fully aware of all this.

As they approached the hospital, Zhao Zhengsheng's call came through again, instructing her to go directly to the emergency department. Fang Wenxiu, trembling, handed the driver one hundred yuan, and without waiting for change, opened the door and rushed out.

That year she was nineteen years old, her father passed away, and that night she wept in pain, holding herself. Fang Xiuwen would forever remember that night

Sister Zhu was still intently watching television, while Fang Xiuwen went upstairs to turn on the computer and search for information about embalmers. Generally, funeral homes would have embalmers, but Fang Yuanshan had built his fortune from scratch and enjoyed a prosperous life for half a century. Fang Xiuwen did not want him to lose any of his dignity after his death

Fang Wenxiu retrieved her uncle's phone number from her contacts. Her grandmother had only given birth to one son, Fang Yuanshan. Her grandfather had passed away many years ago, and her grandmother had also passed away two years ago. The Fang family no longer has any direct relatives in their hometown, and the only ones left to notify are her uncle's family.

Amidst the background noise of women's screams and struggles, Fang Wenxiu heard Liu Wei shouting at her: "Wenxiu, he said your dad was in a car accident!" Liu Wei pointed a finger at the phone, and after finishing her words, her mouth remained agape.

Yan Lihua wore only a camisole nightgown, maintaining a posture of despondency as if she were awake. Her curly long hair covered half of her face, and her head extended beyond the sofa. Half of her chest and her two thighs were exposed to the air, pale and glaring. A fifty-year-old woman appeared as disheveled and degenerate as an eighteen-year-old, presenting a very unappealing sight

Thank you for your hard work, Sister Zhu. Fang Wenxiu nodded at her, changed her shoes, and walked inside

Mother," Fang Wenxiu called her

Fang Wenxiu approached and said, "Mom, I'm here too." She wanted to take her hand, but Yan Lihua let her hands, which were clasped together, drop at the moment she reached out.

Yan Lihua did not see her; her eyes were fixed blankly on the space beside Fang Wenxiu. Fang Wenxiu moved aside to make room, watching her mother walk over step by step

Upon exiting the study, I happened to encounter Sister Zhu, who inquired about what she would have for dinner. Yan Lihua would certainly not be returning for dinner, and Fang Xiuwen had just finished eating and was not hungry, so she told her that she would not be eating. Sister Zhu acknowledged this and then went downstairs

On this day, no one died in the emergency room of the hospital. Fang Wenxiu had kept vigil in the corridor for a day and a night. At 10:00 AM the next day, he sent the bodies of Fang Yuanshan and the unnamed woman to the hospital's morgue, and after paying the fees, he returned home

Yan Lihua, deeply intoxicated, was placed on the luxurious bed that was over 2 meters wide by Fang Xiuwen. She curled up and nestled in, and then fell silent.

Fang Wenxiu smiled at her senior, not on guard. She saw Liu Wei answer her call, but her expression was one of shock, staring wide-eyed and with her mouth agape in her direction

As soon as Sister Zhu walked in after putting half a pot of water on the stove, she asked, "What do you want to eat? I will make it for you." Fang Wenxiu turned her head to glance at her and replied, "No need to worry about me, I will just cook a bowl of noodles."

The nanny awkwardly walked out and said to Fang Wenxiu: "The elder sister won't let me come out"

Is it Wenxiu? Is it really Wenxiu? Auntie asked uncertainly over the phone

About half an hour later, Fang Wenxiu came to a stop, listening to the sound of hurried high heels approaching from a distance. She glanced down at Fang Yuanshan, who was lying there, and said to him: "Father, may you rest in peace"

Fang Wenxiu did not sleep for long, waking up shortly after 4 o'clock. She first went next door to take a look; there was no one in Yan Lihua's bed. Two pieces of clothing were left on the bed, and a pair of high heels lay sideways at the foot of the bed.

Fang Wenxiu sat in the restaurant and poured herself a glass of water. The dining table faced the floor-to-ceiling window, through which the blazing sunlight shone brightly. Fang Xiuwen walked over and opened the window, allowing the flowing hot air to rush in. The sky outside was a deep blue, and the air was scorching. Fang Yuanshan had perished in this sweltering season. Fang Xiuwen knew that her body would forever remember this intense heat; her father had died

When Fang Yuanshan died, Fang Wenxiu was playing basketball at the women's basketball match between the History Department and the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Department during the T University Sports Games. The way less professional women play basketball is quite similar to a brawl, all flailing and ungraceful. Just as her phone, which was in the pocket of her sportswear on the sidelines, started ringing frantically, she jumped up and made a three-point shot. The basketball spun on the rim before dropping in, and when she landed, her arm bore three fresh scratches oozing blood. Just as her phone, which was in the pocket of her sportswear on the sidelines, started ringing frantically, she jumped up and made a three-point shot. The basketball spun on the rim before dropping in, and when she landed, her arm bore three fresh scratches oozing blood.

Fang Wenxiu immediately agreed, and the other party quickly sent over a contract in electronic document form. Fang Wenxiu went to Fang Yuanshan's study to print a copy, signed it, and then faxed it back. At the same time, she also transferred a deposit of 9,000 yuan to the other party

The downstairs has already been tidied up, and Sister Zhu is sitting on the sofa watching television. Fang Wenxiu asked her, "Where is my mother?"

She heard herself sobbing intermittently as she repeated, "My father is dead." Then she realized that nothing could continue, and in her anguish, she embraced herself and wept uncontrollably

Fang Wenxiu emerged from the morgue and sat on the chair opposite the door, watching her mother, Yan Lihua, whose back had sagged from her suit jacket. She stood beside Fang Yuanshan's corpse for a long time before reaching out to lift the white cloth covering him. Fang Wenxiu observed her body sway slightly, but fortunately, she did not fall down

Fang Wenxiu carefully covered Fang Wenshan again, standing beside him and softly reciting a passage of scripture. The girl's voice echoed in the air, while Zhao Zhengsheng looked at the tall, thin figure and took out a cigarette to smoke.

Yan Lihua stood beside Fang Yuanshan, merely watching him without reaching out to touch him. After a while, she pinched the lifted cloth with two fingers and covered his face again, then she raised her head to look at the bed next to Fang Yuanshan.

The room where Fang Yuanshan's body was placed is a temporary storage area for corpses in the hospital's emergency room. In principle, bodies should not be stored there for too long. Fang Wenxiu gave the on-duty nurse a sum of 1,000 yuan to secure the use of this room for one day

Fang Wenxiu lifted half of the white cloth covering Fang Yuanshan, finally catching her breath. Fang Yuanshan had died an unnatural death; his face bore the grotesque expression from his last moments. His corpse had already stiffened, and a bluish-gray hue seeped from his skin. He was still wearing a suit, having passed away on the way to the hospital, with no one to change his clothes. The suit was awkwardly draped over him, and his limbs twisted grotesquely within the fabric. His shirt had been pulled out from his belt, and a thick layer of dried blood crusted over the clothing from his abdomen downward. He had likely bled out before his death.

Yan Lihua lightly applied a layer of lipstick, her lips curving downwards. In her eyes, there was still no sign of Fang Wenxiu. She glanced at Zhao Zhengsheng, her gaze numb and indifferent, tinged with a hint of habitual resentment, but not much. Then she turned and walked away, exiting the hospital without looking back

Sister Zhu cooked noodles for Fang Xiuwen and then went to watch television, reminding her to simply place the bowl in the sink after finishing. However, Fang Xiuwen, after eating, still washed the bowl clean and neatly placed it in the cupboard.