Living With a Temperamental Adonis: 99 Proclamations of Love

"...My father’s salary was not high—he could barely support our whole family—but my mother managed the household well, so whenever a big holiday arrived, we could still go to a slightly better restaurant to enjoy a scrumptious meal as a family...

"Later in life, after I entered the Fang family and married into the Song family, I had endless money to spend and exquisite meals served day in and out...

"But I wasn’t happy. The happiest moment of my life was when my parents were still around...

"Yes, we were poor, but we were happy... Of course, that happiness was something rich people like you wouldn’t understand. Money cannot buy happiness, but it sure can buy many things like the butchering of a whole happy family!"

Fang Rou’s tone started to quiver, and she practically hissed the rest of her story. "...The incident happened about twenty years ago. I do wonder if Song Menghwa still remembers it after so many years. I believe you won’t; after all, why would you care about an insignificant family like ours?

"It was a wintry night. My little sister suffered from a sudden high fever. Mom and Dad took her to the hospital. That morning, Dad had just purchased a new car worth 70,000 RMB, and we were supposed to go on a trip the day after, but who would have thought that the first trip the car took would be to the hospital?

"It was snowing heavily that night. I stayed home alone and waited until morning, but my parents and sister hadn’t returned. I didn’t go to school and stayed at home to wait for them. I was about to faint from hunger when it was almost noon. However, I held on until night fell and the policeman came, telling me to go with him to meet my parents and sister...

"I remember how glad I was. I thought my parents were at the hospital, too busy taking care of my sister, so they had asked the policeman to come for me. I followed the policeman happily, and yes, he did bring me to the hospital, but it was to the morgue."

Fang Rou’s whole frame seemed to be radiating hate. Her eyes were brimming with tears. "To this day, I cannot forget that memory. My parents and little sister arranged side by side. They were very quiet with their eyes closed, like they were sleeping. No matter how loud I yelled or how hard I shook them, my cry-baby little sister didn’t cry, my Mom didn’t smile, and my Dad didn’t open his eyes...

"They were dead, all dead... Died in an accident on the way to the hospital, died at the hands of the murderer Song Menghwa!"

Fang Rou shuddered with fury. "Yes, it was Song Menghwa who was speeding under influence that night, crashing into my parents’ car, causing my whole family to die on the spot!

"But that’s not all he did! The worst is Song Menghwa used his money to buy the judges or someone because it was obvious that he was driving under influence, but it became reckless driving. He also found himself a shameless lawyer to defend himself in court...

"Such a horrible accident, three lives were lost, but what did Song Menghwa get as punishment? Several ten thousand RMB to me as compensation‽ I ask you, do you think I want that money? My parents are dead, why would I need your money? Song Menghwa was barely affected. His driver’s license didn’t get revoked, and his company only got better, even entering the stock market...

"Why‽ Tell me why, even though Song Menghwa had killed someone, his life only got better and better?

"What about me? In the orphanage I was bullied, at school, I was mocked, and even my adopted family didn’t like me!"