Chapter 2 Mother’s Escape
Mother could not protect me.
By the time the story truly began, she was supposed to have died.
The plot could not be overturned, so she had to “disappear.”
“Yaohua, starting the next day, you would face everything alone. They said fate could not be defied, but trust me—I would find a way to secure a future for you.”
She looked into my eyes and made me promise:
The day the pampered female protagonist entered the mansion, no matter what happened, I must not give in to jealousy.
Only by staying calm and keeping my distance could I avoid the story’s influence and survive.
I nodded solemnly.
One deep, dew-laden night, Mother “accidentally” fell into the lotus pond.
The pond connected to the city’s moat through running water.
She had planned everything perfectly to fake her death and escape.
When the marquis received the news, he appeared devastated.
My brother Xie Yunting rushed back from the academy.
They drained the pond and searched the moat for three full days and nights.
Then they calmly set up a spirit hall and announced to the world that Mother had passed away.
At the spirit hall, I watched Xie Chengzong wailing dramatically, yet a flicker of joy passed through his eyes.
Xie Yunting noticed my silence and patted my head.
“Yaohua, your brother will protect you for life.”
I said nothing, only shifted away from his touch.
After witnessing Xie Chengzong’s behavior, I believed Mother’s words even more: “Men are reliable only until pigs climb trees.”
Once Xie Yunting met the female protagonist, he would change too.
Relying on him was useless.
I had to rely on myself.