Chapter 2

I grew up alongside Li Mengyao, our families were close friends.

When I was seven, my parents divorced, and the following year, my father tragically died in a car accident during a business trip.

That left me, an eight-year-old, all alone.

My mother returned with Zhang Xuan, who was six at the time, and her new husband. They moved into my father's house, throwing out all of his belongings. I begged on my knees, and in the end, I was allowed to keep just one photograph of my father and me.

My mother never liked me; she only cared for Zhang Xuan, whom she considered her true child. My existence was merely the outcome of her reluctant union with my father.

That year, when they moved in, she treated me with disdain, often hitting me and denying me food. I was forced to move from my bedroom to a small, unwelcoming room.

I lived humbly in that house, clinging to the photograph as my only solace.

However, Zhang Xuan eventually took even that from me. When I tried to retrieve it, I accidentally pushed him down.

Seeing this, my mother beat me with a belt, tore the photograph to pieces, and finally threw me out, barely alive.

That day, it rained heavily. I knelt at the door, begging them to let me back in.

Just as despair set in, Li Mengyao appeared before me.

She took my hand and led me to her home.

Seeing my sorry state, Li's father was outraged at the injustice. He leveraged his influence to ensure my mother's family left.

Li's mother, noticing my young age, discussed with Li's father and decided to let me live with them, alongside Li Mengyao.

To me, Li Mengyao was my guardian angel. On that rainy day, she reached out and saved me.

My life was hers, and I was willing to give her everything.

When I was fifteen, I confessed my feelings to Li Mengyao. She giggled and hugged me warmly, "So you like me too! I knew it!"

That year was filled with happiness. The one I loved loved me back, and everyone was rooting for us.

In college, although I had the chance to attend a better school, Li Mengyao said she couldn't bear to be apart from me.

As soon as she said that, I disregarded everything else to be by her side.

But during college, Li Mengyao met Zhang Xuan, and they became fast friends.

We argued several times over this. Li Mengyao, exasperated, said, "That was so long ago. Why are you still holding onto it?

You must have been the one who was out of line. What kind of mother treats her child like that? Ah Xuan told me he always saw you as a brother."

From then on, Li Mengyao started calling me Lu Tao, saying she didn't want Zhang Xuan to feel neglected. She cared about both of us.

But Zhang Xuan was like a constant irritation in our lives.

He would call Li Mengyao away during our dates, or sometimes join us.

It frustrated me, leading to a huge argument with Li Mengyao, resulting in us going through a period of not speaking.

Two weeks later, Li Mengyao approached me, looking worn out, and cried while holding my hand, "Can't you forgive Ah Xuan and treat him as a friend for my sake?"

Seeing her so distressed, my heart softened completely.