Rebirth: Looking Back in a Sudden Realization - Chapter 1

In the summer of 1999, in Shangcheng, up in the Shao family’s small attic, a young girl already growing into the form of an adolescent had been sitting among dusty old furniture all afternoon. Suddenly, from inside a suitcase, she pulled out a yellowed letter.

“What’s this?” she murmured, unfolding it.

On the whole sheet of stationery were only four bold, powerful characters: “Never Forget Your Original Intention.” The signature read Longhua, dated September 1, 1990.

Her heart tightened with doubt. Of course, she remembered that day clearly — it was the day she and her mother left the Zhao household. “Original Intention”… those words were also the source of her and her younger brother Zhongyuan’s names. But what intention was so important?

“Yanyan, phone call!” her mother called from downstairs.

“Coming!” Shao Chuyan quickly slipped the letter back, hurriedly running down.

Her mother, Shao Yiner, was reclining on the purple velvet sofa in the living room. Ten years seemed to have left no trace on her — she was still the same stunning beauty as before: arched brows, almond-shaped eyes, a small delicate mouth, and long hair like black satin falling loosely over her shoulders. But now her expression was weary. With one hand massaging her forehead, she lifted the other to pass the phone to Chuyan as her daughter came over.

From her mother’s expression, Chuyan had already guessed who was on the other end. She took the phone nervously and sat down. “Hello, who’s this?”

A childish voice came through: “Sister! It’s Xiaoyuan.”

Forcing a smile even though he couldn’t see it, Chuyan asked, “Xiaoyuan, how have you been?”

Zhao Zhongyuan’s voice was heavy: “Not good. Last night I dreamed you and Mama took me to the park. We fed so, so many pigeons with bread! Then you both disappeared, and I woke up crying.”

Chuyan’s eyes stung. “Sister misses you too. When you come to New York, I’ll take you to the park to feed pigeons.”

“Really? Then will you come back to see me every year during vacation?” he asked sadly.

Chuyan nodded firmly. “I will.”

He whined in a spoiled tone, “Sister, can’t you and Mama just not leave? I’ve only met you once!”

Tears welled up in Chuyan’s eyes. What could she do? She liked Xiaoyuan dearly too. But Zhao family uncles feared she might fight for her grandfather’s inheritance, while her father pressured her to change back to the Zhao surname. She and her mother only wanted to protect themselves, to stay out of such strife. The only solution was to escape far away, to live quietly abroad. But her poor younger brother… ten years ago, their parents had divorced when he was only a year old. In all this time, they had only just reunited briefly that past summer. Now, once again, they would be separated even further.

Sniffling, she forced a cheerful voice. “You rascal, soon we’ll grow up. Then we can be together often.”

Zhongyuan pouted. “As long as you promise to see me every year, whether you’re abroad or here in Shangcheng doesn’t matter. When I grow up, I’ll come see you.”

“I promise! But you, Zhao Zhongyuan, must study hard and promise to become a great man!”

He sighed like a little old soul. “Of course! Hmph, Dad even told me to try calling you, said maybe if I asked you to stay, you might change your mind.”

Chuyan frowned, her resentment toward her father deepening. But since she was leaving tomorrow, what did it matter? Calmly, she said, “Xiaoyuan, I’m not leaving because I don’t care about you. It’s because I want a happier life. Promise me, you’ll take good care of yourself and live joyfully every day, okay? Next summer, when I come back, I’ll check if you’ve grown taller and if your grades have slipped.”

This time he agreed obediently. “Mm, okay.”

The siblings chatted a little longer before she hung up. On the sofa beside her, her mother gave a small nod, signaling her to sit. Obediently, she did.

Taking her hand, Shao Yiner spoke with her usual gentle, watery voice. “Yanyan, are you reluctant to leave Xiaoyuan?”

Chuyan nodded.

“Then… should we stay?” her mother probed.

Chuyan lowered her head onto her mother’s shoulder. She was only thirteen — ordinary girls at this age argued with their parents over pocket money, while she had to make decisions for the family. Her mother’s timid nature made her indecisive, easily swayed by others. Xiaoyuan, only eleven, had lived his whole life without a mother beside him. Both the Zhao and Shao families had failed him. So-called high society brought no happiness, no wholeness.

With muffled words, Chuyan said, “If you want to keep enduring threatening phone calls from Zhao family uncles, and harassment from Zhao Longhua, then let’s stay.”

Just thinking about it gave Shao Yiner a headache. Old Master Zhao’s health worsened by the day; if she didn’t leave soon, she might never escape. Zhao Longhua would never allow Xiaoyuan to come to Shangcheng and live by her side. So whether they stayed or went abroad, what difference was there? Resigned, she said, “Tomorrow morning’s flight is at nine. Have you packed everything?”

Chuyan nodded, though she didn’t want to move. All she wanted was to cling to her mother like this forever, to monopolize her love, as if that alone could hold happiness in her grasp.

After dinner, mother and daughter retired early to their rooms to rest before the long flight ahead. In her suite’s Jacuzzi, Chuyan soaked in a bubble bath, already imagining life in New York. Since they had chosen immigration, she thought, they likely wouldn’t return to live in China again — apart from visiting Xiaoyuan each summer, there was nothing here worth lingering for. Closing her eyes, her brows knit slightly. On her round, apple-like cheeks still dusted with baby fat, fine downy hairs glistened. She didn’t resemble Shao Yiner much; instead, her features took more after Zhao Longhua: slightly arched brows, a high nose bridge, and a small cherry mouth. Though her features had yet to fully mature, she was undoubtedly a beauty in the making. Her developing figure was tall and slender, with a cascade of long black curls like a swaying waterfall.

Because of her mother’s influence, her dream had always been simple: just an ordinary, happy life, a warm, pure home. When her parents divorced, she had been very young, but she still remembered those broken scenes of violence and insults. The cruelty had planted fear in her small heart, forcing her to grow up earlier than her peers, making her sensitive and fragile.

The naked greed and fighting for wealth disgusted her. She wanted only to escape, to stay far away. Especially Zhao Longhua — though he was her father, beyond money and power, what else mattered to him? Otherwise, how could he have betrayed her mother back then?

Brooding, Chuyan grew restless. She ducked her head under the water for nearly a minute before bursting up, dripping. Reaching for the bathrobe hanging on the wall, she realized it was placed too far today. Stretching one foot out onto the glossy tile floor, she leaned forward to grab it.

But in an instant — she slipped! Her body pitched forward, and before she could catch herself, her head struck hard against the tub’s edge.

Everything went black.