Ying Sheng raised her brows and ignored her walking straight to her room.

”Ying Sheng!” Her mother bellowed.

Ying Sheng groaned and turned to look at her mother. She hated to admit but her mother was really beautiful and elegant.

”Yes?” Ying Sheng replied to her mother as she strode towards her.

”Why didn’t you go to school today?!” Her mother questioned angrily.

Ying Sheng yawned and rolled her eyes. The moment she saw her mother, she knew they were going to have their usual fights.

”Because…I didn’t want to.” Ying Sheng shrugged as she said nonchalantly.

”You!” Su Cha’s temper sparked as anger stirred within her. She took a deep breath to calm down before speaking,

”You principal called me. You have been skipping classes, not taking part in tests and a teacher caught you smoking the last time!”

Ying Sheng hummed. Looking at the bored look on her daughter’s face, Su Cha felt a flicker of irritation.

She doesn’t know what she did in her previous life for God to give her such a daughter. Why can’t her daughter be classy and graceful like those girls in high society? Why did she have to get a gangster as a daughter?

Ying Sheng saw the disgust and disdain in her mother’s eyes. She chuckled, a deep rusty sound that vibrated her chest.

How foolish of her to dream that one day her mother will like her. That one day she would see a motherly affection in her eyes.

”You went on a business trip for weeks. No calls, no messages, nothing. The first thing you ask your daughter whom you haven’t seen for weeks is why she didn’t go to school?”

Ying Sheng questioned her mother with her voice laced with sarcasm.

”At times I wonder if I’m really your daughter.” Ying Sheng added as her lips stretched into a sardonic smile.

A trace of embarrassment flashed on Su Cha’s face but she quickly masked it.

”Don’t try to change the subject! You better give me a good explanation why you have been skipping school or-“

”Or what?”

Ying Sheng interrupted her mother. This woman never seizes to amaze her. No words of affection, nothing. She only cares about herself. Her reputation.

”Stop talking back to me. I don’t want you to ruin your life. Why are you doing this huh? Don’t we give you everything you need? All you have to do is make us proud. Is that too much to ask?”

Ying Sheng stared at her mother. Numbness consumed her body, her soul. Her fist clenched as she gazed at the woman who gave birth to her.

Not an ounce of love had she received. Will she ever love her?

No

Maybe

Only God knows.

She wanted to yell at her mother. ‘All I want is my parents’ love and attention. Is that too much to ask?’

But she knew better than to say anything.

”Are you done?” Ying Sheng asked rather. The more time she spends with her mother, the more disappointed she becomes.

Su Cha rubbed her temples.

”Go back to the States.” Su Cha mumbled suddenly.

Ying Sheng widened her eyes at her mother’s words. She was throwing her away again. Her mother didn’t want the disgraceful daughter around. She had a reputation to uphold and she wouldn’t let her, a disgrace ruin it.

Ying Sheng chuckled humorlessly.

”Are you sending your rag away again? Are you afraid people will question why the philanthropist who advocates for good behavior, daughter is a mess? Are you afraid they will question your upbringing skills? Are you afraid society will taunt you? You didn’t raise your daughter well? Maybe they will be right-“

Word after word that flowed from Ying Sheng’s lips angered Su Cha more by the second.

She was simmering with anger and a wave of fury crashed through her.

Rage boiled through her body. She barely had a chance to think of her actions. The only thought running through Su Cha’s head was getting Ying Sheng to shut up.

Su Cha connected her hand with Ying Sheng’s cheek and the room went silent.

A stinging pain spread through Su Cha’s palm as Ying Sheng’s head snapped to the side, a bright red hand mark smeared on Ying Sheng’s cheeks showing the extreme force of her hit.

A few minutes passed by and servants just stood there in silence looking at Ying Sheng as if she was the one at fault… They started to whisper in each other’s ears.

Ying Sheng busted into a manic laugh. The laugh filled with so much pain echoed in the room.

She didn’t even rubbed her cheek to soothe the pain. She just stood there staring at her mother as her lips curved into a sardonic smile.

Su Cha opened her mouth and closed it again. Even though she always fights with Ying Sheng, she has never raised her hands on her.

She thought as long as she doesn’t physically hurt her then it is okay. But unbeknownst to her, at times words cause more emotional damage and pain then physical pain.

Ying Sheng gazed at her mother, she wanted to see traces of remorse in her mother’s eyes but there were none.

Her mother’s heart didn’t clench in an antagonizing sort of pain for hurting her own child.

”I hope you are now happy.” Ying Sheng left her mother with words whispered so calmly and so softly with no emotions.

”Ying Sheng, if you walked through that door, don’t come back!” Su Cha roared at her daughter.

She hated her nonchalant behavior. Ying Sheng’s refusal to bend to her will riled her.

Ying Sheng stopped at the door. She turned to her mother and smirked at her.

”Remember mother…” the word mother laced with so much venom.

”At the end of the day, you’re just a wife. I’m my father’s daughter.”

Then she was gone. Leaving this hellhole called a house; a house not a home. It was never a home for Ying Sheng.