Chapter 1: The Mu Family Doesn't Want You Anymore

Winter Solstice, sleet falling, a time for family reunions.
City B, the Mu residence.

"Crash—"
It was the sound of porcelain shattering.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Old Master Mu frowned in displeasure.

Today was the Winter Solstice, a day for the whole family to gather and eat dumplings. If it weren't for the sake of his grandchildren, he would never have come here. This place held too many bitter memories.

"Grandpa, it’s Mu You! That little burden broke a plate!"
"She must have done it on purpose! She doesn't want us to have a nice Winter Solstice!"
A young girl dressed like a princess pointed at another girl in the corner, her delicate face twisted with hostility beyond her years.

The girl named Mu You was thin and frail. Outside, the wind howled, yet she wore only a thin sweater. Despite the indoor heating, she was shivering, her small hands turned red from the cold. Her bare feet were tucked together, trembling and cramped.

"No, I... Grandpa, I didn't mean to break it! The floor... the floor was wet..."
"She’s just making excuses, clumsy as ever, just like your fool of a father. You two are truly father and daughter!"
The princess-like girl cut her off before she could finish. She stood with her hands on her hips, looking down at Mu You with an air of superiority, her words dripping with malice, showing no intention of stopping.

"En'en! Is that any way to speak to your sister You?"
A voice that sounded stern interrupted her.
"Dad, En'en is young and doesn't know any better, she speaks without thinking. Please don't take it to heart."
"Of course, You is also young; perhaps it really was just a slip of the hand. Please, don't let this trivial matter ruin your mood or your health."

Li Jiaojiao walked over with an elegant grace. Her voice was soft and sweet, and she knew exactly how to speak. Mu Deyuan, who had been irritated, felt his expression soften. He lowered his head to pick up his teacup, preparing to take a sip to soothe his nerves, completely missing the corner of Li Jiaojiao’s mouth as it curled into a smirk, or the way Mu You’s small body shook even more violently.

"Oh, You, you broke... that was the plate your mother gave to Dad!"
As she passed Mu You, Li Jiaojiao’s voice rose sharply, as if she were afraid someone might miss it. She pointed to the shards on the floor, her eyes reddening as she explained, "I remember, this was Dad's favorite plate, one of the few keepsakes left by your late mother. Oh, what a terrible shame!"

"What?!"
Mu Deyuan slammed his teacup down. The sound startled Mu Weien into hiding behind Li Jiaojiao and made Mu You nearly collapse to her knees.

The Old Master’s status in the Mu family was unquestionable. He had a temperamental character; he could be chatting pleasantly one second and then, the next, his face would darken, and he would erupt in a fit of rage.

Li Jiaojiao pretended to be kind, urging Mu You to apologize while repeatedly emphasizing the importance of the plate. Before Mu You could even open her mouth, Mu Deyuan exploded.

"You! Go back to your room and reflect on your actions!"
"Since you clearly don't want to spend the holiday with us, you can skip dinner. You aren't to come out until you realize your mistake!"
With that final ultimatum, Mu Deyuan stood up and walked away with his hands behind his back.

Li Jiaojiao paused, appearing slightly dissatisfied with the Old Master's reaction. But the show was far from over.
"Take all this trash away," she said, her tone indifferent, as if this had nothing to do with her.
"Yes, Young Madam."
"And make sure you lock that little burden up tight. Don't let her run out and spoil our mood!"
"Yes, Young Miss."

Once Li Jiaojiao and Mu Weien had left, the servant’s stiff expression relaxed, replaced by a look of pity for Mu You. How pitiful! They were both children of the Mu family, yet one was spoiled into a willful princess, while the other was bullied into a "wild child" who was neither fed nor clothed, and cared for by no one.

She remembered that Mu You was five and a half years old, about half a year older than Mu Weien. Yet, due to malnutrition, she looked like a small monkey, while Mu Weien, who was fed nutritious meals daily, looked a whole size larger.

"Miss You, bear with it for tonight. Perhaps once the Old Master cools down, he will let you out?"
The servant was new to the Mu household and didn't fully grasp the complex web of relationships. She only knew that the little girl before her was truly wretched.

"Thank you, sister."
Mu You smiled and thanked her, wishing her a happy Winter Solstice.
"Miss You, I wish you a happy Winter Solstice as well. I must go now."

After the door closed, the narrow room returned to silence. Mu You curled up on the bed, watching the sleet outside the window, a tear sliding down her small face.
"Mommy, Daddy... Youbao misses you so much."
"Today is the Winter Solstice, a day for families to be together, but Youbao is all alone..."

Mu You pulled a crumpled photograph from under her pillow. It was her most cherished possession—a family portrait. In it, the woman was young and beautiful, the baby was plump and cute, but the man’s face had been deliberately burned away by a cigarette butt, leaving only a heartless black hole. Even so, Mu You kept it hidden away carefully.

"Daddy, Mommy has left us forever. Where did you go? Did you abandon Youbao too?"
Mu You remembered that her father had been taken away by her uncle and aunt half a year after her mother passed away. They said it was to see a doctor at a big hospital. But two years had passed; her father hadn't returned, and he hadn't even sent a single letter.

Mu You feared that something had happened to him.
Just then, the door was kicked open with great force.
"You, go stay in the back mountain."
It was Li Jiaojiao and Mu Yao.

"Uncle, Auntie..."
Mu You immediately got off the bed and bowed respectfully to them. Her proficiency in doing so made the servant feel a fresh wave of pity. Was this really family?

"Don't call me Uncle! I have never acknowledged you or your fool of a live-in son-in-law father from the bottom of my heart! How do you two burdens have the audacity to call me family?"
"It was only the Old Master’s soft heart that kept you fed, you ungrateful wretch! You actually made the Old Master’s old illness flare up!"

Mu Yao looked at her with utter contempt and viciously ordered the servant to take Mu You to the back mountain to pick herbs as penance.
"If you don't find the Ice Lingzhi, don't bother coming back!"
"The Mu family doesn't need useless trash!"

Hearing this, Mu You bit her lip and couldn't help but retort.
"Daddy is just like a child, he’s always cheerful, plays with me, and tells me stories! He’s not the fool you call him! He’s not sick!"
They could call her a burden, but she would never let them call her father a fool!
Mu You was usually submissive, so this sudden outburst startled both Mu Yao and Li Jiaojiao.

"How dare you talk back? Fine, fine, I’ll grant your wish—you can go join your fool of a father and short-lived mother in the underworld!"
Mu Yao delivered the final blow, ordering the two servants to tie Mu You up and throw her deep into the back mountain.

The sleet was falling harder now. Mu You was tossed to the ground like a sack, her fair little face instantly splattered with mud and filth.
"Miss... Miss You, good luck."
Seeing her companions weren't looking, the servant quickly stuffed a heating pad and a sausage into Mu You’s arms before leaving to report back. It was all she could do.

Lying on the ground, Mu You felt as if her bones were about to shatter. She watched the figures disappear, a wave of bitterness washing over her. The Mu family really didn't want her anymore...

Mu You sniffled and tried to stand, but was blown over by a gust of wind. It was so cold, so painful! The sleet grew heavier, and her consciousness began to fade.
"Meow?"
Hearing a sound, Mu You struggled to open her eyes and saw a thin tabby cat. There seemed to be a layer of golden light around the cat.
"Meow..."