The Storm Is Coming

After her family falls from grace, Mingzhu goes from being a rich young heiress to landing in the mire overnight.

Whenever the night grows quiet, she remembers what her father said the day he jumped to his death: "Mingzhu, I can't go on living."

"I'm leaving Mingbao in your hands."

Sometimes Mingzhu thinks it would be nice if she could die as easily as he did. But she has to live for Mingbao. Even if every day is hell, she has to keep going.

*

Fu Yu has been frail and sickly since childhood. Selfish and cold-hearted, she envies every beautiful thing, and Mingzhu is the most dazzling of them all.

She and Mingzhu grew up together. To outsiders, they couldn't have been closer, but only Fu Yu knew the truth: she wanted to destroy Mingzhu, to watch that pretty face turn wild and those bright eyes grow dim.

The Ming family collapsed. Mingzhu was no longer the haughty heiress she once was, but a nobody whom even the nouveau riche could trample underfoot.

Fu Yu had once gently stroked Mingzhu's face and asked, "Mingzhu, how many people have touched you now?"

She had also bitten the flesh of Mingzhu's thigh and chuckled, "Mingzhu, go to Gu Er's place tomorrow."

At last, one day, the light in Mingzhu's eyes went out. Fu Yu had snuffed it out with her own hands, little by little.

But happiness seemed to come too easily. Fu Yu didn't feel it. The world simply became unbearably dull.

*

Fu Yu found Mingzhu in a bar.

Mingzhu was being pinned down and kissed on a private room sofa. The stench of cigarette smoke, the bitter smell of beer, and the cheap perfume all mingled, assaulting the nose and turning the stomach.

Mingzhu noticed her arrival and gave a faint smile. "Would you like to book me, ma'am? I'm only available tomorrow. Ten thousand yuan gets you the whole night. You can do whatever you want."

Fu Yu didn't know what she was doing. She smashed the head of the person pinning Mingzhu down and led her out of the bar.

The night breeze blew. Fu Yu heard her own hoarse voice ask, "Mingzhu, why are you doing this?"

Mingzhu lit a cheap cigarette and took a puff. "Fu Yu, the only way I can pay for Mingbao's hospital bills now is to sell my body."

"Isn't this what you wanted to see?"

Mingzhu was smiling. There was neither hatred nor love in her gaze, and in an instant Fu Yu's heart sank into an icy abyss.

*

Mingzhu loved looking at the sky, but in her eyes it was always gray. She thought that maybe the sky would be brighter in another city.

Only much later did she understand: the sky wasn't gray. Her heart was.

The sunny days meant for her would never come.

*

Content warnings (please read!):

An extremely angsty, melodramatic story! The leads don't end up with anyone! It may be frustrating! There is a redemption arc!

(Please read the warnings. If you still insult me after I've been this clear, I'll insult you back! Discussing the characters is fine, but don't personally attack the author!!!)

Premise: Don't deny your feelings to the bitter end.