In one of the prisons, a young woman sat with her fellow inmates. She had been incarcerated for a full three years, for involuntary manslaughter resulting in injury.
She had been imprisoned for three years, put there by her own husband, because she was falsely accused of assassinating his lover. Somehow, his lover had evidence, which made him believe it and heartlessly push her into prison.
She had been here for three years, and tomorrow was the day she would be released, having served her full sentence. Despite this, she still felt a pang of regret at leaving them, because she had gotten to know most of the women here, and they lived together very harmoniously. The women had taken great care of her, and they also knew her story, how she had been wronged.
That evening, they and the female guards all held a small farewell party in prison for her departure tomorrow. They also said that if any of them were released, they should meet up, and everyone agreed.
In the middle of the night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She was about to be released from prison, and she wondered how she would face things once she was out. She would definitely find a way to divorce him.
The next morning, she embraced her fellow inmates and the female guards, sobbing, and then she left.
The girl's name was Gu Xiafei. Her mother had also given her the English name Daisy. She was of mixed heritage; her mother was Chinese, but her father was British, so she possessed two bloodlines, and her appearance reflected it. She had long, smooth black hair, and the most striking feature was her beautiful blue eyes.
Since childhood, her mother had told her she was mixed-race because her father was British. Despite this, she had never once seen her father from childhood to adulthood.
Gu Xiafei had just stepped out, not forgetting to bid everyone farewell. As soon as she was outside, she immediately saw her childhood best friend coming to pick her up. From a distance, her friend waved and called out, "Xiafei, I'm here!"
Her name was Zhang Yanjing. She was a friend who had lived with Gu Xiafei from childhood to adulthood, and ever since Gu Xiafei went to prison, Zhang Yanjing had always visited her regularly.
Gu Xiafei ran over from a distance, a smile on her face, and said, "Yanjing, how have you been?"
Zhang Yanjing looked at her and smiled, then reached out and ruffled Gu Xiafei's hair, replying, "I'm doing well. Knowing you were getting out of that place today, I came to pick you up right away."
Gu Xiafei was touched by this and smiled politely, "Thank you."
After that, they both got into the car, and Zhang Yanjing drove Gu Xiafei home. As they were in the car on the way home, Zhang Yanjing asked, "Feifei, I heard he didn't visit you once in the past three years, did he?"
Hearing the man Zhang Yanjing mentioned, Gu Xiafei frowned, her expression blank, and said, "Mm, not once."
Zhang Yanjing frowned upon hearing Gu Xiafei's indifferent words. She immediately burst out angrily, "That heartless man!"
She scolded him fiercely in the car out of annoyance, while Gu Xiafei remained silent, looking out the car window.
Then Zhang Yanjing clicked her tongue. After that, she stopped talking about him and turned to stare at Gu Xiafei's hair, asking casually, "Feifei, your hair has faded. Are you still dyeing it black to cover up your natural hair color?"
Hearing this, Gu Xiafei lifted her hair and looked at it, then she sighed and replied, "You know I've always disliked that hair color and these eyes."
Zhang Yanjing, who was driving, reached out and stroked Gu Xiafei's hair, saying, "Even so, I truly think they're beautiful. I think mixed-race people rarely have both of these."
Although she acknowledged this – that she was a rare mixed-race person with natural blue eyes and blonde hair – Gu Xiafei had never, ever wanted them. She turned to look at Zhang Yating and said, "But I don't like them. When we get home, could you dye them for me?"
Zhang Yating sighed, then offered her advice. "I think you should keep your natural hair and eye color. You're going to live a new life; you need to change completely right now."
Gu Xiafei knew what she was saying was true, but it made her feel a sharp pang of pain, and she could only remain silent.
Zhang Yating continued, "Feifei, two years ago, didn't you tell me to spread the rumor that you died in prison? This is your new life now."
Gu Xiafei immediately nodded, then bowed her head and said, "I understand."
Zhang Yating's words were not wrong. At this moment, she had to be strong and live a new, changed life. But there was one thing she absolutely would not change: her quest for revenge.
Zhang Yating reached out, clapped her on the shoulder, and said cheerfully, "That's my friend!"
A moment later, Gu Xiafei remembered something and immediately looked up. "Yating, before we go home, could you stop by my mother's grave? I want to see her."
Zhang Yating immediately smiled and said, "Why not? I'm taking you to your mother's grave right now!"
Gu Xiafei smiled back. "Thank you. It's good to have you."
Zhang Yating felt a surge of emotion and smiled warmly, dismissing her thanks. "We're like sisters, no need for thanks. Come on now."
With that, she sped off towards the cemetery. Before arriving, they stopped by a flower shop to buy a bouquet of white chrysanthemums for her mother.