Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

She lay her body sideways. The light shining through the window curtain showed a slightly pale face.

A child. A mother would most definitely reduce herself to such a state for her child.

If it was for a man, would this be worth it?

Xia Ruoxin looked at herself in the mirror as she touched her face. It was full of bruises, a red handprint, and a broken lip. One glance, and people would know that she was beaten up. She touched the wounds on her face again. Sigh. How could she visit her daughter looking like this?

Rainy might be only three years old, but she was more mature than any child of her age. No matter how much powder she applied, they would still be visible. She might as well leave it as it was.

She turned on the faucet, rinsed her face with the tap water, and then she rubbed her shoulders. In fact, her face was not the only place with wounds. There were so many more on her body.

When she was almost done freshening up, she picked up her purse and left. At the moment, she was in extremely plain attire along with the wounds on her body. No one would know that she was a woman who would betray herself. No matter what her reasons were.

She walked into a mall, spent a dollar on a mask, and wore it. It might not have made a difference, but it would cover her face which was as swollen as a pig’s head.

She also bought a packet of milk powder and a lollipop. She had forgotten when the last time Rainy had had any milk powder was. It was almost as though she had learned to have rice paste since she was young.

When she walked out, it was already dark outside. Her hand went over her chest. With the way she looked now, not even a robber would want to mug her. Take now for instance; sometimes, being wounded could be a good thing.

This was the only way she could think to comfort herself. She wondered if she was being silly.

In the hospital…

She shook the milk bottle and then placed it by her cheek. People might be curious about her wounds, but she merely smiled in return. As wounded as her face was, it wasn’t so bad that she had to hide herself from the public.

Rainy was sitting on the bed playing with her doll. Most of the time, she was quiet. It seemed that she was content to play with herself, too. In fact, nobody knew she had become accustomed to playing with herself like this. It was the same as her mother who was used to leading a peaceful and quiet life alone.

Xia Ruoxin sat by the bed and placed the milk bottle into Rainy small hands. She smoothed its tiny skirt as she took over the doll.

“Mommy, I’m a grown up. I don’t have to drink milk anymore.” Rainy held the bottle in both hands, and her soft and cute childlike voice revealed her unwillingness. There was no need for her to drink milk formula. She would be fine with eating porridge. Milk formula was costly. Porridge had its nutrients, and it would help her grow.

Xia Ruoxin rested her hand on her daughter’s hair as she caressed and coaxed her, “Rainy, you are sick, and you need to get better. Drinking milk formula will help you to get better sooner. Then, we can also go home sooner.”

“Really?” Rainy looked at her mother with big, bright eyes and asked. However, she felt weird. Why was her mother covering her face like Uncle Doctor and Nurse Aunties?

“Of course. When have I ever lied to you?” Xia Ruoxin put the milk bottle at Rainy’s mouth. It was only at three years old did she let her daughter have the chance to drink her first packet of milk formula. She had treated her daughter unfairly since she was young.

Upon hearing they could go home sooner, Rainy clutched the bottle with both hands and started drinking. Mommy said they could go home sooner after she drank so she would obey. Then, they would return home quickly, and she would be able to do the laundry with her mother. They would be together every day, earning money.