Guan Rong had been frail since birth: she could not bear the fierce sun in summer, nor endure the cold wind in winter. In spring and autumn, the insect bites were a torment. Therefore, in the room where she lived, bamboo curtains hung at the windows and the door all year round.
Although it was now the end of August, the lingering heat of the season still had some ferocity. Approaching noon, the sunlight was harsh, and the curtains over the doors and windows were lowered, making the room dimmer. Guan Rong's mother glanced down at her and saw her grinding her teeth in anger. The light filtering in through the curtain gaps cast mottled shadows on her face, which seemingly added a hint of malevolence. Her mother felt a chill in her heart.