Chapter 174: This Is Just the Beginning

Words : 1313 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

At first, Zhao Haishuang didn’t believe in something so miraculous, but she decided to try the injection. Apart from her face looking a bit swollen in the first few days, it became natural and beautiful after a while. This was exactly what Zhao Haishuang had been pursuing. However, the effect of the injection didn’t last very long. It would typically fade in about two weeks, so Zhao Haishuang had to get it once every two weeks. This time, Zhao Haishuang received another hydrating injection. When Yun Shifei visited the Cheng Family again and saw Zhao Haishuang, she noticed that her face seemed different. Her makeup was still as glamorous as ever, but her forehead appeared slightly swollen, and even the foundation couldn’t cover it up. "Shi Fei, here to see Xiao Lie again?" Yun Shifei nodded and couldn’t help but ask, "Auntie, what happened to your face?" "What happened?" Zhao Haishuang reached up to touch her own face. "It looks a little swollen." "Oh, is it? It’s nothing. It’ll be fine in a few days," Zhao Haishuang replied. Yun Shifei gave a soft "oh" and said, "I’ll go find Cheng Lie first." "Go on." As Yun Shifei walked upstairs, it suddenly occurred to her that Zhao Haishuang’s face bore some resemblance to the surgically altered faces of modern social media influencers that she’d seen before. Could it be that Zhao Haishuang had also undergone cosmetic surgery? Yun Shifei wasn’t sure, but considering how much Zhao Haishuang cherished her beauty—putting on makeup every single day even at home—surgery wouldn’t be too surprising. By now, the New Year had passed, and it was time for them to return to school. Yun Shifei invited Cheng Lie to go out and shop for school supplies. She thought that going out more often might help Cheng Lie’s condition improve. After Yun Shifei took Cheng Lie out, Zhao Haishuang couldn’t resist pulling out a mirror to examine her face. Her forehead, chin, and cheeks were indeed still a bit swollen. Before, it had taken only a couple of days for the swelling to subside naturally. But now, four days had already passed. Why was it still so noticeable? Zhao Haishuang frowned. Could it be that Zhao Wan hadn’t used the best quality injection for her? Two days later, Zhao Haishuang noticed that her face was becoming stranger and stranger. Especially after removing her makeup. Her entire face looked both swollen and greasy, resembling a pig’s head. She didn’t even dare to look directly at her own reflection. How could this be happening? She rushed anxiously to the beauty salon to contact Zhao Wan. Zhao Wan studied her face carefully and said, "Why don’t you wait a few more days and see? I injected myself that day too, and I didn’t have any issues." Looking at Zhao Wan’s face, which indeed appeared fine, Zhao Haishuang wondered why her own face had ended up like this. Forced to remain patient, she waited another two days. The swelling did seem to gradually subside, but a new issue arose. The small amount of collagen remaining in her face seemed to have completely disappeared. Her skin lost its elasticity and luster, leaving only a thin, sagging layer clinging to her face. Wrinkles were everywhere. She ran her hands over her face. It had once been smooth, but now it felt exceptionally rough, like sandpaper. She couldn’t stop herself from screaming, flinging the mirror to the ground. Hearing the commotion, Cheng Huai came over and knocked on Zhao Haishuang’s door. "Mom, what’s wrong?" "Nothing... I’m fine..." Zhao Haishuang answered. The shattered mirror pieces littered the floor. Still, Zhao Haishuang wanted to take a closer look at herself, hoping she’d just been imagining things earlier. She turned on all the lights in the room and stepped in front of her vanity mirror. Staring back at her was a woman who had aged ten years overnight—her vision went dark immediately. How could this be happening... Who ages like this overnight? This was beyond terrifying—it felt like watching a horror movie! Zhao Haishuang thought so herself. In a panic, she grabbed the makeup products on her table and started applying them to her skin. But even with the same makeup as before, it couldn’t cover the pits and wrinkles on her aged skin. Before, her appearance combined with her makeup had made her look like a stunningly elegant beauty blooming in extravagance. But now... Staring at the heavily painted monster in the mirror, she realized that even the thickest makeup couldn’t hide her new visage. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her. This isn’t right. This isn’t how she was supposed to look! "Ah—" In utter despair, Zhao Haishuang screamed aloud. "Mom, what’s wrong? Open the door!" Outside, Cheng Huai’s anxious voice rang out. He was certain something had happened to Zhao Haishuang—but what exactly? In another room, Cheng Lie quietly flipped through a book. He heard the commotion coming from Zhao Haishuang’s side too. He knew she must’ve discovered the truth about her ruined face by now. Her appearance was what she valued most. And so, he destroyed it. Strike where it hurts the most. He didn’t act lightly, but when he did, he made sure to take away what mattered most to her. The young boy’s expression was dark and cold, like a gloomy sky that seemed to drain the air from the room. Listening to Zhao Haishuang’s agonized cries, his expression didn’t falter in the slightest. In fact, his lips even curved into a faint smile. This was only the beginning. No need to rush—he’d waited so many years. There was plenty of time to savor this slowly. ... When Cheng Guomin returned home from work, he sensed that something about the atmosphere was off. The usual scene of Zhao Haishuang helping him carry his briefcase and take off his coat was missing—she was nowhere to be found. "Where’s your mom?" Cheng Guomin asked Cheng Huai. "Mom’s not feeling well. She said she won’t be coming down for dinner." Cheng Guomin didn’t think much of it. "Let’s eat first." Lately, he’d been encountering numerous setbacks at work, leaving him frowning even at home. Cheng Huai also seemed distracted. He couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened that afternoon. When he entered Zhao Haishuang’s room earlier, he saw that his mother had become like a completely different person—her face had turned into... that. How could this happen... Cheng Huai furrowed his brow. He knew that Zhao Haishuang had done surgical procedures on her face. While he didn’t approve, she believed it was the only way to keep Cheng Guomin’s heart. And for a while, it had worked just as she had hoped. But now... Why had it come to this? Cheng Huai had heard before that cosmetic surgery could have side effects. Could it be that she was now experiencing those side effects? Thinking of her face, Cheng Huai felt a pang of discomfort. If his mother had never undergone cosmetic surgery, she wouldn’t have ended up in such a miserable state. Meanwhile, the housemaid was sent to call Cheng Lie down for dinner. Cheng Huai glanced at him sideways. The boy’s expression was quiet and obedient. Did he not hear Zhao Haishuang’s panicked screams from the afternoon? What a fool—always lost in his own world. Without Zhao Haishuang at the dinner table, the atmosphere was eerily quiet. After finishing his meal, Cheng Guomin went upstairs, saying he wanted to check on Zhao Haishuang. Cheng Huai thought about stopping him but hesitated. Sooner or later, Cheng Guomin would have to see what his mother looked like anyway. Perhaps it was better to let him prepare himself for it now. Hidden under the covers, Zhao Haishuang trembled, her tears soaking the pillow in grief. She had never imagined that her face would collapse so quickly.

Chapter 174: This Is Just the Beginning

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