The soft sound of her family ancient instrument, the Guzheng, wakes Biyu up with happiness. 

Although mornings were her least favorite thing, waking up to that pleasant sound was one of the reasons she kept smiling. 

She rubbed her round brown eyes and she stood up from her king sized bed and swiftly went downstairs, greeting servants with quiet 'hello's and 'good mornings'. 

When she reaches the dining room, the curved walls and the cherry blossom decor, her mother turns to her and smiles. 

Her mother,  Lei Zhang, was short for her age. Being 41 wasn't easy for a female author & professional chef. Her dad, Guo Zhang, walked in, his CEO look softening as he looked at the both of them. 

"Zǎo ān wǒ měilì de huāduǒ," Guo said, as he hugged his daughter, then his wife. "Zǎoshang hǎo, Father," Biyu said with a smile. "Who was it that was playing that music?" Biyu asked, to which her mother replied, "Your brother, Biyu." 

Biyu's parents were 22 & 27 when they had Biyu & 24 & 29 when they had her brother, Bojing. They already had their life in check and had perfect grades in college, plus they were married by their parents. 

Lei & Guo didn't like each other at first, but they fell in love soon after 2 years. 

Biyu hummed in understanding, and sat down at the end of the table, across her mother. 

"Delicious, mama," Biyu whispered as she ate breakfast. It was so peaceful. 

"Biyu, nǐ xuǎnzéle ma?" her father said. Biyu's expression gotten sour. Hatred & Anger raised within her body. "Bù, wǒ méiyǒu xuǎnzé nǐ dài shénme!" she said, pounding her fists on the dining table, making the plates and drinks jump as if they were scared. 

Her mother glared at her. "Biyu, you have to choose, you are the oldest and you need to carry on when we pass. Jìng qǐng liàngjiě, Biyu." her mother tried to keep calm since that's what the doctor ordered. 

"Biyu, rúguǒ nǐ bù zhèyàng zuò, wǒmen huì ānpái nǐ de." her father said, his face turning serious. Biyu looked at her father in shock. The person who was always by her side betrayed her. 

"Fine then, arrange me. Wǒ yǒngyuǎn bù huì ài shàng, you know this, Mǔqīn." 

Biyu ran upstairs, hearing her parents sigh. "She left us no choice, Lei." 

* * * 

Night had fallen for the Zhang family. The moon glowed, the trees swayed slowly, and the howling of the Northern Wolfs was heard throughout the neighborhood. 

Biyu slammed her suitcase onto her bed and opened it. "Ānpái wǒ de hūnyīn? Wǒ?" she whisper-yelled as she stomped to her walk in closet, throwing in dresses, shirts, pants, accessories, and other items. " W- ǒ shènzhì bùxiǎng yào yīgè nánrén. Or a woman." 

She slams another suitcase and packs all her other stuff. She grabs her phone and sighs. "Time to go." 

Biyu was never going to get married at her age. Hell, she might not get married ever. Her parents kept pestering ever since she was 16, and she was tired of it. Blind dates, dating apps, etc. All to get married. She hated it. She turned down every one of them. 

It was sad, really. All those men, wanting to get to know her, and they did. They got to know a girl who didn't want to get married. 

She crept downstairs and opened the door. "Nǐ yào qù nǎlǐ, Biyu?" her brother said. 

She turned around, almost gaining whiplash. "Somewhere where I don't have to get married." 

Bojing snorted. "You don't even have a passport or money." 

He turned, "C'mon." 

* * *

"Okay, here's your passport and ¥ 68,393.72," Bojing said, handing Biyu the stuff. 

Biyu smiled and hugged her younger brother. "You're not even worried." 

Bojing smiled back, "I know, but I trust you enough to stay alive. How long will you be gone?" 

Biyu stood by the slightly open door. She looked to the moon. "I don't know, but I'll be there for your graduation." 

"See you," 

"Zàijiàn, brother." 

Biyu walked out the door, and as Bojing looked at her, he knew that she would have the adventure of a lifetime.