Chapter 2 — Choose your own family members

Dad clearly breathed a sigh of relief, the smile on his face even carried a bit of sincerity: "Hieu Than, let me bear the pain, wait until later, when I come back, I will definitely prepare a room for you." But Dad, I don't need a room anymore. After this, I don't want to go back anymore. Perhaps the atmosphere between us father and son was too heavy and stuffy. After he finished speaking, he ran away as if to hide. I heard the noise upstairs again. Loud laughter, baring its fangs and claws, passed into my ears. I turned on my phone and clicked on my brother's friends circle as if possessed by a ghost. It was a world I had never felt before. The more I pulled down, the more my heart pulled down as well. June twenty-fifth: 【Just got my points, dad took me to a big party, early congratulations, the whole Apple set, closing!】 March twenty-fifth: 【Sister, can you stop eating hot pot for your birthday, next time you should still go to the seafood buffet.】 My younger brother and I were born on the same day, that day, I ate an entire box of noodles soaked in cold water in the dormitory. February fifteenth: 【Thank you Tinh Nhien for saving my life, with a forty-degree fever and carrying me to the hospital!】 That day I had acute gastroenteritis. Before passing out, I called her dozens of times, but no one answered. Thieu Tinh Nhien, I've known her since elementary school, the food at boarding school wasn't good, she brought me meals for six years. She once swore an oath, patting her chest and promising: "As long as Hieu Than needs me, I will always be here." Until my younger brother passed the entrance exam to the same high school as us, the portion of rice she brought became two portions. My younger brother is like a small sun, but there is not a single ray of light on me. I laughed at myself, laughing until my tears slid down, wetting my hair, but I didn't have the strength to wipe them away anymore. They discussed their younger brother's wishes until two in the morning. When the sun rose, I was reluctant to sleep. On the third day after receiving the scores, filling out the application begins. I soon had the ideal university in my heart. Thieu Tinh Nhien knocked on my door early in the morning. I was sleeping in the living room, and was so shaken by the knocking sound that all my internal organs trembled. As soon as she opened the door, she carried a few bags of dumplings, her eyes lit up, then darkened again: "Hieu Than, why you? Where's your little brother?" She leaned over and walked into the room, looking around: "Today is an important day to fill out your application, Hieu Than, although you didn't take the exam well, choose a major that's easy to get a job, and in the future you'll have food to eat." "Wait until we help your younger brother fill it out, then I'll come help you see." I calmly opened my mouth: "No." need..." Thieu Tinh Nhien was impatient: "You don't know how to choose, you accidentally chose not well..." At this moment his younger brother's voice came, he picked up a dumpling and stuffed it into his mouth: "Sister Tinh Nhien, these are Pho Dong dumplings, right, there's a long line." Thieu Tinh Nhien handed over a cup of soy milk, patted her back again: "Eat slowly, little brother, if you like to eat, waiting in line for as long as you like is worth it." I felt useless, turned around and left. Thieu Tinh Nhien's eyes looked towards me, and in the next second, her younger brother pulled her over: "You're here at the right time. I wanted to ask you if this school has a master's training facility?" She was pulled upstairs. I found an internet cafe, and within ten minutes I had determined my major and school. The moment I clicked confirm, I let out a breath and leaned back in the chair. The phone rang, and my brother sent a text message: 【Brother, have you finished filling in your wishes? You and everyone else helped me fill it out. I can lend you my computer.】 【Which school are you applying to? Colleges also have pretty good schools these days.】 I turned on do not disturb mode, but messages kept popping up. 【Dad said you also registered in the city

mine, or let me help you see if there are any good schools nearby?】 I tightened my grip on the phone, and finally typed a few words and sent them: 【No need for me to manage!】 The opposite was silent. I ate a bowl of noodles downstairs, then when I got home I found a few people surrounding my younger brother, his eyes were red, he was crying so much that his shoulders were shaking. Without saying a word, Dad rushed forward, a gust of wind came from my ear, and the next second, a slap fell on my face. The resounding slap made the atmosphere quiet. Dad's hand was raised in mid-air, trembling slightly. "Lin Hieu Than! Your younger brother has a good heart and cares for you, but you are truly a wolf-hearted bastard!" "What can you say without needing your brother to take care of you? From now on we won't take care of you anymore!" I covered my slightly burning cheek and laughed coldly: "Since when do people take care of you?" Dad was completely angered, he raised his voice: "Don't forget, child." Dad provided me with food and clothes, and now I live in Dad's house!" I was silent for a moment, trembling as I said, "The house never had your room?" Dad was so angry that he took two steps back, hugged his chest, and sat down on the sofa. The younger brother cried even harder. My sister pulled my suitcase out and said in a cold voice: "Go away, this house is filled with smoke from you, the things have already been packed for you." The wheels of the suitcase rolled across the ground, making a deafening sound. I was nailed to the spot.