Chapter 2 — Just Because I'm the Older Sister

Vivi, Chau Chau did not perform at her usual level and was so upset that she was reduced to tears. Naturally, I had to find a way to comfort her.

As her older sister, instead of showing concern for her first, you spend your days bickering and obsessing over trivial matters. What is the point of that?

Is that so? It turns out that simply wanting to be treated fairly by one's own family is considered petty and calculated. I fell silent, uttering not a single word. Seemingly realizing how harsh his words had sounded, my brother paused for a second before adding:

There, we are all family here. There is no need to nitpick over such trifles.

This time, I let out a low laugh. Indeed, there would be no need to nitpick ever again, for I would soon be leaving anyway. Seeing my reaction, my brother let out a breath of relief and shoved a bowl of rice into my hands:

Eat your dinner first.

I glanced at him before finally taking the bowl and eating. Immediately afterward, I heard his voice, carrying a hint of hesitation:

Vivi, I heard Mom and Dad talking about wanting you and Chau Chau to register for the exact same university. Is that true?

My movement of lifting the rice to my mouth halted mid-air. Even though I had been disappointed countless times before, a sliver of expectation still stubbornly bloomed within my chest. I nodded and spoke up:

You are experienced, so you surely know how crucial university application choices are.

Can you help me persuade Mom and Dad and ask them not to do something so foolish?

His gaze shifted, avoiding my eyes with a guilty conscience as he nodded and said:

Give me your application account and password. I will hold onto them for you and help guide your choices.

My account and password? Both my mother and Giang Thanh Chau had previously demanded them from me, but I had hidden them securely and refused to hand them over. My brother was the only member of my family over the past eighteen years who had not shown overwhelmingly blatant favoritism toward my sister. Yet I knew that at this very moment, my last lingering shred of attachment to this family should finally come to an end. My hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly as I raised my head to look at him. This time, tears did not uncontrollably spill from my eyes, and my voice remained eerily calm:

Alright, I will send them to you.

No matter what happens, Brother, thank you for taking care of me over the past eighteen years.

His expression turned momentarily panicked, looking somewhat flustered:

We are all family, why are you suddenly saying things like this? It sounds as though you are about to leave.

I smiled, lowered my head, and said nothing more. Before going to sleep, I contacted a company that dealt with college entrance examination preparatory materials, reported my scores, and proposed a collaboration. Although the foreign university had waived my tuition and other fees, I still had to figure out living expenses on my own. The other party agreed readily, one might even say with overwhelming enthusiasm:

No problem at all, Miss Giang. Don't you have an interview as the top scorer scheduled for tomorrow?

How about this? During the interview, if you mention our comprehensive study guide, we will pay you an extra one hundred thousand yuan. How does that sound?

My breath caught in my throat. Unlike Giang Thanh Chau, I did not have parents secretly subsidizing me with money, nor did I receive large red envelopes during holidays. One hundred thousand yuan was enough to cover a vast portion of my expenses when I traveled abroad. I eagerly agreed, and my mood brightened considerably. The next day, I purposely dug out the only nice dress I owned. However, I waited and waited, but the reporters never arrived at the house. Just as I was growing anxious and uneasy, my mother glanced at me indifferently and spoke:

My, oh my, getting high scores really does change a person! Dressing up like you are about to get married.

My breath hitched in my chest. Even after enduring her sarcastic remarks for eighteen years, I could never grow accustomed to them. Without waiting for me to respond, she casually added:

If you are waiting around for the interview, you can stop. I already called and canceled it.

I turned my head and stared at her in disbelief:

Mom, why?

For as long as anyone could remember, the city had a long-standing tradition of interviewing the top scorers in the humanities and sciences, a practice that had continued unbroken for over a decade. In previous years, parents of other children who learned their child had become top scorers would eagerly clean the house from top to bottom, eagerly awaiting the arrival of reporters. I could not understand why an honor that other parents begged for was something she chose to push away. At that moment, my father walked out of the bedroom, entirely unfazed:

Didn't Chau Chau fail to perform at her usual level? If you go through with the interview, what are we supposed to do if it upsets her?

I could not help closing my eyes as I asked them:

Just because of that?

My father frowned:

Is that not serious enough? Chau Chau is your younger sister, and her health is fragile. As the older sister, you need to look after her.

At that moment, my brother, who had just returned from a shopping trip with Giang Thanh Chau, also chimed in to advise me:

Vivi, do not let a superficial desire for fame and recognition hurt Chau Chau's feelings.

The two of you are twin sisters. Once you become famous, Chau Chau will have to bear an immense amount of pressure.

Giang Thanh Chau stood there, her hands laden with shopping bags. Just like every time before, she only needed to stand there without uttering a single word. My parents and my brother would charge forward on her behalf, forcing me to compromise. I looked at the four of them one by one, not saying another word. I turned around, walked into my bedroom, and began to pack my belongings.