chapter 3

Not even our parents’ hospitalization could change my sister’s mind.

While they were in the hospital, she secretly transferred the family’s money to Ah Zheng and told him to spend it without worry.

When our relatives and family friends learned what she had done, they all called her insane.

Only I watched her in silence.

Late one night, she leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Luoluo, you’ll help your sister, won’t you? A marriage certificate isn’t enough. I want a traditional Chinese wedding with Ah Zheng.”

I looked at her, my eyes blazing, and nodded.

Yes.

I would help her.

A satisfied smile curved her lips.

I knew how eagerly she awaited that day.

So did I.

The mere thought of my sister holding her wedding with Ah Zheng sent my blood racing with excitement.

Our parents came home from the hospital while we were preparing the ceremony.

The moment they saw the decorations filling the house, they clutched their chests and collapsed to the floor again.

“You ungrateful daughter! Are you truly trying to anger us to death?” Dad roared, pointing at my sister as she pasted up a red Double Happiness decoration.

She glanced at them and pouted. “Mom, Dad, how can you say that? I’ve already compromised for your sake. I’m only holding a tiny traditional wedding here at home. I didn’t even invite our relatives or friends. What more do you want from me?”

Her answer left both our parents livid.

They could not understand it. Their elder daughter had always been obedient and considerate. How had she become so rebellious?

When she saw them wiping away tears, some tenderness finally showed on her face. She walked over, crouched beside them, and said, “Mom, Dad, when my little sister and I were children, you were very strict with us. You taught us that a girl’s chastity mattered more than anything, and we believed you. So when Ah Zheng assaulted me in the alley that night, I handed him a condom. Afterward, I chose not to pursue charges. To protect your reputation, I even offered to marry him.”

All color drained from our parents’ faces.

Still smiling, she continued, “See? Our relatives and friends only know that I fell for a useless pretty boy. None of them knows he’s a rapist. You haven’t lost face at all. So what do you have to be angry about?”

Every word struck our parents like a hammer. For a long time, neither recovered.

I leaned toward my sister and asked anxiously whether this was really all right. They were our own mother and father, after all.

She shook her head without answering.

My sister had always known her own mind, so I said no more. I followed her back to finish putting up the wedding decorations.

It took our parents a long time to rise. They still refused to listen. In a fury, they smashed whatever they could reach and jabbed a finger at my sister’s forehead as they cursed her.

“You want to marry a rapist? Have you lost your mind? We will never allow it! Tell him to bring the marriage certificate to the Civil Affairs Bureau right now and get a divorce, or don’t blame us when we disown you!”

I looked at my sister.

Calmly, she dropped the decoration in her hand and gave them her answer.

“Mom, Dad, I will never divorce Ah Zheng. Whether you approve or not, we are legally married. Even if you disown me, I won’t regret it.”

“Fine. Fine…” Mom choked out. “Then leave. We’ll pretend we never had a daughter like you.”

It was obvious how deeply disappointed they were.

But my sister refused to go.

Her wedding with Ah Zheng had to take place in our home. Otherwise, everything she had done would be wasted.

Ignoring their abuse, she told them this was her home too and she would not leave. If she did leave, it would only be after the wedding.

Our parents were so furious that they fainted again.

My sister checked beneath their noses for breath, then assured me they were fine. They had only passed out.

To prevent them from ruining the ceremony, she decided to lock them in their bedroom until the wedding was over.

“But aren’t you and Ah Zheng supposed to offer tea to Mom and Dad during the ceremony? If they aren’t there, the wedding might not work,” I said, voicing my concern.

She patted my shoulder and told me not to worry. She could handle it.

Then she dragged our parents into the master bedroom and locked the door.