Chapter 1

Chapter 1

On the seventh day after my mother died, at the family banquet, my father brought home an illegitimate daughter.

She wore a vermilion strapless cocktail dress and a pair of high heels that didn’t quite fit. Lifting her chin with all the poise she could muster, she said, “Good evening, uncles and aunties. I’m Song Mingxi.”

On the day of my mother’s first-seven memorial, Song Mingxi arrived in a festive red dress and captured everyone’s attention.

Because she really was beautiful.

Just like her mother, she had a pair of seductive, peach-blossom eyes.

Her voice was sweet and obedient, the kind that made it hard for anyone to dislike her.

I smiled. “I didn’t know we had an outsider coming today, so we’re short one place setting. Little sister, sit next to me.”

My father stroked her head fondly. “Be good. Your sister has a bad temper. Sit next to Dad.”

The place he pointed to was my mother’s seat.

My smile vanished. I watched coldly as the two of them passed by me, all loving father and filial daughter.

Then, all of a sudden, Song Mingxi stepped on my skirt.

She clearly had no idea how to walk in heels. After stumbling a few steps, she lost her balance and fell flat on her face.

Aunt Liu happened to be passing by, and the red wine spilled all over her.

Song Mingxi lay sprawled on the floor, her dress stained, looking like a wretched drowned rat. She lifted her head and cried, “Dad.”

“She’s your sister. Don’t bully her!” My father shot me a vicious glare, then bent down and pulled Song Mingxi to her feet. “It’s all right. Dad will take you over.”

Before tonight, I had been the Song Family’s recognized heir. But now, Song Mingxi was one too-and she had more of my father’s affection than I did.

During dinner, he announced in front of everyone, “From now on, Mingxi will live at home. She is the Song Family’s Second Miss. Aunt Liu, all of you are to listen to the Second Miss from now on.”

Aunt Liu gave a few noncommittal hums. “Of course.”

Song Mingxi’s arrival made the atmosphere at the family banquet unbearably awkward.

Everything I liked to eat, Song Mingxi also liked. In the end, for no reason at all, my father turned those dishes toward her and piled them onto her plate.

But she kept her head down the entire night, ate very little, and said nothing.

“What’s wrong? Not to your taste?”

Song Mingxi shook her head. “Dad, I miss Mom.”

My father stiffened. He glanced at me, then said in a low voice, “In a little while, I’ll bring your mother here too.”

Only then did Song Mingxi show the faintest smile and start eating.

I knew all about that mother of hers. Her lifelong dream was to become Mrs. Song.

Years ago, she once came to our house to make a scene and got thrown out by the security guards. I supposed she’d gotten smarter since then. After hearing my mother had died, she sent Song Mingxi in to play the sympathy card.

I gave Aunt Liu a look, and Aunt Liu removed Song Mingxi’s plate.

My father’s expression darkened. “What is the meaning of this? She’s your sister!”

“My mother’s rule. Cold food hurts the stomach, so it’s better not to eat it.” I smiled, my tone gentle. “Dad, Mingxi has only just come home. She doesn’t understand anything yet. If you don’t want me to teach her, then teach her yourself.”

Song Mingxi swallowed, staring at the meat Aunt Liu had taken away, and said petulantly, “Dad, I understand everything. I don’t need her to teach me.”

I said nothing and calmly waited for my father to speak.

Did she really think that to squeeze her way into high society, the status of a noble family’s daughter would be enough?

The network of connections I had accumulated over more than twenty years was something she would never be able to obtain.

My father understood that too.

He stared at the black pepper sauce smeared on the corner of Song Mingxi’s lips, a flash of regret passing through his eyes. Then he relented. “Mingxi, follow your sister’s rules.”

I set down my knife and fork, my tone calm. “Now, get out of my mother’s seat.”

Song Mingxi started crying.

In front of everyone, tears fell one by one.

“Dad, is there no place for me in this family?”

I had Aunt Liu add a chair beside me.

“Your place is here. Age comes before youth, rank before status. This is your first lesson. Otherwise, by the time you’re middle-aged, people will laugh at you.”

At that, the relatives all lowered their heads and laughed.

My father, who had been the target of that little insinuation, turned livid and coughed several times.

Song Mingxi shrank back timidly. “Dad, I’m scared of Sister…”

I poured a glass of wine. “You should also fix that habit of being afraid of strangers. I’m your closest sister. If you’re even afraid of me, how will you represent the Song Family at banquets and build connections with the powerful in the future?”

My father realized the severity of the problem and put on a stern face. “Mingxi, you can learn a great deal by following your sister.”

Second Aunt smiled. “The Eldest Miss is still the sensible one. From now on, Song Group may have to rely on the Eldest Miss.”

I curved my lips. “Dad doesn’t have a son. If Mingxi and I don’t shoulder the burden, who else can he count on?”

Those words once again reminded my father that his business empire was on shaky ground. After all, Second Aunt had a son who was about to come of age.

If Song Mingxi failed to improve, then in the future, the only one he could rely on would be me.

“Hurry up and sit over there,” my father said, his voice much firmer now.

Song Mingxi hesitated for a long while before sitting beside me. The dishes were served again, this time replaced with vegetable salad.

“It’s not good to eat meat at night. Have something vegetarian.”

I caught sight of Song Mingxi’s knuckles whitening around her clenched fists, then turned away and continued exchanging pleasantries with the uncles and aunties.

Of course Song Mingxi couldn’t get a word in.

Years ago, when I was out shopping, I ran into Song Mingxi. She had arrogantly tugged on my father and her mother and said,

“Your dad is my dad now, so your things will be my things too.”

She understood nothing, yet she dreamed of relying on a status and my father’s favor to take everything that belonged to me.

It was time for that dream to end.