Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I pulled out my little mirror.

I thought resentfully that everyone liked Ni Jiajia.

Was it just because she was pretty?

It wasn’t like I was hideous.

But the mirror reflected a face covered in tears and snot.

It looked dirty.

Like a bitter melon.

I startled myself and quickly tossed the mirror aside.

I thought back to the last time I saw Ni Jiajia cry.

She looked like a fairy.

Seriously.

I felt a twinge of bitterness.

Why did Mom have to make Ni Jiajia so beautiful?

I felt like the whole world was out to hurt me.

Mom and Dad liked Ni Jiajia more.

Even my friends would fall for Ni Jiajia the moment they saw her.

I decided to become a cold, heartless person.

I’d make them all regret it!

The next day at school.

Ji Shu greeted me.

I pretended not to see him.

I walked right past, eyes fixed straight ahead.

Ji Shu insisted on hovering around me.

He waved a hand in front of my face.

“Are you nearsighted now?”

I said coldly, “Please do not speak to me. We have ended our friendship.”

He grinned. “Are you really mad?”

“It was my fault. Don’t be mad at me anymore.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a bottle of milk and handed it to me.

It was covered in foreign words I didn’t recognize.

“Here. My aunt bought this imported milk. It’s really expensive.”

My mouth watered a little.

Usually, at home, all the good treats were reserved for Ni Jiajia.

Just as I was about to take it.

He pulled out another pink bottle with a strawberry drawn on it.

“And this strawberry one is for your sister.”

I pulled my hand back instantly.

Ji Shu was completely oblivious. “This strawberry one is sweet. She’ll definitely like it.”

I didn’t say a word.

I picked up my pace and circled around him.

Ji Shu shouted from behind me:

“Xiaoxiao!”

“Ni Xiaoxiao?”

During dinner that evening.

I kept a cold face.

I ate coldly, put my bowl back in the kitchen coldly, and sat down in front of the TV to watch cartoons coldly.

But no one noticed.

Mom noticed that Ni Jiajia hadn’t eaten her garlic.

But she didn’t notice that I had become cold and heartless.

My coldness lasted until today’s cartoon episode ended.

The real culprit turned out to be the kind-looking old man!

It wasn’t the man who looked all shifty and devious.

Dammit.

My attempt to win big with a small bet failed.

I glanced guiltily at Ni Jiajia.

She huffed.

I felt a pang of regret for my wallet. “A bet’s a bet! I’ll give you half of my allowance…”

“Who wants your pittance?” she said.

I hollered, “I want an allowance raise, Mom!”

Mom said, “What you have is enough.”

“Can’t I even have half of what my sister gets?”

I tried to act cute. “Please, Mom.”

Mom said coldly:

“Your sister can play the piano, she can host events, she can sing, and her grades are good.”

“Ni Xiaoxiao, what do you have?”

I froze.

It was true.

I didn’t know how to do anything.

I had never been enrolled in any extracurricular classes.

“That’s…”

I whispered, “That’s because I never learned anything…”

“Do you think you’d be good at it just because you took a class?”

Mom’s expression turned cold, looking like she didn’t want to discuss it further. “Alright, Ni Jiajia, go practice the piano.”

The melodious sound of the piano drifted out from Ni Jiajia’s private music room again.

It was punctuated by the sound of Mom praising her, saying, “Wonderful.”

I stared blankly at the TV screen.

The bright colors blurred into giant blobs before my eyes.

Watching cartoons was supposed to be one of the things that made me happiest.

But now.

I felt.

Very.

Very, very.

Very, very sad.