Chapter 6
Chapter 6
By the time I got back, Mom had already put lunch on the table.
Ni Jiajia’s bowl was piled high with food.
It looked like a small mountain.
I quickly changed my shoes and sat down to eat, scrambling to grab some food for myself.
Mom glared at me.
I immediately swallowed a large mouthful and started sucking up to her: “Mom, your cooking is so delicious!”
“Of course it is.”
Mom immediately beamed and placed a rib into Ni Jiajia’s bowl. “Eat more.”
I pretended not to notice and kept eating.
It didn’t matter if Mom and Dad liked Ni Jiajia more.
It didn’t matter if my friends liked Ni Jiajia more, either.
The world was a big place.
If I worked hard at eating, grew up quickly, and left this place, then surely…
Surely someone out there would like me a little bit more.
I didn’t speak to Ji Shu again.
Even when we ran into each other in the neighborhood, I acted like we were strangers.
He didn’t play with Ni Jiajia, either.
That was because Ni Jiajia was very busy.
My life went on as before.
School, home. Holidays. Playing. Getting scolded by Mom.
On a Saturday afternoon, Ni Jiajia rarely skipped her piano practice.
Mom and Dad were dressed very formally, saying we were going to someone’s house for dinner.
Mom put a beautiful little dress on Ni Jiajia and braided her hair into lovely plaits. After placing a sparkling little crown on her head, she turned to me and instructed, “Dress yourself up nicely.”
I dug out a floral short-sleeved shirt from the closet that I usually couldn’t bring myself to wear and clipped on a butterfly hairpin.
But Mom didn’t look at me.
She and Dad just held Ni Jiajia’s hands and walked out.
I followed behind them.
I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the elevator and gave myself a little compliment. I looked pretty cute, too.
My parents led us into a large villa, passing through a beautiful garden.
Dad was chatting with an uncle.
Mom held Ni Jiajia’s hand and proudly introduced her to a beautiful auntie: “This is my daughter, Jiajia… she can play the piano and even host events… her teachers say she’s exceptionally talented.”
Ni Jiajia chirped prettily, “Hello, Auntie.”
The beautiful auntie smiled and patted her head.
I stood to the side, waiting for Mom to introduce me.
But Mom shifted the conversation and asked, “Where is your child?”
The auntie smiled, though her expression seemed a bit strained. “He’s in his room… he should be down in a moment.”
“He doesn’t talk much…”
Mom said, “Since the two children are about the same age, it’s perfect for them to play together.”
The auntie only smiled.
No one paid any attention to me.
I had no choice but to peek at the small cookies on the table. They were covered in colorful English letters… they looked delicious.
Footsteps suddenly echoed from upstairs.
Someone was coming down.
I instinctively looked toward the sound.
That was the first time I saw Cen Yi.
In my limited understanding of the world, I already thought Ni Jiajia was very beautiful. But Cen Yi was even more beautiful than her.
The boy was like white porcelain in a display case-delicate and exquisite, yet carrying a coldness that forbade anyone from getting close.
Everyone is naturally drawn to beautiful things.
Mom immediately began showering him with praise: “This child has truly inherited the best traits from both of you.”
Even Ni Jiajia couldn’t help but smile at him.
But I was working hard to correct my bad habit of judging people by their looks, so I only gave him a glance before forcing my attention back to the cookies.
Auntie said, “Xiao Yi, this is Auntie, and this is younger sister Jiajia… and this is…”
Can I sit over there and take one to eat later? I wondered. I should probably ask Auntie first…
A light, faint, cool fragrance suddenly surrounded me.
I was pulled into a tight embrace.
I looked up in shock.
The boy’s face was inches away from mine.
His pupils were very light, like the palest stroke of misty gray in an ink wash painting.
“…”
“Mine,” he said.