Chapter 4

For several nights, light still shone beneath my parents’ door long after midnight.

They were talking.

They wavered between continuing to search for Xiao Ran and starting over with another perfect daughter.

On the fourth morning, Mom knocked on my door.

“Yingying, you won’t be living in the basement anymore. I’ve cleaned out a room upstairs for you.”

There it was. On the twentieth day after Xiao Ran vanished, Mom gave up on her.

And chose me instead.

What touching maternal love.

I smiled. “Thank you, Mom.”

When I went upstairs, eggs and milk waited on the table instead of the greasy rice mixed with lard I had always been fed. Mom had made me a new breakfast.

She came up behind me, her voice gentle.

“Yingying, I’ve prepared a healthy meal plan for you. From now on, we’ll follow it.”

“I also bought you a set of expensive skincare products. Remember to use them morning and night.”

“After breakfast, I’ll take you to a beauty salon. You have such good features. You’ll become beautiful in no time!”

“And your hair—we’ll have that properly done too.”

While she spoke, Dad returned from outside.

He paused when he saw me, but recovered quickly. He walked over with a smile, playing the doting father.

“Yingying is already getting prettier.”

“I found a personal trainer for you. He says he can help you lose twenty-two pounds in a month!”

I finished my last bite of breakfast at a leisurely pace, lifted my face, and smiled at them.

“Thank you, Mom and Dad.”

So this was how Xiao Ran had always lived.

It felt rather nice.

…

When my weight dropped to one hundred and ten pounds, Mom and Dad moved us to a new home.

They told everyone that Xiao Ran had been found, but the ordeal had traumatized her and she needed a change of environment to recover.

As my transformation became more dramatic, they made another decision.

They wanted me to take Xiao Ran’s place at school.

She had already received passing certificates from several arts entrance examinations. They could not let those opportunities go to waste.

So while I lost weight and cared for my skin, I crammed years of schoolwork.

Back when I was the sacrifice, Xiao Ran had received everything without lifting a finger.

Now, I had to rely on myself.

So what?

I did not resent it in the slightest. Compared with my old life, this was paradise.

I studied tirelessly, improving myself every waking moment.

I relished the process of transforming.

One year later, I had caught up with the school curriculum.

My grades were not exceptional, but they were more than adequate for an arts student.

My weight had fallen to roughly one hundred and four pounds, and my appearance was utterly transformed.

Mom caressed my face. “Beautiful. So beautiful.”

“Yingying, you’re even prettier than your sister was.”

Now I was the treasure my parents could not bear to put down.

From that moment on, I would live as Xiao Ran.

I enrolled in one of the country’s finest arts academies under her name.

During my sophomore year, a famous director cast me in the historical political film East Wind.

The film became a sensation and swept the awards.

My performance as a courtesan also brought me some recognition. The media named me one of the year’s most promising young actresses.

I was only twenty.

Mom was beside herself with joy. She held me and sobbed.

“My wonderful daughter! All the love I gave you wasn’t wasted after all!”

“You’re going to be a great star! Your mother has given so much for you. Don’t ever forget me!”

I patted her shoulder, my voice soft. “Of course not. I’ll take very good care of you.”

…

By the time I graduated, I had become one of the hottest young actresses in the industry.

Scripts and endorsements poured in.

Mom and Dad moved into a mansion with me.

For Mom’s forty-fifth birthday, I gave her a gift she never could have expected.

I brought Xiao Ran home.

I had never stopped looking for her over the years.

She was my twin sister, after all.

When Xiao Ran walked into the house, Mom nearly fainted. Dad was too stunned to speak.

The woman before them bore no resemblance to the daughter they remembered.

She stood stiffly, with rough skin, a heavy body, and tangled hair. Though she was only in her twenties, she looked middle-aged.

In fact, she looked much as I once had.

At last, Xiao Ran recognized her family. She rushed over and threw her arms around Mom.

“Mom! It’s me, Ranran! Do you remember me?”

“Why didn’t you come find me all these years? Why?”

“Dad! Don’t you recognize me either?”

Mom recovered and studied Xiao Ran’s face, her expression complicated. Patting her back, she asked, “Where have you been all these years?”

Xiao Ran flew into hysterics. “I was trafficked! They forced me to marry an old bachelor. He beat me, cursed me, and made me have his children—”

Mom had no patience for the details. After only a few sentences, she cut her off.

“You’re home now. That’s what matters.”

“Stay here and help your big sister from now on.”

“She’s made something of herself. She’s a famous actress!”

Xiao Ran froze. Her neck turned stiffly toward me, standing in the doorway.

Only then did she seem to recognize me.

I removed my sunglasses and walked over. Under her bewildered stare, I hugged her.

“Welcome home, little sister.”

Xiao Ran let me hold her.

Three seconds later, she shoved me away.

“Xiao Ying? You’re that disgusting fat pig, Xiao Ying?” She gaped at me, looking me up and down before screaming. “You did this to me!”

“You’re the reason I became fat and ugly! It was all you!”

She spun toward Mom. “Mom! Make me change back!”

“Make Xiao Ying eat more. Force her to stand in the sun. Make her ugly and fat again!”

Mom’s face darkened. “What nonsense are you spouting? She’s your big sister!”

Dad pulled Xiao Ran away. “Our family has a good life now. Just settle down and live here.”

“Do what your sister tells you.”

Xiao Ran stared at them, slowly understanding.

“You gave up on me and chose her?”

She went berserk and lunged at me, but Mom and Dad pinned her down before she could touch my face.

Mom turned to me with a fawning smile. “Don’t worry, Yingying. We won’t let her hurt you.”

“It’s actually good that she’s back. You’ll become even prettier now!”

Her meaning was clear. She intended to turn Xiao Ran into my medicine.

To sacrifice her for my sake.

Just as she had once sacrificed me for Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran went rigid. “Mom, what are you saying? I’m Ranran! Didn’t you say you loved me most?”

“Dad, why aren’t you saying anything? Wasn’t I always your favorite?”

I looked at her and felt only pity.

Fool. The people they loved and cherished most had always been themselves.

“I don’t need it,” I said, rejecting Mom’s offer. “If I want something, I’ll earn it myself.”

“I’ll keep my body slim and my face beautiful through discipline.”

“I’ll win good scripts and good opportunities on my own too.”

I pointed at Xiao Ran. “Just take good care of my sister.”

With that, I turned and left.

I no longer lived with them. I had a home of my own.

Living under the same roof as them made me sick.