Chapter 2

The dinner table was full of laughter. Too full. They fought to serve me food, piling my plate with pork ribs and vegetables. My mother smiled warmly, my stepfather nodded approvingly, and my sister—Jiang Muyan—leaned in closer than ever. "Yueyue, how have you been?" my mother asked, her voice dripping with concern. I took a bite of the ribs she gave me, the taste rich and familiar. My throat tightened. My chest ached. Why now? Why today? Swallowing hard, I forced out the words I had been holding back. "Dad, Mom, Sister... I have something to tell you—" "Oh! That’s perfect," my mother cut in, beaming. "We actually have something to discuss with you too." She set down her chopsticks. My stepfather and Jiang Muyan tensed. The warmth in the room vanished. "Your sister got into a little... dispute at school today," my mother continued, her tone too casual. "The police want her to make a statement, but she’s feeling a bit shaken up. Can you go in her place?" The air grew thick. I slowly lowered my fork. "What kind of dispute?" Jiang Muyan stiffened, her eyes darting around before she threw herself into my stepfather’s arms, playing the victim. My mother sighed dramatically. "A classmate attempted suicide. Your sister feels terribly guilty for not stopping them. You know how sensitive she is." Lies. I knew Jiang Muyan. She was a monster in silk ribbons. She didn’t feel guilt. She didn’t feel remorse. She didn’t feel anything. My stomach clenched. My fingers went cold. "What did you do?" I asked her, voice barely above a whisper. No answer. My mother gave me a sweet smile. "It’s just a simple statement. Be a good sister and go for her, won’t you?" The realization hit me like ice water to the face. She killed someone. And now, they were trying to frame me for it. I stared at the three of them, my blood running cold. The warmth had been fake. The smiles had been rehearsed. It was all just a setup. "Mom," I whispered, my voice shaking, "Have you lost your damn mind?" The moment I refused, Jiang Muyan’s face twisted, her act shattering like glass. She turned to my mother with a pleading look. And just like that—the mask came off. My mother’s tone sharpened, her voice like steel. "Jiang Yue, you ungrateful brat! We ask you for one small favor—ONE—and you won’t even help your sister? What the hell is the point of keeping you around?" I had heard these words a thousand times before. They used to cut deep. Now? Now they just left me numb. ********