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墨書 Inktalez
I was the unloved child in the family.
When my mother gave birth to me and Jiang Qinghuan, she faced complications and nearly died on the operating table. After I was born, my sister was diagnosed with congenital heart disease, while I emerged perfectly healthy. Just then, my father's business encountered problems. My mother blamed it all on me, believing that I had absorbed too much nutrition in the womb, causing my sister's poor health and affecting my father's fortunes.
She named my sister Jiang Qinghuan, a name that carried the family's unspoken joy; I was named Jiang Maiye, like an inconspicuous stalk of wheat in an endless field. Everything about me was meant to make way for my sister.
Before I turned one, I was sent to the countryside to be cared for by my grandmother. My aunt resented having another mouth to feed and often scolded and hit me. My grandmother was old, and my uncle was a taciturn man; as a young child, I became timid and insecure.
During the New Year, my mother rarely brought Jiang Qinghuan back home. She wore a red dress and black shoes, looking like a noble little princess. I hid behind the door to watch. Jiang Qinghuan placed a handful of colorful candies in front of me and said, "You must be Mai Ye, my little sister. I'll take good care of you from now on."
I accepted them with trepidation. Just as I unwrapped a pink candy, it was snatched away by my aunt's son. Jiang Qinghuan tried to help me get it back, but before she could speak, she clutched her chest in pain.
My mother slapped me to the ground: "What did you do to your sister?" There was no reason given. My baby tooth fell to the ground as I spat out blood. My mother covered Jiang Qinghuan's eyes: "Don't look; you'll have nightmares tonight."
Jiang Qinghuan brushed my mother's hand aside and handed me a tissue to wrap around that tiny tooth. "I'm sorry; Mom is just too worried about my health." It was the first time someone in the family apologized for my grievances.
I naturally developed a slight fondness for my sister. After returning home, Jiang Qinghuan asked our mother to send me her nearly new dress and backpack. I was very happy; finally, I wouldn't have to wear patched-up old clothes anymore.
It wasn't until high school that my grandmother passed away and my parents brought me back home. I was timid and anxious, lacking proper manners—nothing like Jiang Qinghuan, who could confidently charm them with her grace. I couldn't smile brightly at Lu Yancheng like she did, radiating confidence.
Ding ding ding.
A sharp ringing jolted me awake from my dreams. It was Lu Yancheng calling. His voice was hoarse and low, as if he hadn’t rested well.
“Mai Ye, where did you put the new cobalt blue diagonal-striped tie you bought for me?”
I was about to respond when I noticed the comments rolling in:
“Oh my god, the male lead loves her so much! He’s holding the tie and asking where the female lead’s things are!”
“He just wants an excuse to talk to her and coax her back home.”
I hesitated before replying, “I threw it away. You can buy a new one!”
After a long pause, he finally reacted. “Mai Ye, are you still angry?”
His question made me feel indifferent.
“Siqing doesn’t like convenience store buns. Can you come back...”
Before he could finish, I cut him off decisively. “No, I told you his taste is very picky, and you didn’t believe me.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to trouble you. But Siqing is used to your cooking and can’t get used to outside food.”
“I suggest you hire a professional nutritionist. Also, if you can’t find something in the future, don’t call me.”
Lu Yancheng fell silent.
The comments were eager to defend him:
“Female lead, don’t be so heartless! He searched the entire city for the hotel you were staying at and couldn’t find you. He was so worried he didn’t sleep all night.”
“He truly loves you but is afraid of the promise that he’ll only ever love Jiang Qinghuan. Don’t push him too hard!”
But can love that isn’t felt truly be called love?
Can someone who loves another really stand by and watch them suffer?
Whether it was my mother’s hysteria or Lu Siqing’s unreasonable tantrums, Lu Yancheng always stood by without intervening.
I had never been loved completely.
I didn’t know what love felt like.
But I had seen how Lu Yancheng went to great lengths to protect Jiang Qinghuan. When street thugs whistled at her, he would step in to stop them, even going as far as hiring a lawyer and calling the police to have them arrested.
The difference was stark.
Not long after hanging up the phone, a kindergarten teacher approached me:
“Siqing’s mom, do you usually prepare lunch boxes for your child? Did you forget today?”
Lu Siqing had inherited Jiang Qinghuan’s frail constitution; his immune system was weak and he was allergic to many foods. To help him with his meals, I obtained a nutritionist certificate and prepared his meals by hand every day.
But now, I replied indifferently:
"Teacher Shen, Lu Siqing is not my biological son. I divorced his father and will no longer take care of him."
The comments exploded with reactions:
[Please, female lead, the little one can't just eat whatever from the cafeteria. Last time he ate a pastry with peanuts, and he almost didn't make it out of the ICU.]
Lu Siqing must have been right next to Teacher Shen, as he angrily grabbed the phone:
"Did you run away on purpose to provoke Dad into begging you?"
Those words must have come from my mother.
But I had raised Lu Siqing for five years, enduring hardships and sleepless nights, forcing myself to care for him with maternal love.
Even a stone would have been softened by that.
Yet he was easily stirred by a few words.
Seeing the furious Lu Siqing, the comments erupted:
[I’m Yan Gou, and because of the little one's stunning looks, I can forgive his rudeness. I dislike how cold and heartless the female lead is.]
[Tsk tsk, using a child as leverage—such a female lead is truly disappointing! It’s good that his real mother is still alive.]
Finally, someone spoke up for me:
"No! You supporters of the original wife keep saying that the female lead took her sister's place, but why does no one mention that she never had a choice from the beginning?"
"Exactly! After watching for so long, the female lead is timid and cowardly. Returning to the Jiang Family is like an ugly duckling returning to a swan's flock. She owes her sister a favor and couldn't bear to see her little nephew mistreated by that heartless Stepmother. Plus, she had some vague feelings for the male lead and married at an age when she wasn't thinking straight. But it's been five years, and their attitudes are still like this—anyone would be furious!"
This was the first time someone defended me in the comments.
For a long time, they had mocked me for having good luck while being mediocre and unlikable yet still becoming the female lead who reaped the rewards as Mrs. Lu, as if I should be grateful.
But no one ever asked if I wanted this.
As a humble character like me, I also wanted to take control of my own fate!
I spoke calmly:
"Lu Siqing, all these years, I've put you both before myself countless times, but no one has appreciated it."
"From now on, I will only consider myself. Don't call me anymore; I won't make you nutritious meals or take care of your daily needs."
"After all, in your heart, no matter how much I do, it will never compare to anyone in your family."
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