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墨書 Inktalez
I was the unloved child in my family.
When my mother gave birth to me and Jiang Qinghuan, she had a difficult labor 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 faced troubles. 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 fortune.
She named my sister Jiang Qinghuan, a name that carried the family's unspoken joy; while I was named Jiang Maiye, like an inconspicuous blade 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 taciturn; as a young child, I grew 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 nervously accepted the candies. Just as I unwrapped a pink one, it was snatched away by my aunt's son. Jiang Qinghuan tried to help me get it back but clutched her chest in pain before she could say anything. My mother slapped me to the ground: "What did you do to your sister?" There was no reason for her anger.
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 away my mother's hand and handed me a tissue to wrap up my 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 felt a flicker of affection for my sister. After returning home, Jiang Qinghuan asked our mother to send her nearly new dress and backpack to me. I was delighted; 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 and warmth.
The shrill sound of the phone 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 barrage of comments on the screen:
"Oh my god, the male lead loves her so much! He’s holding the tie and asking where her things are!"
"He just wants an excuse to talk to her and coax her back home."
I paused for a moment before replying, "I threw it away; you can buy a new one."
It took him a while to process my words. "Mai Ye, are you still angry?"
His question made me feel indifferent.
"Siqing doesn’t like the buns from convenience stores. Can you come back…"
Before he could finish, I cut him off decisively. "No, I told you his taste is very particular; you won’t believe me."
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to trouble you. But Siqing is used to your cooking and can't eat anything else."
"I suggest you hire a professional nutritionist. And if you can't find something next time, don't call me."
Lu Yancheng fell silent.
The comments were eager to defend him:
"Come on, female lead, don’t be so heartless! He searched the whole city for your hotel and couldn’t find you; he didn’t sleep all night worrying."
"He truly loves you but is afraid that his promise to only love Jiang Qinghuan will betray him forever. Don’t push him too hard!"
But can love that isn’t felt truly be called love?
Can one really watch someone they love suffer without doing anything?
Whether it was my mother’s hysteria or Lu Siqing’s unreasonable tantrums, Lu Yancheng always stood by, indifferent.
I had never been loved completely.
I didn’t know what love tasted like.
But I had seen how Lu Yancheng went out of his way 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 ensure they faced consequences.
The difference was stark.
Not long after hanging up, another kindergarten teacher reached out:
"Siqing's mom, do you usually prepare lunchboxes for your child? Did you forget today?"
Lu Siqing had inherited Jiang Qinghuan's frail constitution and had weak immunity, being allergic to many foods. To help him with his meals, I had even obtained a nutritionist certification and prepared everything myself every day.
But now, I replied indifferently:
"Teacher Shen, Lu Siqing is not my biological son. I divorced his father and I won’t be taking care of him anymore."
The comments exploded with reactions:
[Please, female lead, don’t let the kid eat random stuff from the cafeteria. Last time he had a pastry with peanuts, he almost didn’t make it out of ICU.]
Lu Siqing must have been right next to Teacher Shen, as he angrily snatched the phone away from me.
"Are you running away from home on purpose to provoke Dad into begging you back?"
Those words must have been taught to him by my mother.
But I had raised Lu Siqing for five years, enduring hardships and sleepless nights, forcing myself to care for him with a motherly love that should have melted even a stone.
Yet he was easily swayed by just a few words.
Seeing the furious Lu Siqing, the comments erupted in outrage against me:
[I’m Face Dog, and for the sake of the little cutie’s stunning looks, I can forgive his rudeness. I dislike how cold and heartless the female lead is.]
[Tsk tsk, using a child as a threat—what a despicable female lead! It’s good that his real mother isn’t dead.]
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 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 now, and both father and son still act like this—anyone would be furious!]
This was the first time someone defended me in the comments.
For a long time, they had criticized me for having good luck, mediocre abilities, and an unlikable personality while still becoming the female lead who reaped the rewards and rightfully became Mrs. Lu, expecting gratitude in return.
But throughout it all, no one asked if I wanted any of this.
Even someone as humble as me wants to take control of my own destiny!
I spoke softly:
"Lu Siqing, over these years, I’ve put you and your family before myself countless times, yet no one has cherished that."
"From now on, I will only think of myself. Don’t call me anymore; I won’t be making you any nutritious meals or taking 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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