She tried to imitate me by saying nice things, but her words came out stiff and hollow, dripping with forced flattery. Instead of pleasing them, it only made Mom and Dad think she was insincere.
She wanted to do something to prove herself, but it always backfired.
Once, she tried to copy me by making tea for Dad, but she accidentally used salt instead of sugar. Dad almost died on the spot from the saltiness.
After that, the look of disdain in Mom and Dad's eyes grew even stronger.
She blamed it all on me.
Her gaze when she looked at me was full of resentment and hatred.
I couldn't care less.
Because I knew something even more despairing was waiting for her.
The turning point came with my brother Jiang Chen's arranged marriage.
Our family was moderately wealthy, but we were nothing compared to the truly powerful elite. Dad had always wanted to leverage marriage to elevate the Jiang family's business.
His chosen target was Lin Qingqian, the daughter of Lin Group, the city's leading conglomerate.
The Lin and Jiang families were not social equals.
But coincidentally, Lin Qingqian and Jiang Chen were university classmates. It was even said that Lin Qingqian had once had a crush on Jiang Chen.
Dad planned to use this connection to broker the marriage.
He'd been scheming behind the scenes for a while.
Finally, one evening, he called the whole family into his study and formally announced the news.
"I've already spoken with Chairman Lin. Next weekend, we'll arrange for the two young people to meet and officially settle the engagement," Dad declared triumphantly, as if already envisioning the company's IPO bell ringing.
Mom was also overjoyed: "That's wonderful! I've met Qingqian before – she's cultured, well-mannered, and beautiful! She and our Chenchen are a perfect match!"
Jiang Chen sat on the sofa, expressionless and silent.
I knew he didn't like Lin Qingqian.
He had always held feelings for someone else.
That someone was Jiang Xue.
Yes, it was that cliché.
My nominal older brother had developed forbidden feelings for his nominal younger sister.
They'd hidden it well.
But they couldn't hide it from my lie-detection system.
Right now, I clearly heard the truths in both their hearts.
[Jiang Chen's Truth: "Why? Why should my marriage be traded for the family's gain? I don't want to marry Lin Qingqian! I love Xiaoxue!"]
[Jiang Xue's Truth: "No! Impossible! Brother Chen can't marry someone else! He's mine! Only mine! I won't allow this to happen!"]
Heh, what a farce.
I watched Jiang Xue, her face deathly pale and swaying as if about to collapse, and Jiang Chen, his face etched with repressed pain, and inwardly rejoiced.
Mom and Dad, still basking in the joy of the impending Lin alliance, were completely oblivious to their children's distress.
"Xue'er," Mom said cheerfully to Jiang Xue, "you'll have a sister-in-law soon! Aren't you happy? You and Qingqian are about the same age; I'm sure you'll get along well."
Jiang Xue forced out a smile uglier than tears:
"Hap… happy."
[Lie: "Happy."]
[Truth: "Happy your head! You old witch! I wish you'd drop dead right now!"]
I "thoughtfully" walked over and took Jiang Xue's ice-cold hand.
"Xue'er, what's wrong? Your hands are so cold! Are you so excited for Brother?" I asked with "concern."
Jiang Xue yanked her hand back as if stung by a scorpion.
She glared at me with eyes that seemed ready to devour me whole.
I gave her an innocent, bewildered smile in return.
*Little sister, don't look at me like that.*
*I'm just… saying what's in your heart out loud.*
The following week, our house was shrouded in a strange atmosphere.
Mom and Dad bustled around preparing for the meeting with the Lin family, radiating joy every day.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chen and Jiang Xue were like two defeated roosters, listless and silent, exchanging only bitter, knowing glances filled with their shared "anguish."
I watched it all, finding it merely amusing.
I continued playing my role as the "sensible and obedient" eldest daughter, helping Mom plan the banquet menu and decorations.
Simultaneously, I started deliberately fanning the flames beside Jiang Xue's ear.
"Xue'er, look at this news."
I handed her my phone showing the latest report on Lin Group. "Lin Group's stock price rose again! The Lin family is truly formidable! If Brother can marry Lin Qingqian, our family will never have to worry again."
Jiang Xue's face paled another shade.
"Xue'er, I heard Lin Qingqian is exceptionally beautiful and a top student! She and Brother are truly a match made in heaven!"
Jiang Xue's fists clenched audibly.
"Xue'er, do you think Brother and Lin Qingqian will have a baby soon after they marry? Then I'll be an aunt, and you'll be an aunt too! Won't that be fun?"
"Enough!"
Jiang Xue finally couldn't take it and hissed at me, "Jiang Yue, what exactly are you trying to say?!"
I looked at her innocently. "I'm not trying to say anything. I'm just… happy for Brother. Aren't *you* happy for Brother?" I emphasized the word "happy."
Jiang Xue's lips trembled, unable to speak.
[Lie: "Of course I'm happy for him!"]
[Truth: "I hate it! I hate all of you! You're forcing him! You're stealing him away from me!"]
I sighed, adopting a tone of deep sympathy:
"Xue'er, I know you and Brother are close, and you'll miss him. But people always need to start families and build careers. This is for Brother's own good, and for the good of our whole family. As his sisters, we should support him and bless him, shouldn't we?"
My words sounded "reasonable" and "considerate of the bigger picture."
But to Jiang Xue, each sentence was a stab to the heart.
I was telling her that her feelings for Jiang Chen were worthless in the face of interests.
She was just an outsider, an adopted daughter.
She had no right, no standing, to interfere in Jiang Chen's marriage.
I saw the light in her eyes extinguish bit by bit, replaced by madness and obsession.
I knew my goal was achieved.
The fish had taken the bait.
Now, I just needed to wait quietly for her to leap into the net I'd prepared.
The day of the meeting with the Lin family finally arrived.
It was held at the city's most luxurious seven-star hotel.
Dad booked the entire top-floor banquet hall, decorated opulently and extravagantly.
Our whole family attended in formal attire.
Dad and Jiang Chen wore sharp suits. Mom wore a dignified, luxurious purple cheongsam.
I chose a low-key beige cocktail dress – not eye-catching, but appropriate.
Jiang Xue, however, was uncharacteristic today.
She wore a black dress with heavy makeup – thick, dark eyeliner and blood-red lips. Her whole demeanor radiated aggression and ominousness.
Mom frowned the moment she saw her outfit.
"Jiang Xue! Why are you dressed like that? Do you not know what day this is? Go upstairs and change immediately!"
"No!"
Jiang Xue retorted defiantly for the first time. "I think it looks good!"
[Lie: "I think it looks good!"]
[Truth: "I want to dress like this! I want everyone to know I'm unhappy! I want to ruin this engagement banquet!"]
"You!"
Mom was too furious to speak.