Chapter 3: Don’t Endure, Let Yourself Go Mad

The Yun couple were originally childless, so they adopted an orphan and named her Yun Chuxia.

Unexpectedly, in the third year after the adoption, Mrs. Yun became pregnant. Though they briefly considered returning Yun Chuxia to the orphanage, they were told that it was the adopted daughter’s presence that had invited the birth of their own child, so they reluctantly abandoned the idea.

However, an adopted daughter is never the same as a biological one. Gradually, the disparity in their treatment became increasingly obvious.

From childhood, Yun Qingqing was pampered and willful, getting whatever her heart desired. But what she enjoyed most was snatching things away from Yun Chuxia. Whether it was something as small as a hair clip or as significant as a secret crush, if she discovered that Yun Chuxia liked it, she had to take it for herself.

It wasn't that Yun Chuxia never suspected anything. But whenever she cried and asked Zhao Jingrou about it as a child, the answer was always the same: "You are both Mommy and Daddy’s good girls."

That simple, effortless line deceived Yun Chuxia for over twenty years. She believed her parents were merely biased, so she strove to do everything perfectly, only to be met with an ever-increasing number of cold glares.

Yun Qingqing did not like it when Chuxia excelled; it made her unhappy. And since the Yuns did not want to upset Yun Qingqing, Yun Chuxia’s room slowly shrank until she was eventually relegated to the servant’s quarters.

She only received the clothes that Yun Qingqing had discarded, and eventually, she was reduced to wearing school uniforms that had been washed until they were faded and thin. Yun Qingqing frequently tormented her—pouring water on her bed, pushing her into the swimming pool, and colluding with classmates to stuff trash into her desk.

When she tried to tell her parents, she received only a dismissive remark from Zhao Jingrou: "You are the older sister; you should let your younger sister have her way."

She truly did not know what to do. Why was it that, as children of the same parents, everything her sister did was right, while everything she did was wrong?

She began to constantly doubt herself.

It wasn't until she was diagnosed with moderate anxiety and depression that things took a darker turn. Yun Qingqing took the medical report and presented it to their parents as a joke.

Yun Hongbin said with a cold face, "Faking medical records to imitate others—is this the new trick you’ve learned?"

She suffered immensely, each day feeling like a year.

Later, Si Haochen appeared. He was the only one Yun Qingqing could not snatch away.

Zhao Jingrou was adept at social maneuvering. To establish a firm footing among the socialites and wives of Yancheng, she often hosted lavish banquets. She was generous with her spending and had always enjoyed a good reputation.

For Yun Qingqing’s coming-of-age banquet, Zhao Jingrou spared no expense in inviting Yancheng’s elite, going so far as to pull strings to get an invitation delivered to the Si family. The banquet was essentially a facade for a matchmaking attempt, with the ultimate target being the Si family’s eldest son, Si Haochen, who was of a similar age.

Si Haochen did show up, but before Zhao Jingrou could even make an introduction, he seemed to lose his soul the moment he laid eyes on Yun Chuxia. From that day on, he high-profiled himself as Yun Chuxia’s devoted shadow.

Yun Chuxia thought she had finally found salvation. For the sake of the Si family’s status, the Yun family once again granted her the treatment and dignity befitting a daughter of the house. Yet, when no outsiders were around, they continued to indulge Yun Qingqing as she barked orders at Chuxia.

With someone backing her, Yun Qingqing was smug. "Some people think that just because they’ve flown onto a branch, they’re no longer a common pheasant. You’re nothing but a lowly thing."

She had always been foul-mouthed, and she knew Yun Chuxia would never hold it against her.

Yun Hongbin silently poured himself another cup of tea, remaining silent.

Zhao Jingrou continued to play deaf and dumb.

They stood by and watched in silence, taking sides.

She had long been used to suffering in silence.

Yun Chuxia’s gaze was cold and detached. *I am already dying,* she thought, *what else is there to endure?*

She stared at Yun Qingqing with icy eyes. "Say that again."

Yun Qingqing stiffened her neck. "I could say it ten more times..."

Before she could finish, Yun Chuxia raised her hand high and delivered a solid slap.

*Smack.*

It wasn't loud enough.

Before anyone could react, Yun Chuxia followed through with a backhand slap.

The sound was crisp.

Yun Hongbin stood up abruptly, raising his right hand.

Yun Chuxia leaned her face toward him. "Hit me here. Let the Si family see it clearly tomorrow."