Translated by: Queen Dei Mos
Novel Update Schedule: Every Sunday
That night, Ji Bai posted a Weibo post with the following content——
“I’m thrilled to have recovered my beloved cello. Thank you, older sister, for your enthusiastic help in finding the thief.”
This Weibo post was unexpectedly reposted by Ji Feifei.
This was Ji Feifei’s first time publicly reposting Ji Bai’s Weibo post. Ji Bai knew that she believed this post would help promote her image as a gentle and caring older sister, which was why she decided to repost it.
Rather than intentionally avoiding discussing her younger sister on Weibo, fans preferred to see content showcasing the harmonious relationship between the sisters.
Ji Bai had anticipated this.
She simply showcased a wave of deep sisterly bond with her older sister on Weibo, helping her completely shape her public image.
“Anyway…ultimately, public images are meant to be shattered.
The benefit for Ji Bai in this matter was that her number of fans was continuously increasing, and now she had over a hundred thousand. Even the housekeeper found her and said they wanted to help her with registration and verification.
The name for the verification was—— ‘The Inspirational Goddess Ji Feifei’s Younger Sister’.
Ji Bai declined this verification.
Her identity was solely her own; it doesn’t require any additional prefixes from others to define who she was.
As Ji Bai had expected, before the official performance, Ji Feifei approached her with a forced smile.
During a happy and harmonious family meal, Ji Feifei pretended to casually say to Ji Bai, “Younger sister, since both of us have been selected for the city’s performance, it’s truly something worth being happy and celebrating about.”
Ji Bai responded with a simple “En” not batting an eyelid.1(不动声色) – bù dòng shēng sè – remaining calm and collected
Ji Feifei looked at their parents and continued, “Younger sister, I heard that the participants in this performance are the cream of the crop from our city’s high schools. They are extremely talented, and many of them are from art schools.”
“So?”
“So ah, I think we sisters should join forces and not let ourselves be outperformed by them.”
Ji Bai calmly put down her chopsticks and looked at Ji Feifei with a wooden expression.2(无表情) – wú biǎo qíng – expressionless / blank (face) “When I lost my cello that time, older sister personally said that you wouldn’t cooperate with me in the competition and that I should participate alone. Why have you changed your mind now?”
Ji Feifei smiled awkwardly and said, “At that time, I thought your cello couldn’t be used. I had no choice ah. I couldn’t skip the competition just because you couldn’t participate ah. I’ve practiced for a long time for this competition. Dad and Mom, you should say something too ah.”
Their parents were suddenly cued in so they put down their chopsticks and bowls. Tao Jiazhi instinctively chose to speak up for Ji Feifei. “Bai Bai, at that time losing the cello was really unexpected, your older sister had no choice. You should understand your older sister, ah.”
Ji Mingzhi also said, “Yes, ah. Bai Bai, you should be more understanding. Your older sister is not in good health, so you should yield to her more.”
This argument, from childhood to adulthood, Ji Bai had heard it so many times that her ears had become numb.3She heard them say the same thing repeatedly to the point of becoming unresponsive to it.
She is in poor health, therefore, everything at home should revolve around her. The care and love from their parents are solely reserved for her. In this household, she naturally enjoys the best resources, monopolizing their parents’ love. She effortlessly becomes most dazzling one. Even when she steps outside of this family, she still belongs to the vulnerable group and should be pitied and looked after.
But with her proud appearance, there was not a hint of being weak.
“Older sister, do you want me to accompany you on the cello again?”
Ji Feifei, who was currently making demands, had a smile on her face as she pleaded, “Younger sister, I admit I was wrong. Older sister apologizes to you.”
“Since it’s an apology, let’s clarify all the details, okay? Specify the exact time and place where things went wrong, and explain clearly what was done incorrectly.”
Ji Feifei’s complexion changed. “Must you be so overbearing?”
Ji Bai smiled gently and said, “Older sister, you’re the one seeking for my forgiveness now. If you want to apologize, I will accept it. Why do you accuse me of being overbearing? If you don’t want to explain, then forget it.”
She put down her chopsticks and left the room.
Ji Feifei quickly pulled her back and through clenched teeth, said, “Fine, I’ll admit it. I, Ji Feifei, because Ji Bai lost her cello, chose to abandon my teammate and perform alone. That was wrong of me, and I apologize to Ji Bai. As sisters, no matter the circumstances, I should never have abandoned my younger sister. I should have stayed with her to resolve the problem together. This should be good enough for you, right!?”
Ji Bai turned around and looked at her intently. “Older sister, are you really only apologizing for this matter?”
Ji Feifei responded cautiously, “What do you mean?”
Ji Bai smiled with indifference. “No meaning. I accept your apology.”
Ji Bai wasn’t worried. Someday, for sure, she would apologize for everything she had done.
The parents finally saw the sisters reconcile, and a look of relief appeared on their faces.” “Good, this is truly great. Bai Bai, since your older sister has already apologized, you shouldn’t hold on to it anymore. For this performance, why don’t you accompany your older sister, okay?”
Ji Bai said, “I have another condition as well.”
“What are you up to again!”
Ji Bai lightly glanced at Ji Feifei and said. “You were the one at fault in this matter, and you admitted it yourself. I think it’s reasonable for me to make some demands.”
“What exactly do you want?”
“In this competition, I can cooperate with you, but the trophy cup from the performance and the extra points for the college entrance exam will belong to me.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Feifei was stunned. “What!? You’re going too far!”
Ji Bai retorted with indifference, “If older sister is unwilling, then forget it. Let’s rely on our own abilities and meet on the stage.”
Ji Feifei knew that if she didn’t cooperate with Ji Bai, her dance performance wouldn’t stand a chance. She had watched the videos of other participants in the competition, and she was no match for them at all.
“The trophy can be yours, but the extra points for the college entrance examination will be mine!” Ji Feifei bargained.
Ji Bai shook her head. “I have confidence that I can win both of those even if I participate alone. Why should I cooperate with you?”
“Mom and Dad, look at her!” Ji Feifei started acting spoiled towards their parents again and said, “She’s going too far!”
Tao Jiazhi said, “Bai Bai, don’t make trouble. Even if your older sister was wrong, considering her poor health, shouldn’t you be more accommodating towards her!”
Ji Bai had already anticipated that their parents would side with her older sister, so she said, “If both Mom and Dad are taking older sister’s side, then we can ask grandmother to judge between right and wrong. If grandmother believes I should help my older sister unconditionally, then I won’t say another word”
Ji Feifei quickly pulled Tao Jiazhi’s sleeve and said, “Mom, let’s call grandmother and see what she says!”
“This…”
Tao Jiazhi hesitated; if she were to call Old lady Ji, she might face another round of scolding. The last time Old lady Ji left, she specifically called Tao Jiazhi out and warned her not to be partial towards either of her daughters, as it could lead to troubles.
In this incident, it was clear that Ji Feifei was in the wrong. If this matter reaches Old lady Ji, she might even think that Tao Jiazhi was incapable of managing the family and wouldn’t entrust them with the family’s assets.
Tao Jiazhi could only try to persuade Ji Feifei instead, “Fei Fei ah, why don’t you just agree with your younger sister, okay? Mom believes in you, and with your abilities, you will definitely get into a top university.”
Ji Feifei was dumbfounded, “Mom, why are you speaking up for her? I’m your biological daughter ah!”
Ji Mingzhi seemed to have the same idea as Tao Jiazhi and said, “You are our daughter, Bai Bai as well. We are here to support what is right, not just based on blood relations. There’s no need to say more about this matter. Either you agree to your younger sister’s conditions or you perform separately. It’s your choice.”
Feeling hopeless, Ji Feifei looked at Ji Bai with a malicious gaze. She couldn’t understand why Ji Bai had changed. It wasn’t just her; even their parents seemed to…have changed.
Ji Feifei had no way out, she could only temporarily agree to Ji Bai’s demands for now, giving her the trophy and the extra points for the college entrance examination…
All she wanted was to show her face in front of everyone. As for the prize money, it didn’t matter much to her since she couldn’t even spend all the pocket money her parents gave her. As for the extra points for the college entrance exam…given her identity as a hemophiliac, there would be many opportunities in the future.
Her close friends were furious and resentful about Ji Bai and Ji Feifei collaborating again.
On the way home, Ji Bai gave the few admission tickets to the concert hall that she had managed to obtain with great difficulty to her close friends.
Yin Xiaxia said, “Bai Bai, you are being such a pushover! She’s saying that she’ll cooperate when she feels like it and won’t when she doesn’t, and you’re just accepting it like that?”
Ji Bai pushed her bike and said, “The trophy and extra points are mine.”
“This is not just about the trophy! It’s about dignity, okay!” Yin Xiaxia hated the iron for not being steel4(恨铁不成钢) or (恨鐵不成鋼 ) – hèn tiě bù chéng gāng – lit. to hate iron for not becoming steel / to feel resentful towards Ji Bai for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvement (idiom) and said, “For so many years, hasn’t she bullied you enough? When will you finally wake up and stop letting yourself be bullied!”
Ji Bai said in a low voice, “I am not being bullied. Even if she didn’t agree to my conditions, I would still collaborate with her. This is exactly my plan.”
The friends stared at Ji Bai in disbelief, “You…what are you really thinking?”
“People always have to pay the price for their actions. Just because she’s ill, I…even those participants who were unjustly pushed aside by her using this privilege, should they just let her have her way? That’s not how the world works.”
Upon hearing this, the close friends were all excited, asking, “Bai Bai, what are you planning to do?”
Ji Bai turned around and looked at the deep blue river water surging under the bridge, her eyes filled with tranquility——
“I will make sure that everyone knows, when it’s not possible, it’s just not possible. No matter what.”
**
In the classroom during the afternoon, the warm sunlight filled the room. Cong Yuzhou yawned lazily and pouted his lips, as he watched Xie Sui open a package.
With a “swoosh”, a folding military knife unfolded, its blade gleamed with sharpness under the sunlight. Xie Sui’s slender and beautiful fingers pressed against the package as he swiftly sliced open the paper seal with the knife.
Cong Yuzhou thought he had purchased a new pair of boxing gloves, or perhaps motorcycle parts. However, he didn’t expect that he would directly take out a set of signed photo albums of a popular and influential film star from inside the package.
Cong Yuzhou rubbed his eyes and confirmed that the cover indeed featured a male celebrity with a sexy bare upper body in a provocative pose, along with the image of Xie Sui, who was looking at the celebrity’s photo with a mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth.
“Sui, Brother Sui is into this ah?”
……
After school, as Yin Xiaxia and her friends walked out of the school gate, they were stopped by a group of boys.
“Hey, classmate Xiaxia.”
Jiang Zhongning parked his bike on the side and said to her abruptly, “I have a business proposition for you. Do you have tickets for tomorrow’s performance? Sell it to us, alright?”
Yin Xiaxia looked up and spotted Xie Sui and Cong Yuzhou sitting on the guard railing.
Cong Yuzhou greeted her with a friendly wave of his hand.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know you well, so I won’t sell them,”
Yin Xiaxia replied without hesitation. She hadn’t forgotten how Xie Sui bullied Ji Bai in the past. She wasn’t polite with her words and turned around to leave.
Jiang Zhongning helplessly turned back and looked at Xie Sui, who made a motion of slitting his throat with his hand.
Jiang Zhongning could only force himself to chase after her, saying, “Classmate Yin Xiaxia, if you don’t change your mind, Laozi will beat you up! I’ll make you cry and see if you’ll change your mind!”
Yin Xiaxia:…
She cautiously took out her phone, ready to press the emergency button at any moment.
Xie Sui rolled his eyes, leaped down from the roadside guard railing, and took out the signed photo album from his bag.
“Personally signed, limited edition with explicit content. Exchange it for three admission tickets.”
Before Yin Xiaxia could react, the girls beside her started screaming like crazy——
“Ah ah ah! My husband! My husband’s photo!”
“Exchange, exchange, exchange! Xie Sui, I’ll exchange with you!”
“My seats are in the front row, exchange with me, exchange with me!”
Yin Xiaxia:…
Pathetic!
**
The sponsors of the performance invited news media, creating a grand spectacle. It would even be streamed live on local TV stations.
In the dressing room, Ji Feifei was feeling excited. She changed into a beautiful dress that her parents had specially tailored for her.
Due to excessive nutrition, her figure became plump. When she ordered the dress, Ji Feifei, who had feared losing face, had lied about her BWH5(三围) – sān wéi – BWH, abbr. for a woman’s three measurements, namely: bust 胸圍|胸围[xiong1 wei2], waist 腰圍|腰围[yao1 wei2] and hip 臀圍|臀围[tun2 wei2] ( 三圍 ). She thought she would successfully lose weight, but unexpectedly, she gained two catties6(斤) – jīn – catty / weight equal to 0.5 kg instead. Now, when she tried to put on the dress, it was extremely tight, and it wouldn’t zip it up no matter how hard they tried.
“Pull harder! Pull with all your strength!” Ji Feifei gritted her teeth and said, “I must wear it!”
Several staff members gathered around Ji Feifei, pulling the zipper at the back of the dress with great effort. “Take a deep breath, take another breath!”
Ji Feifei’s face turned red from holding her breath, she inadvertently turned her head, and caught sight of Ji Bai.
Ji Bai sat in front of the dressing table and was applying a thin layer of loose powder on her face. The light illuminated her face, highlighting her fair and translucent skin.
She had applied stage makeup and her deep-set of eyes brought out her three-dimensional facial features.7It means that her facial features are well-defined and clear
At that moment, Ji Feifei was left stunned. What kind of feeling was that? It was as if she was witnessing a delicate butterfly break free from its cocoon, unfurling its vibrant and colorful wings.
She hadn’t realized that her own younger sister, with whom she had been with day and night, had already transformed into such a beautiful person!
This transformation was not merely a change in facial features, but it came from her aura, her entire being seemed to be radiating.
She quietly sat in front of the dressing table, her radiance surpassed her previous self who had always bore fangs and brandished her claws8(张牙舞爪) – zhāng yá wǔ zhǎo – to bare fangs and brandish claws (idiom); to make threatening gestures ( 張牙舞爪 ) by a hundredfold.
Even though she was wearing this beautiful dress, Ji Feifei felt utterly ashamed and inferior, feeling that she couldn’t compare to her even by one ten-thousandth.9(万分之一) – wàn fēn zhī yī – one ten-thousandth / dimi … dm / ten-thousandth / ten thousandth. Meaning: It means that she felt that she couldn’t even compare to Ji Bai even in the tiniest fraction
If someone else were to say this, she might’ve felt extremely angry, but since she discovered it herself…Now, she merely felt ashamed and sorrowful for her own sake.
The contrast between the two sisters was too strong, even the surrounding makeup artists noticed. Someone gently and cautiously asked Ji Feifei, “This dress really isn’t going to fit, so why don’t you…let your younger sister wear it, okay? We can choose another one for you. There are so many to choose from on the rack!”
Ji Feifei struggled to suppress the urge to curse at the person and breathed rapidly, saying, “Who would want to wear those cheap stage costumes? I will definitely fit into this dress!”
Just at this moment, Assistant Qin, who was always beside Old lady Ji, brought in a dress and said. “Second young miss, this dress was prepared by Old lady Ji specifically for you. Please try it on.”10He was very polite here since he was using (您) – nín – you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你[ni3]):3
Ji Bai was pleasantly surprised, “Grandmother prepared it for me?”
“Yes ah, Old lady Ji said that you11formal speech have a performance today and specially selected this dress for you! Try it on quickly!”
“Thank you, Assistant Qin.” Ji Bai happily accepted the gift package and went to the changing room to put on the dress.
This high-end dress was even more exquisite in terms of craftsmanship and fabric than the one worn by Ji Feifei.
Old lady Ji’s aesthetic sense was undoubtedly higher than that of the Ji family’s parents. Ji Feifei’s dress was covered in diamonds and had a complex design, dazzling to the eyes.
However, this dress had a subtle color and a very restrained style that perfectly complemented Ji Bai’s quiet and elegant temperament, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
Comparing the two, the difference was clear.
Ji Feifei clenched her teeth tightly, her lips turning pale. She angrily turned around and stormed into the restroom…
Provoked by Ji Bai, Ji Feifei became determined to put on the dress no matter what!
Sounds of retching came from the restroom. The makeup artists outside the door looked at each other in dismay, furrowing their eyebrows.
When Ji Feifei came out, her eyes were bloodshot, tears welled up at the corners of her eyes, her makeup was also smudged, and her lips were swollen like sausages.
Inducing vomiting was effective as she finally managed to put on this dress.
Ji Bai looked at Ji Feifei, whose body was as stiff as a mummy, and reminded her, “Are you sure…you want to go dance like this?”
“What’s the matter? Do you have a problem with it?”
“I just think that if it’s too tight, you might feel restricted and not able to move freely.”
“What’s it to you, just mind your own business, alright?”
Ji Feifei didn’t care if she could move freely or not. She stubbornly insisted on wearing this beautiful dress on stage to show off her elegance to everyone.
Ji Bai shook her head as she realized that she didn’t even need to take action. Ji Feifei was so eager for her own downfall that she created a fuss even until the end.
After fixing her makeup, Ji Feifei’s mood improved. She began taking various selfies, retouching them, and then posted them on her Weibo——
“About to go on stage, today’s performance will be live streamed. Are all the Fei Fans here?”
【Here, here, Fei Bao, go for it! 】
【So excited! Looking forward to seeing Fei Bao dance for the first time. Make sure to perform well, okay!】
【Love you!】
Ji Feifei scrolled through her Weibo and glanced up to see Ji Bai applying a bright red lipstick on her lips.
She stared at her coldly and said, “Actually, you don’t need to put on makeup at all.”
“What do you mean?”
“No particular meaning, really. This performance’s main focus is on me. Your makeup won’t make a difference.”
Ji Bai remained expressionless. “Is that so?”
Ji Feifei’s eyes held a smile as she said, “Let’s wait and see, okay?”
Of course, Ji Bai knew that Ji Feifei had some sort of scheme in mind.
In the previous life, Ji Feifei had already used this move.
Ji Feifei told the lighting engineer that in order to maintain the best stage effect, all the spotlights should be focused on her, as she was the lead performer.
Throughout the performance, Ji Bai sat in a dark corner without any stage light on her. From the beginning to the end of the performance, she wasn’t seen by any of the audience.
As a result, the audience had no idea that this was a performance involving two people.
Ji Bai succeeded in becoming, not just in name only, but also in reality a…supporting role.12Kinda dark we can see that Ji Bai was only created to become a living sibling donor to Ji Feifei so yeah supporting role literally :((
Now, Ji Feifei wanted to carry out the same old trick, Ji Bai could beat her at her own game and make her suffer the consequences of her own actions.
Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
T/N:
Please comment and share if you like the story!
By the way, if you’re interested in additional chapters, you’re more than welcome to support me. I’ve set a goal of $2 to release an extra chapter on my Ko-fi page. |･ω･｀)
