On my way to take the graduate school entrance exam, my parents revealed the secret of my birth. "Harper, don't come home right after the exam." "We have good news: our biological daughter is coming back." I thought they were joking. But my brother hugged me. "Harper, it's true. You can't call me 'brother' anymore." Seeing my pale face, my parents laughed. "Oh, don't tell me this child actually thinks she can keep staying in this house and calling us mom and dad now that our real daughter is back?" My brother affectionately ruffled my hair, just like he always used to. "Silly Harper, wake up. We can only be strangers from now on, understand?" 1 Standing at the entrance of the exam hall, my mind was completely blank. I hadn't yet recovered from the shocking revelation that I wasn't my parents' biological daughter. Just a second ago, my brother, Mason, had been checking my admission ticket and making sure I had all my specific exam pens. Now, he waved his hand in front of my face and chuckled. "Seriously, Harper, what's with that expression?" "Don't tell me you object to my real sister coming home?" "She's the true daughter; you're just the fake, the imposter." "You've been hogging everything that rightfully belongs to her all these years." "Don't you feel even a little bit guilty? Are you trying to compete with her?" I had just found out about my true identity. They hadn't even given me a moment to process it. My mind was still stuck on the happy images from this morning: my dad personally cooking breakfast and wishing me success; my mom braving the freezing cold to wear a qipao (a traditional dress symbolizing victory) to wish me a triumphant return; my brother canceling important meetings to personally drive me to the exam hall. How could they go from caring for me meticulously one second to looking at me like I was a wicked imposter the next, guarded against me, and telling me we were now strangers? I could only grit my teeth. My heart felt cold and bleeding, yet I forced a smile. "No, I don't. Congratulations on your family reunion." "I'm going in for the exam now." The wariness on Mason's face finally melted into affection, and he patted my shoulder. "That's a good girl. Go on in, and do well on the exam." My mom pointed to her beautiful qipao and said: "Harper, remember when you took the college entrance exam? I wore this exact qipao, and you passed with flying colors." "Trust me, this lucky outfit will guarantee you pass the grad school exam on the first try." "Oh, wait, ptui ptui, I almost forgot. I can't call myself 'mom' anymore." "Harper, from now on, you have to call me 'auntie'." "Come on, let me hear you practice calling me 'auntie' first." My mom looked at me with eager anticipation, waiting to hear the word "auntie" from my lips. But this woman standing in front of me was the mother I had called "mom" for twenty-three years. My nose stung terribly. I bit down hard to keep the tears from falling. My throat felt blocked. My lips parted several times, but I couldn't utter a single syllable. Yet, they seemed completely oblivious to the fact that I was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. My dad actually put on a smile and urged me. "Harper, hurry up and say 'uncle' and 'auntie'." "If you don't get used to changing how you address us now, our real daughter might overthink it when she gets back. She's sensitive, and we can't hurt her feelings, understand?" I felt like I was being shoved into the deepest pit of hell. My heart was dying, all hope turning to ash. With immense difficulty, I forced out two words: "Uncle, Auntie." My dad carefully observed my expression, seemed to sigh in relief, and let out a hearty laugh. "Haha, that's right! This is how you should address us from now on." My mom gave me a tight hug. "Our precious Harper, hurry inside for your exam. Make sure you get a good score." At that moment, I desperately wanted to scream hysterically: If you really wanted me to get a good score, why couldn't you wait until the exam was over to tell me?! Telling me now—how am I supposed to focus on the exam?! But I couldn't bring myself to ask any of it. I could only drag my leaden feet into the exam hall. As I turned around, the tears I had been desperately holding back finally broke free, falling in large drops. No matter how hard I wiped them, they kept coming. During the security check at the entrance, the proctor noticed my red, swollen eyes and asked what was wrong. "Student, nothing is more important than the graduate entrance exam right now. You need to adjust your mindset quickly." I fought back the tears and nodded. There's a saying: The first sword you draw after reaching the shore is used to cut down the one you love. But I hadn't even reached the shore yet, and my family had already cut me down. How ironic. Honestly, why were they in such a rush to sever ties with me? Couldn't they have waited two days? Let me finish the exam without distractions? I gripped my pen tightly, my heart numb with pain, but I had to face reality. They found the true daughter and didn't want me, their fake daughter and sister, anymore. Fine. Then I'll do as you wish. I wouldn't shamelessly cling to them. Once the two-day exam was over, I would immediately leave this city and disappear from their lives forever. 2 From 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM, the first exam was Ideological and Political Theory. I forced myself to calm down. I thought about all the hardships I had endured over the past year preparing for this exam. Even if the sky was falling, I had to stay calm and not let my terrible mood ruin my performance. Finally, I finished all the questions and walked out of the exam hall. When I retrieved my phone from the storage area, I discovered that my dad had kicked me out of the family group chat. He even sent me a private message to explain: [Harper, how did you do this morning?] [You worked so hard; Uncle believes you definitely did great.] [Oh, by the way, Uncle kicked you out of the family group chat.] [Mainly because I was afraid you'd feel awkward. After all, Chloe and us are the real family of four. You'd definitely feel uncomfortable staying in the group, but probably too embarrassed to leave on your own. So, Uncle did you a favor and helped you out. Don't feel any psychological burden, okay?] A lump of stagnant anger blocked my chest, unable to go up or down. What, am I supposed to be profoundly grateful? Thank my dad for being so understanding, for kicking me out of the group chat to save me from awkwardness? It was laughable. I thought I had the happiest family. Growing up, I never experienced gender discrimination. My dad loved me, my mom doted on me, my brother spoiled me. When I got sick, the whole family would hover around me, anxious and fretting, asking if I was warm enough, wishing they could suffer in my place. Was all that familial love fake? Just because we didn't share blood, did everything cease to exist? I didn't understand. Suddenly, a car pulled up in front of me. Mason rolled down the window and looked at me. "Harper, why are you crying? Did you not do well?" "That shouldn't be. You spent the whole year studying diligently, pulling all-nighters. You even memorized notes in the emergency room when you had a high fever." "Logically, this exam should have been a breeze for you." I suddenly realized my face was covered in tears. I quickly wiped them away. Feigning calmness, I explained: "I finished all the questions." A look of relief washed over Mason's face. "I knew you could do it! Get in, I'll take you to lunch." As we passed a shopping mall, Mason parked the car and dragged me to the cosmetics counters. "Harper, what's your favorite skincare set? Don't hold back, pick whatever you want, I'm paying." My chilled heart warmed up just a little bit. "Mason, it's okay. I don't need any skincare products." My brother instinctively reached out and ruffled my hair. "Silly Harper, it's not for you. I want you to pick out your favorite skincare set as a welcome gift for Chloe. She wants to meet you, and insisted I bring you along for lunch." "Hurry up and pick something. Don't just stand there. Pick the most expensive one, the one you usually wouldn't dare buy for yourself." "You have no idea how nervous I was when Mom, Dad, and I went to the high-speed rail station to pick Chloe up this morning. It's my first time being an older brother to my biological sister. I'm terrified she won't feel how much I like her. How about this set? What about this one? It's too hard to choose, maybe I should just buy them all and let her pick?" I turned into a statue. So Mason didn't specifically come to the exam center to pick me up for lunch. He did it to please the true daughter, Chloe? My nose burned intensely. "Mason, can I not go?" Mason frowned slightly. "Why? Harper, do you not like her?" "Are you hostile toward her?" "Do you think she shouldn't have shown up? Is that really what you think?" I picked up the most expensive skincare set and handed it to Mason. "No. A lot of girls like this La Mer set. I'll give her this one." While Mason went to pay, I bought a plane ticket to the capital for tomorrow night. I couldn't stay in this city any longer. With every breath, I felt like I was suffocating to death. I wanted to go stay with Professor Lu, who taught at Tsinghua University. She was my mom's best friend, and also my godmother. She was always telling me to study hard and try to become her graduate student. She used to say: "If your mom hadn't been faster on the draw, you would've been my daughter." "Since you can't be my daughter, how about being my student?" "A teacher for a day is a mother for a lifetime. Godmother will love you like her own flesh and blood." Only today did I understand what she meant. It turned out my parents had become sick with longing after losing their daughter. So, they went to an orphanage and adopted me. I sent a WeChat message to Professor Lu. But even after I arrived at the restaurant with Mason, I hadn't received a reply from her. 3 It was almost 1:00 PM when Mason and I arrived at the restaurant. The afternoon graduate exam started at 2:00 PM, but we had to enter the exam room half an hour early. Calculating the time, I didn't have time to stay for lunch. So, before opening the private room door, I explained the situation to Mason: "Mason, I'll go in, give the gift to Chloe, and then I have to catch the subway to the exam center." Mason looked at me with pity. "You're not going to eat anything before you go?" "I'll buy a couple of buns at the entrance and eat them on the way. I really don't have time. It takes about half an hour to take the subway from here to the exam center. I can't delay." Mason agreed, but suddenly changed his tone: "Harper, don't call me 'brother' in front of Chloe. Remember to call me 'Mr. Vance'." "After all, she's my real sister. I can't give her the illusion that I want both of you. Between the two of you, I have to choose one, and I must choose her, understand?" I clenched my fists, forcing a smile. The brother who used to dote on me now only guarded against me. "I'm sorry, I forgot to change how I address you." "Don't worry, from now on I will treat you like a stranger and never call you 'brother' again." With that, I consciously stepped back, putting distance between us. Just then, a waiter carrying a tray of dishes filed past, almost bumping into my back. Mason grabbed me and pulled me to his side, scolding the waiter: "Watch where you're going! You almost spilled soup on my sister's back! She has an important exam today, can you afford to delay her?!" The waiter apologized profusely. I smiled bitterly. So Mason did know today's exam was important to me. Then why did he keep stabbing me in the heart, over and over again? 4 Mason pushed open the door to the private room and motioned for me to go in. Three people were already seated inside. My dad, my mom, and Chloe, the true daughter, who was being showered with their affection. Seeing me, my mom enthusiastically introduced us: "Harper's here! Come meet Chloe." "Your uncle, auntie, and Chloe have been waiting for you for a long time." My mom specifically emphasized the words "uncle and auntie," making me feel incredibly awkward. But a smile bloomed on Chloe's face. When she smiled, the mother, father, and brother who used to love me all smiled along with her. That kind of cautious, fawning affection stung my eyes. I looked away, not wanting to see the scene, and forced myself to explain: "I'm sorry, Uncle and Auntie, I'm late." I handed the La Mer set to Chloe, the true daughter. "Hello, Chloe. A small welcome gift. I hope you like it." Chloe picked up a half-human-sized stuffed bear from the seat next to her and handed it to me. "Hello, Harper. Your gift is indeed quite small, not as big as mine." "But, it's the thought that counts. I like it very much, thank you." I suppressed my anger and didn't explode: "..." If she wasn't embarrassed, I felt embarrassed for her. After all, anyone could see whose gift was truly "smaller." But I noticed that my parents' eyes held only affection for her, and blame for me. As if buying high-end skincare that Chloe didn't recognize and making her look foolish was my fault. My dad put on a cold face and told me to sit down and eat. I really couldn't stay any longer. Every look from my parents suffocated me. Thankfully, I had a ready-made excuse. "Uncle, Auntie, I'm short on time, so I won't eat. Enjoy your family meal." "Having an outsider present at your first reunion meal would make it imperfect." "Chloe, take your time eating, I have to go." But just as I was about to step out the door, Chloe cried out: "Mom, Dad, did I say something wrong and make Harper mad?" "Why is she leaving as soon as she arrives? Is she not even willing to eat a meal with me?" "I'm kind of dense. I don't understand social etiquette, and nobody taught me. Unlike Harper, who grew up in the big city and had you to guide her. If I did something wrong, you have to tell me. Once I know, I'll fix it." My dad couldn't stand seeing Chloe cry; it broke his heart. "Harper, come back! How can you be so rude?" "Chloe waited an hour on an empty stomach just to eat with you." "You want to leave as soon as you get here? What kind of behavior is that?" "Sit down right now and eat something before you go." If I stayed to eat, how would I take the afternoon English exam? I looked at Mason for help. But Mason seemed to not see me. He personally pulled out a chair for me. "Harper, sit down. Be a good girl and at least have a few bites." I couldn't hold it in anymore and turned around to explain: "It's not about you. I have an exam at 2:00 PM. The graduate entrance exam is very important to me." Chloe blinked at me, looking completely innocent and naive. "Wow, Harper, you're amazing! You have the best educational resources and can even take the graduate entrance exam. Unlike me... I grew up in the countryside. The teachers there just coasted along. I didn't even get into college. Is the graduate exam really more important than me?" She stood up from her seat and enthusiastically came over to pull me into the chair. "Good sister, it's an hour until 2:00 PM. You'll still make it if you leave at 1:30 PM. Mom, Dad, what do you think?" Not a single person in the room contradicted Chloe. Just this morning, an hour and a half before the exam, my mom was rushing me to leave. "Harper, hurry! You have to be in the exam room half an hour early. Don't be late!" But now, they seemed to have collective amnesia. None of them dared look at me, but they eagerly agreed with Chloe: "Our precious daughter is right. Even if the sky falls, nothing is more important than you." My heart plummeted into an ice cellar. I was utterly disappointed. Unable to control my anger any longer, I was just about to snap back. Suddenly, Professor Lu replied on WeChat: [My precious Harper, of course you're welcome!] [I saw the WeChat Moments your mom posted. She found her biological daughter.] [That's wonderful! Harper, do you want to be my daughter?] [Make sure you focus on your graduate exams these two days. Come to the capital as soon as you're done.] A ray of warm sunlight finally broke through the freezing cold in my heart. "You're right. A mother's heart aches for her own daughter. My mom just messaged me. She's telling me to hurry up and take my exam. I have to listen to my mom. Goodbye, Uncle and Auntie." My mom abruptly stood up, her face changing drastically. "Harper, what nonsense are you talking about? Isn't your mom..." SLAM. I slammed the door shut and walked out, cutting off the rest of my mom's sentence. 5 Mason caught up to me at the restaurant entrance and grabbed my arm. "What's your problem? Do you think I don't know you're in a hurry?" "If you had just sat down and taken two bites, I naturally would have found an excuse for you to leave. Why did you have to make the atmosphere so awkward? And you even dared to make up a lie, saying your mom was rushing you to your exam?" "Your mom is still sitting in the private room. Which eye of yours saw her send you a WeChat message?" I yanked my arm back forcefully and yelled angrily, my heart completely dead. "Mr. Vance, please conduct yourself properly. Don't you think it's inappropriate to grab a strange girl's arm in public? Besides, isn't that my aunt sitting in the private room? Where is my mom?" Passersby stopped and asked if I was being harassed and if I needed help. Mason furiously growled at them: "Get lost! I'm her brother!" Hilarious. Now he's admitting to being my brother again? I loudly refuted him: "He's not. We are strangers." Mason looked at me with hurt eyes, but I didn't want to look at him anymore. Taking advantage of the passersby blocking Mason, I pushed open the restaurant doors and ran out as fast as I could. I bought two buns at the subway entrance to fill my stomach, my tears falling harder with every bite. Thankfully, I made it in time for the afternoon English exam. At 5:00 PM, I walked out of the exam hall. The world was vast, but I had nowhere to go. I hadn't forgotten my parents' instructions from the morning, telling me not to come home right after the exam. But I still wanted to go back and pack my bags. I had bought a ticket for 7:00 PM tomorrow. Tomorrow, right after the exam, I would head straight to the airport. There wouldn't be time to go home and pack. I took a cab home, but no one opened the door for me. Through the large iron gates of the villa... Mrs. Xu, the nanny, looked at me with pity as she shoved my thickest down jacket and some a change of clothes into my arms. "Miss Harper, the Master and Madam took Miss Chloe to the mall to buy clothes and haven't returned yet. But before leaving, the Master instructed that you are not allowed to sleep here tonight. It's so cold, please find a hotel to stay at quickly." I stood awkwardly outside the gate, telling Mrs. Xu it was fine. A cold front was moving in, and large snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the sky. Like a stray, homeless cat, I pulled the down jacket tightly around myself and explained to Mrs. Xu: "I'm not trying to sleep here. I just want to pack my bags." "Just give me one hour." But Mrs. Xu shook her head vigorously: "I really can't." "The Master said if I let you through these gates today, I'll be packing my bags and leaving too." "Miss Harper, I have two kids in college. I depend on this job to support my family and pay their tuition." I couldn't bring myself to put the nanny in a difficult position. I stood outside the iron gate, shivering from the cold. "Then could you pack for me?" "I don't want any of the clothes or jewelry the family bought me." "But please get all my award certificates, diplomas, and things like that from over the years. I earned those with my own hard work." "They're in the safe in my bedroom. The code is 074523." Mrs. Xu probably knew I had been kicked out and kindly nodded. "Miss Harper, wait here. I'll go pack for you right away." "Okay, thank you." I stood at the gate waiting. The snow and wind grew heavier. It was so cold. I sneezed several times. My breath plumed in the freezing air, and my face felt like a block of ice. If this were the past, my parents would be worried sick. But now, they probably didn't have time to worry about me. They had their biological daughter to care for. Mrs. Xu rushed out carrying my travel bag. "Miss Harper, it's packed." "See if anything is missing, and I'll go back and look for it." I unzipped the bag and made sure my most important certificates and IDs were there. "This is fine. Thank you, Mrs. Xu." Just as I was about to leave, two headlights shone directly on my face.
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