One

From the very beginning, I have been the most superfluous person. I know that Su Yuan has always wanted a son, which is why he has never liked me. If he doesn't like me, so be it. But I still have my mother. Yet now, I understand that my mother does not care about me either

When they came out of the bathroom, the Guan siblings both wore expressions that betrayed their inner curiosity, yet they tried to maintain a facade of calmness. Guan Yue was clever and asked nothing, while Guan Xia wanted to say something but was interrupted by Qiao Nuo.

However, just as I was contemplating how to feign pity and expose Su Yuan's misdeeds against me, I heard Qiao Nuo say into the phone: "Uncle Su."

I did not refute any of his words, nor did I prevent him from trampling on my dignity

Uncle Su

As the door opened, Guan Yue's body visibly stiffened upon facing her. Ai Qing, dressed in a sleeveless tank top and ripped jeans, bypassed the slender figure of Guan Yue and directly darted in front of me, smiling at me with a look of triumph.

Su Jing'an, don't say anything! Guan Yue came over and hugged me tightly, and my tears really couldn't be stopped, like an unexpected rain. We were like two little mushrooms, huddled closely together, just like countless springs, summers, autumns, and winters in our childhood. When her father punished her, I would hold her and cry with her; when Su Yuan hit me, she would comfort me and accompany me in releasing my emotions.

"What happened to your face?" Qiao Nuo sat down beside me, holding my cheek in his hand, leaning in closely to take a look. Guan Yue immediately let out a rather annoying "Ew."

Thinking about it this way, I feel that I am quite abnormal

I just feel that perhaps she is living better after leaving me. I smile bitterly and say, maybe I am just a burden, because of me, my mother was kicked out, and without me, she found love and a new home

Just looking at her is enough; she resembles a luxurious flower, sitting there with an air of nobility. Even if her demeanor is slightly lacking, people would still think, "Well, what a pretty young girl, albeit a bit silly.

"Ah, what is this? Isn't this exactly what you wanted?" She snorted twice through her nose, "Sigh, I am so jealous. My cousin, who is so outstanding, actually let you handle him in no time at all!"

Do you not blame me

"You may leave now, and in the future, do not come to others' homes to look for me casually, as it is quite impolite." I approached her, looking down at her from a position of superiority, "Remember this: I am not your sister, I was not before, I am not now, and I will never be in the future."

"Let us leave first; today, Jing'an will stay here," he said, turning to Guan Yue. Guan Yue nodded and stood up to see them off. Meanwhile, I stood there like an outsider, feeling awkward and at a loss.

She rolled her eyes at me, and I sighed, lying down on the sofa: "Please don't say that, don't give me hope!"

I forcefully shook off his hand, took a step back, and looked at him warily. Just as I was about to ask him what was wrong, a sharp and resounding slap came rushing in, cutting off my words abruptly

"I could hear you chattering from far away!" Guan Xia shot her a glance, and then cast an annoyed look at me. Knowing that I was no match for him at that moment, I wished I could hide. So, I stood up and pretended to be in urgent need. However, I forgot that there were dangers both in front and behind me, as Qiao Nuo, who had followed Guan Xia in, pulled me back with one hand.

It turns out that my concerns were completely justified. The moment Guan Yue saw me, she laughed uncontrollably, slapping the table as she did so, which drew curious glances from other customers in the fried chicken shop at the two of us

He lifted his head and cast a disdainful glance at me

I really want to throw the pillow at her head, what does "how could this really happen" mean, am I really that unworthy of him

Su Jing'an, you are remarkable, you are capable, I want to see how long you can be so arrogant!" She shot me a final glance with the eyes of an enemy, then picked up her bag and stormed out the door, not forgetting to slam it shut behind her.

She bit into the lollipop bought with that money, holding snacks in her hand, sitting on the bed watching me cry. Lin Fang initially comforted me, but later, seeing that I was crying incessantly, she lost interest in me and went to be affectionate with Ai. What chilled me the most was that she actually told Ai, "This child is just stubborn, don't take it to heart."

For instance, she wanted to attend a classmate's gathering, but she did not have a nice outfit, and Ai He also had no money to buy her one, so she set her sights on me. She pleaded with Lin Fang, hoping that she could borrow my relatively valuable white dress to wear. I refused because that dress was a birthday gift from Guan Yue, and I would not allow Ai Qing to tarnish it. But what use was my refusal? These two conspired together and, while I was away, secretly took it. When it returned to my wardrobe, the dress was already stained with various kinds of dirt. I cried and washed it all night, but it remained unclean.

He suddenly raised his eyes to look at me beneath his drooping eyelids. To be honest, I was quite afraid of the way he looked at people, especially at me. That sense of tension crept up on me again, and I swore that if he continued to look at me like that, I would push him away and run.

I admit that when I heard the name "Jono," my previously intense anger was instantly quelled.

There will be no next time I heard my voice tremble as I spoke

At the worst times, Ai Qing and I would even get into fights

Such matters are like the endless dust swirling in the air, countless and uncountable. I have also begun to understand that since I am no longer a delicate flower in a greenhouse, I must transform into a carnivorous flower in the desert

He had already taken ice cubes out of the refrigerator, and then found a new towel in the cabinet of the bathroom at Yue's house, wrapped the ice cubes in it, crushed them a bit, and then gently pressed it against my swollen face

The atmosphere suddenly became very tense, he wore a sullen expression and said nothing, and no one dared to speak. Guan Yue sucked on the straw, producing a series of slurping sounds

I always thought that, no matter what, I was Lin Fang's biological daughter, so I did not take her efforts to seek favor to heart

A life filled with countless aversions and endless disgust, yet one must inevitably submit

But I dare not think that he is this unhappy, is it because of me

For instance, there was a time when I borrowed the notes from a classmate who excelled in studies to copy them. While I was taking a shower, Ai Qing wrote a lot of insulting and vulgar words on the title page of the notes and also drew some extremely ugly doodles, all of which I was completely unaware of. After I returned the notebook, that classmate saw it, became furious, and from that moment on, she never spoke to me again

That persistent ghost, Ai Qing, has actually come here without anyone noticing

Su Jing'an, I brought you back, taking good care of you for what purpose, you know in your heart! What kind of life did you live with your useless mother before, don't you know? Do you think I don't know that you secretly took the money I gave you to spend on her? I turned a blind eye, yet you still want to take advantage of me!

"Nonsense, of course it’s because of you! Can’t you see that he has been in a bad mood all day because of you?" After sending them off, Guanyue lay on the sofa, reading a fashion magazine while eating durian and began to scold me

At this thought, a vague sense of oppression suddenly weighed on my chest. I lowered my head, listlessly gazing at the marble floor

Upon getting out of bed and looking in the mirror, I was startled by my own reflection

Guan Yue noticed my discontent, placed the durian on the table, rolled up her sleeves, and said to me: "Hey, don't be discontent. Throughout my life, there have been countless young ladies pursuing my cousin, but none have been as lazy as you. You don't even put on a bit of powder when you see him, yet he still thinks of you. You have a decent face, but you are not a celestial being. However, my cousin is! He is truly a divine being!" She spread her hands, looking quite proud.

"Alright, I won't cry anymore. With you by my side, I am happy no matter what." I gently rubbed her head, allowing all the terrible emotions to gradually fade away as we exchanged smiles.

In an instant, I understood the reason behind Su Yuan's furious outburst and Qiao Nuo's hesitation to speak.

He truly does not care; he does not like me either

Ah? I was so startled that I almost slipped off the sofa

You can see that I am different; others might think I am a young wife who has been subjected to domestic violence

The three of us, Guan Yue, Guan Xia, and I, exchanged knowing glances and widened our eyes simultaneously. Under our attentive gaze, Qiao Nuo loosened his collar and then spoke in a particularly steady and forceful tone, "I called you just to tell you one thing"

This person, keenly aware of my impending outburst, hurriedly put on a playful grin and rummaged through their bag, then took out a card and placed it on the table: "Here you go."

There is, there is, there is. Guan Yue nodded vigorously.

Not only are my double eyelids swollen into triple eyelids, but the half of my face that was hit is also red and swollen, and it hurts a lot when touched. It's somewhat amusing; I have a poor memory and have completely forgotten the sadness and grievance from yesterday. I just sit on the bed, dazed, thinking about how I can go to school looking like this pig's head

The hot soup, freshly prepared, was placed on the desk, still emanating warm steam. I drank the soup, burrowed into the blankets, and as soon as I closed my eyes, the entire night passed by just like that

Oh, by the way!" She turned her head to look at the still astonished Guan Yue, "Miss, you should join us too, bring your friends along, it will be much livelier!

Since then, the conflicts between Ai Qing and me have never ceased. Most of the time, I silently endured, while she escalated her efforts to disrupt my life. For instance, it was she who brought classmates home to play and accidentally knocked over the only set of valuable goblets we had. However, she secretly hid the broken pieces under my bed. When Lin Fang found them, regardless of the circumstances, she concluded that I was responsible for it. Meanwhile, Ai Qing pretended to be the good person, acting like a pure white lotus as she pleaded for me.

Jonah took out his phone and began to make a call

Guan Yue's apartment is rented by Guan Xia, located in the most expensive area of the city, on the most suitable floor for enjoying the night view. It has two bedrooms and one living room, with high-quality decoration. When there is nothing to do, Guan Xia will come over to stay for a few days, but more often, I am the one who lingers here without leaving

Before this, I closed the bathroom door and turned the faucet to the maximum volume

The half of my face that was struck quickly became hot, and the pain spread across my skin. I lifted my eyelids and glared fiercely back at Su Yuan.

Rest assured, I have not given you any hope. For so many years, Qiao Nuo has been like a living Buddha, pure and indifferent, never caring for anyone this much. Now at least I know he is not gay, and as his cousin, I feel relieved. She smacked her lips in satisfaction, wanting to say something more, when the doorbell rang.

At this moment, I finally realized how much I resembled this relative who is both the most familiar and the most unfamiliar to me. Because he is looking at me with the same gaze. That kind of gaze that chills you to the bone, making your heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys tremble.

In the face of my closest relatives, I have become so desperate that I cannot even complain, which is truly both pitiable and laughable

It is not about how ruthless I am, but rather that if it is not meant to be your world, then you should not force your way in

Qiao Nuo's eyebrows were furrowed as if ready to fight, and that face, which usually bore a habitually ambiguous smile, was devoid of any mirth, making me feel a bit frightened

This sentence is particularly magical, as it instantly summoned two people whom I would want to avoid.

Guan Yue was taken aback by her action, but soon her temper flared up, and she cursed as she went to close the door. I weakly sat back down on the sofa

After all, she does not know that the girl she is holding has long since had her face changed by the passage of time

I turned around and walked towards my room, tears pouring down like an unceasing heavy rain, gradually converging into a torrent, repeatedly striking at my heart

At the moment he drove my mother and me out of the house, I no longer felt that this man would play the role of a father in my life

Both she and I thought it was something that Qiao Nuo and the others had dropped, but when we opened the door, we were startled

There have been numerous occasions when I thought that perhaps she is my lover from a past life, unwilling to part with me, which is why in this life she chose to be my sister

I do well, he rewards me; I do poorly, he hits and scolds me, and I accept it all

Strangely enough, the other half of my face also turned red

It was not until later that I met Dong Mingyang. Under Dong Mingyang's care, Ai Qing restrained her behavior and did not dare to openly create trouble for me. I believe that many of my interpersonal strategies mostly stem from Ai Qing's "meticulous guidance." Ai Qing knew that I would no longer be weak and submissive, so she began to act obediently, trying to win Lin Fang's favor, using Lin Fang's affection for her to provoke me.

Guan Yue is a paper tiger; her greatest skill lies in being domineering within her own territory

I do not remember when I fell asleep

In fact, Dong Mingyang, and even I before, never knew that I could cry like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. Su Yuan had hit me before, but this sudden and merciless blow shattered my reassembled self-esteem into pieces once again. Those who have not experienced it can never understand the fragile feeling of falling from the sky to the ground and then struggling to climb back up to the sky.

Su Yuan

Therefore, since then, I have never tolerated Ai Qing again. Whatever she did to me, I would return it one for one

I fear that everything is false, and I fear even more that everything can be easily taken back

It's nothing, it's nothing, don't worry, I'm fine! I waved my hand, not wanting her to see such a vulnerable side of me

"Jing'an, are you crying? What are you crying about? That annoying person has already been driven away!" Guan Yue anxiously grabbed tissues and pressed them against my face. It was then that I realized I was crying again.

I rejected such a comparison, so I ruthlessly covered her mouth and gave her a "if you laugh again, I will tear up your ticket" expression. Based on the friendship between us, she wisely closed her mouth, pinched my chin, looked left and right, and after a while, her expression turned indignant, and she said: "Your father is really ruthless, is he sick or what!"

Having finished speaking, he hung up the phone without any hesitation

He resembled a focused yet gentle doctor, while I felt like a five-year-old elementary school student, sitting there properly and watching him. At that moment, he was facing me, with only a distance of about ten centimeters between us. The other half of my face quickly flushed with heat, but I couldn't let him see it, so I took a deep breath and spoke to ease my nervousness

Guan Yue, who was drinking water, ignored me, while Guan Xia gave me a disdainful glance and said, "Stop pretending!" I awkwardly coughed twice, and Qiao Nuo beside me broke into a faint smile, lifted my arm, and said, "Come with me."

How wonderful it would be for her to be a sister to someone like me

With a friend like me, what is there left for you to cry about

This voice, resembling a slap, instantly woke up Guan Yue. She raised her eyebrows and rushed over to throw the cards on the table into the trash can, "Who is your sister? Calling everyone sister! This is my home, and I do not welcome you. Please leave!"

"Everyone has their own secrets, and I only want to hear the part you are willing to tell me," he said nonchalantly, as if he were completely unconcerned.

When he came to pull me, I was not without surprise; however, such situations are not uncommon for me. The calmness and composure that are ingrained in me quickly emerged to counter my panic

That kind of panic and helplessness, along with the constant feeling of unease, has never ceased to entangle me for a single moment

If you use violence against Su Jing'an again, the Qiao Group will immediately terminate all business cooperation with your company

I forced myself not to cry, took a shower, and then pretended as if nothing had happened when I opened the door

He is so astute, to the extent that all my cunning and deceitful thoughts cannot deceive him.

I also quite hate this version of myself, crying at the slightest provocation, what have I become? Clearly, I am someone who has struggled through darkness. Guanyue understands me too well; she sighed, tossed aside a tissue, and put her arm around my shoulder: "You don't need to care about these things. Your mother doesn't care about you, but there are people who do! And to be honest, your mother not caring about you is not a new thing!"

I lost my balance and almost fell into his arms

Who knows who he called, I only know that I was completely bewildered, but after a while, my little schemes crept back in, isn't this just the right time to play the victim?

Regardless, life must go on, mustn't it

Seemingly anticipating my reaction, she suddenly smiled particularly happily: "Sisters, don't be like this! Anyway, it's good to gather when you come back on Sunday, and Mom misses you very much!"

Even a fool knows that Qiao Nuo is a bit unhappy

Over the years, I have often been the one to resolve various situations encountered outside. However, this time, before I even had a chance to speak, she began issuing an eviction order, which I have never witnessed before. This series of actions caused Ai Qing's expression to turn somewhat unpleasant. I am unsure whether she was pretending or genuinely did not expect to be confronted in such a manner

"Su Jing'an, do you really need to be this ruthless?" she asked through gritted teeth

I could not hear what she was saying, as I was crying to the point of gagging. But I know she cares about me; she is the only person in this cold house who remembers me. However, she is aware of her limited influence, so many times, she can only come to comfort me after the fact

My mother told me! She sat on the sofa with an innocent look, acting overly familiar. I was so angry that I jumped up from the sofa, feeling an intense urge to roll up my sleeves and slap her. I didn't care how she misbehaved at my mother's place, but how dare she come to Guan Yue's place? Is she going to directly run to Su Yuan next time to report me?

It appears to be vigorous and decisive, yet when faced with a situation, it is more timid than anyone else

Guan Xia raised his chin, resembling an arrogant rooster. It must have been difficult for him, seeing me in such a disheveled state yet unable to retort; this situation must have been quite hard for him to endure

I don't know if it's because I didn't sleep well or if it's due to going straight to the movies after class, but I was overwhelmed by drowsiness and just wanted to take a good shower and nap for a while. However, what I didn't expect was that Su Yuan actually came back particularly early today. Before five o'clock, he was sitting upright in the center of the sofa, glaring at me with a face full of resentment. I was taken aback for a moment, expressionless as I changed into my slippers, and walked past him as if I hadn't seen anything.

Perhaps he was tired of scolding, and he returned to the sofa, panting heavily. At that moment, I particularly wanted to ask him if he felt even the slightest bit of pain seeing my face bruised and red. However, in the end, I did not voice the question, for just the thought of it made me feel disgusted by my own pretentiousness.

Guan Yue, this ancestor, still knows nothing, chattering away to help me scold my father, but with a turn of the head, was firmly held down by Guan Xia, forced to sit back down

Hey, hey, hey, don't be anxious, I am not here to cause trouble in your territory

How did you find this place! '' I said in unison with Guan Yue.

"Jingan, I have never liked to force others, including in matters of affection." He placed the towel and ice cubes down, rolled up his sleeves, and said to me, his gaze flowing like water, quietly seeping into my heart.

I was startled by her exaggerated facial expression: "What am I supposed to do!"

Many times I feel that living is so difficult, and there are hardly any people who care about me. Why should I strive so hard to live?

That day, Jono came to your house looking for you. Where were you? Off having fun somewhere? Did you go back to that shantytown to hang out with those filthy kids again? That's one thing, but you actually said you were at home? Don't you think before you lie?

I pushed Jono away and shrank back, saying: "Don't look, I haven't washed my face and have eye discharge."

"Go on, Su Jing'an, do you think everyone in the world is a fool?!" He was so angry that he paced back and forth, wishing he could crush me underfoot. "It's one thing for you to play your little tricks at home, but how dare you put on an act in front of Qiao Nuo?"

What should I do! She glanced at me and said, "Just be his girlfriend!"

Hearing her words, which were as righteous and heroic as those of the outlaws of Liangshan, I couldn't help but break into a smile despite my tears. Guan Yue always possesses this magical power to pull me back from the brink of collapse. I am very grateful to have her by my side on this journey. Because of her, my tumultuous life has not been as disastrous as it could have been.

"Just know it, let's go, let's go." He waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away garbage

"You say that you, how could it be wrong to deceive him, yet he happens to be at your house when you lie about resting at home, I am truly amazed by you!" She shook her head in frustration, "After all these years, you are the only one who has deceived Jono and still enjoyed the benefits!"

Since those chaotic events have already occurred, it is of no use to be sad any longer. I am not a liberal arts student, and I cannot express those flowery words of comfort. I just want to tell you that no matter how this world changes, I, Guan Yue, will always stand by your side, accompany you, care for you, and protect you

After all, I am so cool

All these years, I thought I could forget the impact Ai Qing had on me, but I have just now realized that nothing has changed

At that moment, the nanny knocked on the bathroom door

For the first time in my life, I could not hold back my tears

Before I could fully comprehend what had happened, he stood up and asked Guan Yue, "Do you have something for cold compresses at home"

I shifted my cold gaze towards her and said, "What does your birthday have to do with me"

This is my life

I certainly cannot let Guan Xia know that I often come here, so I naturally pretended to act as if I do not come here often, even going so far as to feign surprise: "Wow, Guan Yue, has your house been renovated again? Why does it feel different from before!"

Qiao Nuo let out a sound of acknowledgment and directly pulled me up from my seat. Thus, I followed these three individuals to Guan Yue's apartment

This living room is so large that the sound of the slap actually echoed in my ears

Fortunately, before I took action, he retracted his movement and spoke to me from a distance of one meter across from me

I cried all night; that money was saved with great effort, in order to buy a collection of essays that I have liked for a long time

It is only now that I realize that I am the only one who is superfluous. After all, Lin Fang has never remembered my birthday in these past few years. Yet, for Ai Qing, she organized a birthday party. There are many things that I do not pay attention to, not because I truly do not care, but because there is no comparison. Once there is a comparison, those once self-righteous certainties will instantly crumble.

Many years ago, when I first laid eyes on Ai Qing, I felt that she was a cloud of disaster looming over my life. She and her father came to my home for the first time, and Lin Fang prepared many dishes that she usually wouldn't make—she seemed particularly happy, even singing, completely embodying the image of a little woman in love. That night, they were allowed to stay over. Ai Qing and I squeezed into one bed; I was quite unhappy, but I knew I couldn't show it. The next day, when I returned home from school, I discovered that she had broken my piggy bank and spent all the coins inside.

He was incessantly cursing