She felt Jiang Xue had completely humiliated her.
I "suddenly realized" my mistake and covered my mouth, looking at Jiang Xue with an apologetic expression: "Ah? I'm sorry! Xue, I remembered wrong! I… I thought for sure you'd win the award, so I just… Oh dear, it's all my fault! I shouldn't have said anything!"
While apologizing, I secretly observed Mom and the other ladies.
**[Mom's Truth: "This Jiang Xue! Utterly useless! If you didn't win, you didn't win! Why brag? Now I'm humiliated along with her!"]**
**[Mrs. Li's Truth: "Hmph, so she's a little liar. Such vanity at such a young age. The Jiangs' adopted daughter isn't much to speak of."]**
**[Mrs. Wang's Truth: "How interesting. The biological one seems quiet and well-behaved, while this adopted one is quite the drama queen. The waters run deep in the Jiang household."]**
See? How spectacular.
I hadn't *done* anything. I'd just "accidentally" misspoken.
But that was enough to tear a crack in the carefully crafted "child prodigy" persona Jiang Xue had built.
And me? I was still the "naive," "simple," even slightly "foolish" good sister.
Damn, it felt good.
On the way home from the club, the atmosphere in the car froze solid.
Mom said nothing, her face livid.
Jiang Xue sat huddled in the corner, head down, shoulders shaking with sobs.
"Mom, I'm sorry… I didn't mean to lie… I… I just wanted so badly to make you happy…."
She choked out between sobs.
**[Lie: "I just wanted so badly to make you happy."]**
**[Truth: "It's all Jiang Yue's fault, that bitch! She did this on purpose! She wants to ruin me! I won't let her get away with this!"]**
Mom snorted coldly, not even bothering to look at her.
"Enough! Stop crying! Disgraceful! Utterly disgraceful!"
It was the first time Mom had ever spoken to Jiang Xue in such a harsh tone.
Jiang Xue cried even harder.
I sat beside them, quiet as a mouse, mentally setting off fireworks.
When we got home, Jiang Xue ran sobbing to her room.
Mom sat on the sofa, her chest heaving with anger.
I walked over and poured her a glass of warm water.
"Mom, don't be angry. It's not worth hurting your health over," I said softly.
Mom took the glass, sipped the water, and sighed. "I'm not angry she didn't win the award. I'm angry she lied! Our Jiang family values integrity above all else! To learn vanity and deceit at such a young age… what will become of her later?"
**[Lie: "Our Jiang family values integrity above all else!"]**
**[Truth: "Humiliating! So humiliating! Those old women today must be laughing at me behind my back! All because of Jiang Xue, she's made me lose all face!**
I sneered inwardly.
Integrity?
If you truly valued integrity, how could you adore an adopted daughter dripping with lies, yet despise your flesh and blood who only speaks the truth?
What you value has always been your image.
But outwardly, I wore an expression of deep understanding.
"Mom, you're right," I nodded. "However, Xue is still young. It might have just been a momentary lapse in judgment. Please don't be too angry. I think she realized her mistake today."
The more "magnanimous" I was, the more I "thought of Jiang Xue," the more unreasonable Mom found Jiang Xue.
"She realized her mistake? I doubt it!" Mom said indignantly. "Look at you! Only two years older, yet so much more sensible! Every auntie there today praised you for being quiet and well-behaved!"
**[Lie: "You're so much more sensible than her!"]**
**[Truth: "At least she didn't embarrass me today. Seems like for these kinds of occasions in the future, it's safer to bring Jiang Yue. That personality of Jiang Xue's, craving the spotlight, is just asking for trouble."]**
I lowered my eyes, hiding the scorn within them.
"Mom, you flatter me. I just did what I should."
"This weekend, your father has a very important business partner coming to the house. Make sure you behave well then," Mom instructed.
"Yes, Mom," I nodded obediently.
Inside, I was thinking: Another stage is set.
Jiang Xue, are you ready for your next act?