Su Yiling stepped into the hallway, closing the classroom door behind her with a soft click. The afternoon light streaming through the corridor windows cast long shadows across the polished floors, and the usual end-of-day bustle filled the air around them.
Su Meilan stood waiting, her uniform perfectly pressed despite the late hour. Her hair was arranged in loose waves that somehow looked effortless yet meticulously styled. Even her schoolbag looked pristine, without the usual wear and scuff marks that most students accumulated.
"Older sis" Su Meilan's voice was warm and respectful, carrying just the right amount of familial affection. "I hope I didn't cause any trouble with your teacher."
Su Yiling adjusted her bag strap, studying her cousin's expression. Su Meilan is just 3 months younger than her, but for the sake of appearing sweet and obedient to others, she chose to call her older sis. There was something different about Su Meilan today - an underlying tension that didn't quite match her sweet demeanor.
"What brings you here, Meilan? Your class is not done with their exercise yet right?."
"I have a student council meeting now," Su Meilan replied smoothly. "Something about coordinating the spring cultural festival for our school. I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to meet you before going."
They began walking down the corridor together, their footsteps echoing softly against the walls lined with achievement certificates and motivational posters. Other students passed by in small groups, some stealing curious glances at the two girls who looked remarkably similar yet carried themselves so differently.
"How thoughtful," Su Yiling said, keeping her tone neutral. In her previous life, she would have been pleased by this. Now, she knew better than to believe in coincidences where she and her mother were concerned.
"Actually," Su Meilan continued, her pace slowing as they approached the main stairwell, "there was something specific I wanted to discuss with you. Something important."
Here it comes, Su Yiling thought, but she simply nodded for her cousin to continue.
"It's about what Mom has been trying to tell you, about your romantic future, specifically." Su Meilan's eyes brightened with what appeared to be genuine excitement. "Mama has been talking to some very influential families lately, and there's been interest. Real interest."
"Interest in what?"
"In you, of course." Su Meilan laughed, the sound light and musical. "You're eighteen, beautiful, from an excellent family. It's only natural that suitable young men would start taking notice."
They had reached the school's main entrance, where late afternoon sunshine streamed through glass doors. Students moved around them in the familiar chaos of dismissal time, but Su Yiling felt as though she and Su Meilan existed in a separate bubble of tension.
"Yes, eighteen. But so are you, so tell me why she isn't looking to find you a suitable man to settle down with. Moreover, I have said this before now I'm not looking for anyone to 'take notice' of me," Su Yiling said carefully. "I'm focused on my college entrance examination."
"Oh, but that's exactly the point!" Su Meilan's voice took on an earnest quality, as if she were sharing some profound wisdom. "The college entrance examination is just one path, older sister. And honestly, it's such an uncertain path. So much pressure, so much competition. What if something goes wrong?"
Su Yiling felt a chill that had nothing to do with the afternoon breeze. This was how it started - the subtle undermining of her confidence.
"Nothing will go wrong; in fact, I don't see you looking for another path except preparing for college entrance," she said firmly.
"But how can you be sure?" Su Meilan's expression became concerned, almost pitying. "I know you are intelligent and all, but also, "I've heard the statistics, older sister. Hundreds of thousands of students are writing this exam, and so many other brilliant students are equally struggling to be the top scorer like you are doing. Even brilliant students sometimes falter under pressure. You have always been a top scorer in school and might be subject to pressure, but this is a National examination, while on the other hand, I'm okay, no pressure because I am not fighting for the top scorer, and I want to attend Film school."
"Are you suggesting that being brilliant is going to cause me problems.?"
"Of course not!" Su Meilan reached out to touch Su Yiling's arm in what appeared to be a reassuring gesture. "You're brilliant. But intelligence isn't everything, is it? Sometimes circumstances beyond our control interfere with our plans."
The touch felt cold despite Su Meilan's warm tone. Su Yiling stepped back slightly, breaking the contact.
"What exactly are you trying to say, Meilan?"
"I'm trying to say that it's wise to have options. Backup plans." Su Meilan's smile was patient, understanding. "My mom always says that a woman's greatest strength is her ability to adapt, to recognize opportunities when they arise."
"Opportunities like what?"
"Like marriage to the right family. Like securing your future through connection rather than just individual achievement." Su Meilan's voice dropped to a more intimate tone, as if she were sharing a precious secret. "There's someone Mama wants you to meet. Someone that qualifies you, she has been talking about it for something now."
Su Yiling's stomach boiled, but she kept her expression neutral. "I'm not interested in meeting anyone right now."
"But you haven't even heard about him yet. When I tried to speak to you about him Lin Xiaoli just couldn't shut up." Su Meilan's calm facade seemed to crack, as if she couldn't withhold her emotions from showing. Su Yiling at this age hasn't learn how to surpress their emotions. Su Yiling continueed "He's older, more established. Already successful in his career. The kind of man who could provide real security."
"Security from what?"
"From everything." Su Meilan's eyes held a strange gleam. "Think about it, older sister. Marriage to the right person could free you from all this academic pressure. You could focus on other things - cultural pursuits, social responsibilities, maybe even travel and easily become rich without working for it"
The suggestion was presented beautifully, as if it wasn't the same trap that had ended her in previous life.
"What if I don't want to be freed from academic pressure? What if I enjoy proving myself?"
Panic flickered across Su Meilan's face quickly.
"Well, of course you can still pursue your interests as a hobby," she said, her tone becoming slightly panic. "But let's be realistic about the long term. Academic achievement is wonderful, but it doesn't provide the same kind of stability that a good marriage offers."
"Stability," Su Yiling repeated. "Is that what you call it?"
"What else would you call it?" Su Meilan tilted her head, genuine confusion in her voice. "Financial security, social position, a family of your own someday - these are the things that actually matter in the end."
"To whom?"
The question seemed to catch Su Meilan off guard. She blinked several times before responding.
"To everyone who cares about your wellbeing, obviously. To your family who wants to see you settled and happy."
"Which family members, specifically?"
"Grandmother, Grand father, Auntie Qin, even Uncle and cousin brothers." Su Meilan's voice carried an enthusiasm. "My mother has eyes for this thing, as you can see how she married my father even as an actress, so she's already making preliminary arrangements for you to meet this young man. Nothing formal, just a casual family dinner where you could get acquainted." Moreover, you don't want to be an actress or celebrity like me, so there is no need for you not have a boyfriend or husband.
Su Yiling felt the hot flush of Anger.
hot and burning anger at the presumption that her future could be "arranged" by people who had never bothered to ask what she actually wanted. But she doesn't want to do anything, no, she hasn't put her plan into motion.
"Tell your mother," Su Yiling said quietly, "that I decline her kind offer."
Su Meilan's carefully constructed expression finally cracked. For just a moment, something sharper and less pleasant showed through.
"You're making a mistake, older sister," she said, and now her voice carried an edge. "Opportunities like this don't come around often. And if you keep rejecting them..."
"What? What happens if I keep rejecting them?"
Su Meilan's smile returned, but it was different now, cooler, more calculated.
"Nothing dramatic. Just... people might start to think you're being unreasonable. Ungrateful for the efforts others make on your behalf." She paused, studying Su Yiling's face. "It would be unfortunate if family relationships became strained over something like this."
The threat was delicately phrased but unmistakable. Comply or people might think you are unreasonable.
"I think," Su Yiling said carefully, "that any body who think that I am unreasonable because of this is the most unreasonable one."
For a moment, Su Meilan's mask dropped completely. Her eyes flashed with so mush hatred before she managed to compose herself again.
"You've changed, Older sister," she said softly. "You used to be so much more... reasonable."
"Maybe I've just gotten better at recognizing what's reasonable and what isn't."
Su Meilan stared at her for a long moment, as she couldn't belive it. Then she smiled again, but this smile was entirely different from any she'd worn before. It was sharp, predatory, and completely honest.
"I'll be sure to tell mom about our conversation," she said. "I'm sure she'll be very interested to hear about your new... perspective."
She turned and walked away.
Su Yiling watched her go, noting the subtle change in Su Meilan's posture now that the act was over. Her shoulders were straighter, her stride more confident. This was who she really was underneath all that sweet concern, someone who expected to get her way and didn't enjoy being thwarted.
But as Su Meilan disappeared around the corner toward the school gates, Su Yiling couldn't shake the feeling of an impending doom, and she was right.