Mo Ruyi stood with her back facing Li Yeli, arms folded behind her back.
Li Yeli stood behind her, silent and small.
“If you can’t protect your sister,” Mo Ruyi said coldly, “then you have no reason to live.”
Li Yeli’s fingers curled slightly.
Protect her sister?
Why?
Why was her life tied to someone who treated her like nothing?
“…But, Mom—”
“I’m not your mother!”
The words came sharp and fast, like a blade.
“Don’t call me that.”
Li Yeli froze.
That familiar, sour ache spread through her chest again—like something was rotting inside her heart.
“But Li Yue doesn’t need protection,” she said quietly.
“I’m the one being bullied.”
Mo Ruyi turned.
Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked closer.
PAK!
Another slap.
“So what?” she snapped.
“So what if you’re being bullied?”
Li Yeli’s head snapped to the side.
“You’re seven years old, not a baby. Why do you care so much?” Mo Ruyi continued harshly.
“If you truly cared about your sister, you would protect her no matter what.”
Her voice dropped, cold and cruel.
“Even if something happens to you… your first priority should be her.”
Li Yeli said nothing.
Her cheek stung.
Her ears rang.
“Why do you think I even let you go to school?” Mo Ruyi went on.
“Is it for you? No. It’s so you can watch over Li Yue.”
Li Yeli’s hands trembled slightly.
“The last time she fell,” Mo Ruyi continued, “it was because you weren’t there. And the other day, she went out alone because you came home late.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“What were you doing after school?”
Li Yeli swallowed.
“If I try to get in the car with her… she tells me to leave.”
Mo Ruyi’s expression darkened.
“What?”
“She tells me to get lost,” Li Yeli repeated quietly.
Instead of anger toward Li Yue, Mo Ruyi’s face twisted in irritation.
“And who told you to get in the car?” she snapped.
“That driver is only there for Li Yue. Your job is to take her there safely. That’s all.”
Li Yeli blinked.
“Then… how am I supposed to get home early?”
Mo Ruyi looked at her like the answer was obvious.
“That’s your problem.”
Her voice dropped lower, more dangerous.
“And listen carefully—if your sister gets hurt again instead of you…” She paused.
“…I won’t let you off so easily.”
Li Yeli’s body went cold.
Mo Ruyi turned and walked away as if nothing had happened.
The injustice continued.
Day after day.
Year after year.
Until it became normal.
*
High School.
Li Yeli walked into the classroom, her books held tightly against her chest.
Her expression was blank.
It was the kind of expression people like her wore—
People who had no one.
People who were used to being alone.
People who had forgotten what it felt like to smile.
She reached her seat and sat down quietly.
Maybe today…
Maybe today they’ll ignore me–
“Oi.”
A voice cut through her thoughts.
“My dear friend,” a boy mocked as he leaned against her desk.
“What’s wrong? Missing your parents?”
Laughter burst across the room.
Another voice joined in.
“Hey, the PTA meeting is coming up, right?” a girl said.
“Do you even have anyone to attend?”
She smirked.
“I mean… your ‘parents’ probably wouldn’t leave their real daughter for someone fake.”
More laughter.
Li Yeli stayed still.
Ma Yiyi walked past and deliberately knocked into her.
“Oh!” she said with a fake gasp.
“Sorry!”
She bowed exaggeratedly.
“I hope I didn’t offend the Li family’s first daughter.”
The class roared.
“Ma Yiyi, come here!” a boy called, handing her a cup.
“She likes milkshakes, right?”
Ma Yiyi grinned.
“Li Yeli,” she said sweetly, “do you want some?”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
The class chanted in unison.
“Pour it on her!”
“Pour it on her!”
“Pour it on her!”
“Pour it on her!”
Without thinking twice—Ma Yiyi tilted the cup.
Cold liquid splashed across Li Yeli’s face, soaking her hair and uniform.
“You’re welcome,” Ma Yiyi said, blowing a kiss.
Silence.
For a long moment… Li Yeli didn’t move.
The milkshake dripped slowly down her face.
Her hair clung to her skin.
But she didn’t cry.
She didn’t react.
She just sat there.
Then, finally—
She stood up.
And walked out.
The teachers knew.
They all knew.
But they never said anything.
They all chose to ignore her.
Because Mo Ruyi had already paid them.
Li Yeli entered the bathroom and turned on the tap.
Cold water ran over her hands as she washed her face and hair.
She scrubbed at her shirt, trying to remove the stain.
It didn’t come off.
Her hair was still wet, so she tied it into a loose bun.
As she stepped out—
She paused.
A girl stood there, holding a towel.
“Here,” the girl said gently.
Li Yeli looked at her.
Blonde hair.
Blue eyes.
She wasn’t from here.
Li Yeli hesitated before taking the towel.
“My name is Victoria,” the girl said.
“I’m new.”
She shifted awkwardly.
“I… saw what happened.”
Li Yeli said nothing.
Was she here to pity her?
“Don’t misunderstand,” Victoria quickly added.
“I’m not making fun of you. I just… wanted to help.”
She lifted her bag slightly.
“I carry random things, so… I had this.”
Still, no response.
“You can keep it,” Victoria said softly.
“I’ll go now.” She gave Li Yeli one last look… then left.
Li Yeli returned to the bathroom.
She slowly dried her hair.
When she was done… she sat there.
On the closed toilet seat.
Alone.
Until school ended.
*
Final exam was around the corner, so Li Yeli went for an extra lesson class.
She finished by 06:00pm and took a bus home.
She worked part-time in a restaurant on weekends, so she earned enough money for bus fee.
Few months later…
On graduation day, Li Yue and her friends trapped her by the stairs and made fun of her.
Out of anger Li Yeli pushed Li Yue, and she fell from the stairs…
__________
Aecon Li slapped Li Yeli hard on the face, “How dare you! How dare you do that to your own sister? I tell you, if anything happens to her you will pay a heavy price.”
Soon after that threat, the doctor informed them that Li Yue only had a bone fracture, and she’s now conscious.
“Bone fracture!?” Mo Ruyi turned angrily at Li Yeli.
They said it.
That she would pay a heavy price.
And she did.
She was locked up in a room, and couldn’t go to college…
For years…