Chapter 2
My sister’s name was Blair, because they hoped her future would be bright and successful, with every road leading to prosperity.
In my past life, after middle school, I followed other villagers to a clothing factory.
At fifteen, most legitimate factories wouldn’t hire me, and the pay was pitiful.
I often worked night shifts, at least 12 hours a day.
Most of my meager monthly wages had to be sent home for Blair’s schooling.
That first month at the factory, I didn’t even have money to buy a blanket.
My parents had only paid for my bus fare, nothing else.
Thankfully, the southern summer was scorching, and I barely made it until my first paycheck.
My life only started to improve when I began dating the factory owner’s son.
Later, riding the e-commerce boom, the factory made tens of millions, and I became a wealthy woman.
Blair, though she eventually got into a mid-level university, found that as life improved and more people graduated, her degree wasn’t as valuable.
The moment Blair got into college was the most glorious in her past life.
After graduation, she discovered that finding a job was hard, and the pay wasn’t good.
Later, Blair married her college boyfriend, Mark. They both worked in his hometown’s small town, earning a combined total of just over $5,000 a month.
Money problems poisoned their marriage, and their conflicts grew.
Meanwhile, every time I came home, I drove a luxury car, carrying bags full of expensive gifts.
Blair’s heart twisted with resentment. After Mark cheated on her, she finally snapped, blaming everything on me.
2
Blair’s face was contorted with rage as she pushed me.
“How dare you be so rich! You, who never even went to college, how dare you live a more glamorous life than me? Just die!”
In my panic, I instinctively pulled her down with me. We both fell off the cliff.
My thoughts snapped back to the present. My eyes were fixed on the left wooden stick.
Last life, I chose the right stick and missed out on school. This life, I’m choosing the left!
This time, I’ll be the one who gets to go to school!
Suppressing my excitement, I quickly pulled out the left stick, a thrill surging through me.
“Dad! My stick is short…”
My words died in my throat as Dad opened his hand.
But the result, once again, defied my expectations…
The stick in Dad’s hand was visibly shorter than mine.
His voice was just as regretful as last time.
“Lily, it seems your luck isn’t good. You picked the long one. The chance to study will have to go to your sister. From now on, work hard and earn money for your sister’s tuition! When Blair makes something of herself, she can help you out.”
How was this possible?!
I snatched both sticks, disbelief flooding me.
Last life, I chose the right one, and it was long.
This life, I chose the left one, and it was *still* long.
Staring at the two sticks for several long minutes, everything finally clicked into place.
Anger and betrayal surged through my chest!
No wonder they insisted I go first this time.
They had already made their choice.
No matter what I picked, Blair was destined to be the one to go to school!
Because they could snap off the longer stick at any time!
Just like they were snapping my wings, keeping me forever trapped in their grasp.
They had fabricated this charade of a fair choice, forcing me to swallow my resentment, to work and pay for Blair’s education.
They would drink my blood while mocking my bad luck.
In my past life, no matter how hard I worked, I never blamed them for not letting me go to school.
Because *I* had chosen that stick.
I didn’t blame my fate; I just worked harder.
But now…
I saw Mom visibly relax after Dad announced the result.
They exchanged a quick, knowing glance, their eyes gleaming with the triumph of a successful scheme.
I was just too young and naive in my past life to see it.
Suddenly, nothing else seemed to matter.
Fine. If I can’t go to school, I can’t go to school. With my past life’s experience, making money this time around will be easy.
But before I could even fully process it, Blair rushed forward, frantic.