Chapter 3

“No! Let Lily go to school! *I’ll* go to work!”

Blair’s eyes shone with uncontrollable joy and excitement.

She clutched Dad’s arm so tightly his shirt nearly ripped.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Mom snapped at Blair, her brows furrowed in displeasure, shooting her sister meaningful glances.

“What future do you have if you don’t study? You’ll just end up working in a factory, earning meager wages, and never amount to anything!”

I gave a bitter laugh. So, Mom knew all along.

But last life, when I was chosen to go to the factory, all they said was:

“Lily, your sister needs to study hard. It’s so much better for you to be out earning money!”

Blair looked at Mom, disagreeing, her gaze sweeping over me, a calculating glint in her eyes.

“Mom, studying isn’t that useful anymore. There are so many college graduates now; their degrees aren’t worth much. It’s better to go out and work early, then marry a rich man. A woman’s ultimate success depends on who she marries! If I go to work, with my looks, who knows? Maybe I’ll end up with the boss’s son! Then I’ll be the boss’s wife!”

The moment Blair said this, I knew she had been reborn too.

But her words sounded nothing like a teenage girl. Dad’s brows knitted together in a frown.

“You’re too young. What do you know?”

Mom continued to persuade her:

“Blair, you shouldn’t say such things. There’s a big difference between having a degree and not. With a degree, you can marry someone from the city, and your in-laws will look up to you.”

The more she spoke, the more sarcastic I felt.

“Mom! By the time I finish college, I’ll be older. Rich men prefer younger women!” Blair retorted anxiously.

Mom seemed to find some truth in what she said, but she still thought Blair was too impulsive.

“Are you really decided? You don’t want to go?”

“Yes!”

Blair’s tone was firm. She walked over to me, a smirk playing on her lips.

“Alright, if you don’t want to study, then you two sisters can go work in the factory together. At least you’ll have company!” Mom declared.

“What?!”

I couldn’t sit still anymore!

When Blair was studying, I couldn’t. Now she wasn’t studying, and I *still* couldn’t.

No matter how you sliced it, they just didn’t want to spend any more money on me.

I was about to argue, but Blair cut me off and solved the problem herself.

She said, with feigned sincerity:

“Mom, Lily still needs to go to school. Our family needs to produce at least one college student, otherwise, the villagers will laugh at us!”

At Blair’s suggestion, Mom and Dad finally agreed to let me continue my education.

However, her situation was completely different from mine in the past life.

Last life, when I left home, they said:

“Don’t cause trouble out there. Be patient with everything, don’t waste money, and transfer your wages back as soon as you get them.”

But for Blair, Mom and Dad gave her thousands of dollars, terrified she’d be uncomfortable away from home.

“Take this money. Buy anything you need, don’t skimp on yourself. Don’t worry about home. Spend your own money on whatever you want!”

Then they turned to me: “Your sister gave up her chance to study for you. When you get into college, you must never forget your sister. She is your benefactor!”

I remained silent. I had already given up on these biased parents.

This life, I wouldn’t spend another dime on them!

“Alright, alright, I get it!” Blair said impatiently.

The next day, Blair left for the factory in the southern city with some other villagers.

As she was leaving, she suddenly leaned in and whispered to me: “This life, it’s my turn to be the rich lady!”

I pretended not to understand, lowering my gaze and fawning over her:

“Oh, Sister, I’m sure you’ll be a rich lady.”

Blair saw no unusual reaction on my face, snorted dismissively, and left.

But in less than three months, Blair came running back.