Chen Sisi gazed at Chen Ting with a sorrowful look in her eyes: "Chen Ting, we cannot choose our birth, nor can we choose our environment in many ways, but it is never wrong to try. But I never expected that you would blame me for the injustice of your fate and the grievances you have suffered."
"Do you think I want that?" Chen Ting's eyes bulged, and she laughed almost maniacally. "Ever since I can remember, my parents have never stopped talking about you."
"I'm not as pretty as you, not as tall as you, and not as fair-skinned as you, so I can only study hard and hope they can accept me this once."
"That year, I stayed up several nights studying and got first place in my class. I went home happily, but what did my parents say? They said, 'What's there to be happy about? Even if I got first place in the whole school, I still can't compare to you.'"
“They would tell me how outstanding I am, and that my birth is a position I could never reach even if I tried my whole life.”
“Nothing I do is right, and I never get their approval. They always compare me to you and criticize me based on you. Even though I passed the exam for the county cultural troupe and was transferred to the provincial cultural troupe, they still look down on me. They often say that I was just lucky and that you didn’t want this spot…”
As Chen Ting spoke, she became increasingly heartbroken, and finally couldn't help but cover her face and cry, large drops of tears overflowing from between her fingers.
Looking at her defeated appearance, Shen Sisi felt both pitiful and sorrowful.
She remembered that when they gathered together for Chinese New Year when she was a child, Chen Ting was very kind to her and often took her out to play. She didn't know when things changed.
It turns out, it was all the adults' influence.
The older generation loves to do this; they always compare their children to other people's children.
It ruined the child's life.
She sighed softly, then suddenly felt a warm sensation envelop her shoulder—it was Gu Chengfeng.
Gu Chengfeng stood beside her without her noticing and gently put his arm around her to comfort her.
Shen Sisi did not refuse; at this moment, she really needed a warm harbor to rest quietly for a while.
Chen Ting burst into tears, her aggrieved voice slowly escaping from her throat, "Chen Sisi, I accepted that I wasn't as good as you when I was young, but I never expected that even after your family fell on hard times, you would still act so high and mighty. Even after you went to the countryside and became a peasant, and had a sickly child out of wedlock, it didn't break you down. Instead, you married a military officer... Why?"
The more Chen Ting talked, the sadder she became, and a pang of sadness welled up in her heart.
"So, that's why you've hurt me time and time again?" Shen Sisi asked.
"Yes, but not entirely. Anyway, things have turned out like this, and I'm not afraid of being laughed at. I, Chen Ting, don't have many goals in my life. My only goal is to surpass you, Chen Sisi."
"I swore that I would be better off than you, and marry better than you. One day, I will make you look up to me and my parents will praise me with heartfelt admiration, saying that I, Chen Ting, am better than you, Chen Sisi!"
"But...but..."
But things didn't go as planned.
Chen Jianguo lost her dowry and was left with a mountain of debt.
Her boyfriend, whom she was supposed to marry, suddenly changed his attitude, and the wedding date was postponed again and again.
Now, even her once-proud singing career is almost being stifled.
"Chen Sisi, I'm in this state because of you!"
The deafening sound made Chen Sisi's face darken even more.
"Chen Ting, do you really think I'm your enemy?"
"Does my existence really get in your way?"
Even if you beat me, are you sure you'll be happy?
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word she spoke resonated deeply, striking straight to Chen Ting's heart.
Yes, even if you trample Shen Sisi into the mud, and she stands high above receiving admiration, will she really be happy?
Chen Sisi sighed softly, "Chen Ting, your tragedy is not my fault. Blame your parents."
"You've harmed me, trying to push me into the abyss, all you want is to prove yourself and get their approval, but you've gone down the wrong path, terribly wrong."
Chen Ting wiped away her tears, her voice strong despite her lack of conviction: "Stop giving me that nonsense. I was wrong, so what? In the end, all I did was say a few words of gossip about you. Even if it goes to the police station, you can't sue me."
"Besides, don't you even know whose territory this is?" She arrogantly walked up to Gu Changmei and grabbed her arm, but Gu Changmei dodged her.
Chen Ting was somewhat embarrassed, but she maintained a nonchalant demeanor and patted her chest, saying, "I'm a pillar of the troupe, Director Gu's most prized student. You guys started a fight on the troupe's turf. Who do you think Director Gu will side with?"
"Right, Commander?" Chen Ting deliberately dragged Gu Changmei into the mess.
She's a high-ranking leader in the group. With just a word from her, Shen Sisi will be in deep trouble today.
Shen Sisi and Gu Chengfeng both curled their lips into a smile, looking at her as if she were a fool.
Is Chen Ting alright?
Doesn't she know that Gu Changmei is their aunt?
Seeing that they remained silent, Chen Ting assumed she had intimidated them, and her ego visibly swelled up again: "Chen Sisi, why aren't you saying anything? Are you going to keep showing off? Keep attacking!"
She leaned forward and gently patted it: "Come on, my face is right here... Ahhh..."
Before she could finish speaking, a loud slap landed on her, making her scream and howl.
Chen Sisi withdrew her hand and shrugged helplessly: "Everyone saw it. She begged me to hit her. It's the first time I've ever heard such a strange request."
Those around couldn't help but burst out laughing. These two sisters were really funny; one was willing to hit and the other was willing to be hit.
Chen Ting was so angry she almost jumped up. Grabbing Gu Changmei's hand, she cried out, "Commander Gu, look! These two are too arrogant. They dared to lay a hand on you right in front of you. In my opinion, they should be arrested and sent to the police station!"
"Serves her right!" Gu Changmei gritted her teeth viciously.
Now, Chen Ting raised her chin even higher: "See, Shen Sisi, just wait to be taken to the police station for a chat! However, if you're willing to kneel down and apologize to me and pay my medical expenses, I might reluctantly let you off the hook."
Kneel down? Apologize?
Chen Sisi seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world.
"Chen Ting, if you're mentally ill, why don't you go to the hospital and get a neurological examination?"
"You're the one who ruined me, why should I apologize and pay you money? You're dreaming!"
"Fine, you just wait!"
Chen Ting spat at them, then leaned close to Gu Changmei's ear, completely unaware of the anger simmering in Gu Changmei's eyes: "Commander Gu, my cousin is an orphan, a sent-down youth from the countryside. Her private life is extremely promiscuous; she had a child out of wedlock. You don't need to worry about offending her. Just cooperate a little later and make her kneel down and apologize to me. It's so cold; I don't want to go to the police station and cause you trouble..."
These words not only belittled Shen Sisi, but also distorted the facts, taking advantage of Gu Changmei while pretending to be considerate of others.
Gu Changmei raised an eyebrow, her tone icy: "Chen Ting, are you trying to teach me how to do things?"
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