Part 1The Foster Daughter's Departure

On my way to take the graduate school entrance exam, my parents revealed the secret of my birth.

"Harper, don't come home right after the exam."

"We have good news: our biological daughter is coming back."

I thought they were joking.

But my brother hugged me. "Harper, it's true. You can't call me 'brother' anymore."

Seeing my pale face, my parents laughed. "Oh, don't tell me this child actually thinks she can keep staying in this house and calling us mom and dad now that our real daughter is back?"

My brother affectionately ruffled my hair, just like he always used to. "Silly Harper, wake up. We can only be strangers from now on, understand?"

* * *

Standing at the entrance of the exam hall, my mind was completely blank. I hadn't yet recovered from the shocking revelation that I wasn't my parents' biological daughter.

Just a second ago, my brother, Mason, had been checking my admission ticket and making sure I had all my specific exam pens. Now, he waved his hand in front of my face and chuckled.

"Seriously, Harper, what's with that expression?"

"Don't tell me you object to my real sister coming home?"

"She's the true daughter; you're just the fake, the imposter."

"You've been hogging everything that rightfully belongs to her all these years."

"Don't you feel even a little bit guilty? Are you trying to compete with her?"

I had just found out about my true identity. They hadn't even given me a moment to process it.

My mind was still stuck on the happy images from this morning: my dad personally cooking breakfast and wishing me success; my mom braving the freezing cold to wear a qipao (a traditional dress symbolizing victory) to wish me a triumphant return; my brother canceling important meetings to personally drive me to the exam hall.

How could they go from caring for me meticulously one second to looking at me like I was a wicked imposter the next, guarded against me, and telling me we were now strangers?

I could only grit my teeth. My heart felt cold and bleeding, yet I forced a smile.

"No, I don't. Congratulations on your family reunion."

"I'm going in for the exam now."

The wariness on Mason's face finally melted into affection, and he patted my shoulder.

"That's a good girl. Go on in, and do well on the exam."

My mom pointed to her beautiful qipao and said:

"Harper, remember when you took the college entrance exam? I wore this exact qipao, and you passed with flying colors."

"Trust me, this lucky outfit will guarantee you pass the grad school exam on the first try."

"Oh, wait, ptui ptui, I almost forgot. I can't call myself 'mom' anymore."

"Harper, from now on, you have to call me 'auntie'."

"Come on, let me hear you practice calling me 'auntie' first."

My mom looked at me with eager anticipation, waiting to hear the word "auntie" from my lips.

But this woman standing in front of me was the mother I had called "mom" for twenty-three years.

My nose stung terribly.

I bit down hard to keep the tears from falling.

My throat felt blocked. My lips parted several times, but I couldn't utter a single syllable.

Yet, they seemed completely oblivious to the fact that I was on the verge of an emotional breakdown.

My dad actually put on a smile and urged me.

"Harper, hurry up and say 'uncle' and 'auntie'."

"If you don't get used to changing how you address us now, our real daughter might overthink it when she gets back. She's sensitive, and we can't hurt her feelings, understand?"

I felt like I was being shoved into the deepest pit of hell. My heart was dying, all hope turning to ash.

With immense difficulty, I forced out two words: "Uncle, Auntie."

My dad carefully observed my expression, seemed to sigh in relief, and let out a hearty laugh.

"Haha, that's right! This is how you should address us from now on."

My mom gave me a tight hug.

"Our precious Harper, hurry inside for your exam. Make sure you get a good score."

At that moment, I desperately wanted to scream hysterically:

If you really wanted me to get a good score, why couldn't you wait until the exam was over to tell me?!

Telling me now—how am I supposed to focus on the exam?!

But I couldn't bring myself to ask any of it.

I could only drag my leaden feet into the exam hall.

As I turned around, the tears I had been desperately holding back finally broke free, falling in large drops.

No matter how hard I wiped them, they kept coming.

During the security check at the entrance, the proctor noticed my red, swollen eyes and asked what was wrong.

"Student, nothing is more important than the graduate entrance exam right now. You need to adjust your mindset quickly."

I fought back the tears and nodded.

There's a saying: The first sword you draw after reaching the shore is used to cut down the one you love.

But I hadn't even reached the shore yet, and my family had already cut me down.

How ironic.

Honestly, why were they in such a rush to sever ties with me?

Couldn't they have waited two days? Let me finish the exam without distractions?

I gripped my pen tightly, my heart numb with pain, but I had to face reality.

They found the true daughter and didn't want me, their fake daughter and sister, anymore.

Fine. Then I'll do as you wish.

I wouldn't shamelessly cling to them. Once the two-day exam was over, I would immediately leave this city and disappear from their lives forever.