Part 2The Foster Daughter's Departure

From 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM, the first exam was Ideological and Political Theory.

I forced myself to calm down. I thought about all the hardships I had endured over the past year preparing for this exam. Even if the sky was falling, I had to stay calm and not let my terrible mood ruin my performance.

Finally, I finished all the questions and walked out of the exam hall.

When I retrieved my phone from the storage area, I discovered that my dad had kicked me out of the family group chat.

He even sent me a private message to explain:

[Harper, how did you do this morning?]

[You worked so hard; Uncle believes you definitely did great.]

[Oh, by the way, Uncle kicked you out of the family group chat.]

[Mainly because I was afraid you'd feel awkward. After all, Chloe and us are the real family of four. You'd definitely feel uncomfortable staying in the group, but probably too embarrassed to leave on your own. So, Uncle did you a favor and helped you out. Don't feel any psychological burden, okay?]

A lump of stagnant anger blocked my chest, unable to go up or down.

What, am I supposed to be profoundly grateful? Thank my dad for being so understanding, for kicking me out of the group chat to save me from awkwardness?

It was laughable.

I thought I had the happiest family.

Growing up, I never experienced gender discrimination. My dad loved me, my mom doted on me, my brother spoiled me. When I got sick, the whole family would hover around me, anxious and fretting, asking if I was warm enough, wishing they could suffer in my place. Was all that familial love fake?

Just because we didn't share blood, did everything cease to exist?

I didn't understand.

Suddenly, a car pulled up in front of me. Mason rolled down the window and looked at me.

"Harper, why are you crying? Did you not do well?"

"That shouldn't be. You spent the whole year studying diligently, pulling all-nighters. You even memorized notes in the emergency room when you had a high fever."

"Logically, this exam should have been a breeze for you."

I suddenly realized my face was covered in tears. I quickly wiped them away.

Feigning calmness, I explained: "I finished all the questions."

A look of relief washed over Mason's face.

"I knew you could do it! Get in, I'll take you to lunch."

As we passed a shopping mall, Mason parked the car and dragged me to the cosmetics counters.

"Harper, what's your favorite skincare set? Don't hold back, pick whatever you want, I'm paying."

My chilled heart warmed up just a little bit.

"Mason, it's okay. I don't need any skincare products."

My brother instinctively reached out and ruffled my hair.

"Silly Harper, it's not for you. I want you to pick out your favorite skincare set as a welcome gift for Chloe. She wants to meet you, and insisted I bring you along for lunch."

"Hurry up and pick something. Don't just stand there. Pick the most expensive one, the one you usually wouldn't dare buy for yourself."

"You have no idea how nervous I was when Mom, Dad, and I went to the high-speed rail station to pick Chloe up this morning. It's my first time being an older brother to my biological sister. I'm terrified she won't feel how much I like her. How about this set? What about this one? It's too hard to choose, maybe I should just buy them all and let her pick?"

I turned into a statue.

So Mason didn't specifically come to the exam center to pick me up for lunch. He did it to please the true daughter, Chloe?

My nose burned intensely. "Mason, can I not go?"

Mason frowned slightly.

"Why? Harper, do you not like her?"

"Are you hostile toward her?"

"Do you think she shouldn't have shown up? Is that really what you think?"

I picked up the most expensive skincare set and handed it to Mason. "No. A lot of girls like this La Mer set. I'll give her this one."

While Mason went to pay, I bought a plane ticket to the capital for tomorrow night.

I couldn't stay in this city any longer.

With every breath, I felt like I was suffocating to death.

I wanted to go stay with Professor Lu, who taught at Tsinghua University.

She was my mom's best friend, and also my godmother.

She was always telling me to study hard and try to become her graduate student.

She used to say:

"If your mom hadn't been faster on the draw, you would've been my daughter."

"Since you can't be my daughter, how about being my student?"

"A teacher for a day is a mother for a lifetime. Godmother will love you like her own flesh and blood."

Only today did I understand what she meant.

It turned out my parents had become sick with longing after losing their daughter.

So, they went to an orphanage and adopted me.

I sent a WeChat message to Professor Lu.

But even after I arrived at the restaurant with Mason, I hadn't received a reply from her.