"Wuwuwu... If Cheng You doesn't wake up, I'd rather die with her!"
"Mom, don't say that. If anyone's going to die, it'll be me. It's all my fault for not watching my sister properly!"
"Oh, Sister Yulian, you can't say that. You didn't want Cheng You to fall into the river! It was an accident!"
"Eh, right, right, Xiao Tao, hurry and help your mother back to the room to rest..."
"I won't! I'll stay here and watch over her. My Cheng You, oh!"
"..."
So painful!
Cheng You had never felt such pain before. Her head hurt, her throat hurt, and every bone in her body felt like it had been ground.
The noisy voices around her were like countless needles drilling into her head.
Her eyeballs rolled beneath her eyelids. She tried hard to open her eyes, but they felt glued shut.
So tired.
"Mom, Cheng You seems to be waking up!" Cheng Tao exclaimed.
Song Yulian's crying stopped abruptly. A hint of reluctance flickered in her eyes, and then she threw herself onto the bed, sobbing.
"Cheng You, oh, wake up quickly! You've scared your mother to death!"
Cheng Tao, not to be outdone, quickly joined in the crying, "Cheng You, when you're better, your sister will continue to do your laundry for you. Everything good to eat and drink will be yours, just like before. Wake up quickly."
The villagers around them praised Cheng Tao again, saying how sensible she was.
Cheng You found the voices incredibly irritating, causing her head to ache, and she couldn't even distinguish their words.
With great effort, she managed to pry her eyes open, letting in a sliver of light.
"Huh? She really is awake! I'll go get Uncle Li."
Cheng You opened her mouth, her lips dry and cracked.
She wanted to speak, but her throat felt like it was burning, unbearable.
Soon, Uncle Li, the village's barefoot doctor, entered.
He took Cheng You's pulse and examined her carefully, murmuring, "Strange, the fever has actually subsided."
He glanced at Cheng You, perhaps thinking the girl had a strong will to live.
"She's fine. A few more doses of medicine will do."
Song Yulian and Cheng Tao exchanged glances and simultaneously showed expressions of relief.
"That's good! That's good! Cheng You, it's fortunate you're alright! You mustn't be so mischievous next time and run to the river to play."
Cheng Tao blamed herself, biting her lip, "It's all my fault. I took my sister to play by the river."
Cheng Tianhua, standing by, scowled and berated her, "She's eighteen already, does she still need someone to watch her? Xiao Tao, don't shield her. You're only a year older than her and much more sensible!"
Cheng You listened to his scolding with a blank expression. In the past, she would have retorted a few times, only to be met with more scolding.
But now...
Thinking of the dreams she'd had these past two days, she could only sneer.
Cheng Tianhua found her listless appearance unlucky.
He waved his hand dismissively, "Be more careful next time. Don't bring shame upon your sister's reputation for no reason."
With that, he strode out.
Normally, Cheng Tianhua wouldn't lose his temper in front of the villagers; he had to maintain his gentle and kind facade.
This time, he was truly infuriated.
After Cheng Tianhua left, the villagers dispersed. Song Yulian, feeling there was no need to continue the act, stood up.
"Cheng You, rest well. Second Mom will go brew some medicine for you."
Seeing that no one else was in the room, Cheng Tao slowly sat by Cheng You's bedside.
Up close, even with Cheng You sick, her captivating beauty couldn't be concealed.
Bright eyes, pearly teeth, a well-defined nose, and an oval face. In the entire Wujing Village... no, even in the entire Yangshu Brigade, or the entire commune, she had never seen a girl more beautiful than Cheng You.
Compared to her, Cheng Tao was like an insignificant wildflower by the roadside.
Cheng Tao lowered her eyes, hiding her jealousy.
"Cheng You, do you remember what happened by the river?"
Cheng You looked confused, her voice hoarse, "What happened by the river? What?"
"About you falling into the water."
"Sister, I accidentally fell into the river. I made you worry." Cheng You gently patted her hand.
Cheng Tao visibly relaxed, a smile appearing on her face as she said with concern, "Then rest well. I'll go help Mom brew the medicine."
Cheng You hummed in response. After watching her leave, she dropped the smile from her face.
When she fell into the water, she had been wondering why her sister had pushed her.
Now, only a chilling coldness remained in her heart.
"This dream is so long..." She closed her eyes and sighed.
She had dreamt of a book. The female protagonist was named Cheng Tao, and the male protagonist was Zhao Yunlin.
Unfortunately, Cheng Tao was her stepmother Song Yulian's daughter from a previous marriage, her stepsister. Zhao Yunlin was the fiancé she was betrothed to before birth.
And she, Cheng You, was Cheng Tao's supporting female character in a control group.
What was a control group? It was probably meant to highlight how good Cheng Tao was by contrasting her with Cheng You.
Cheng Tao was perfect in every way, while Cheng You was notoriously spoiled, lazy, and gluttonous.
In the book, Cheng Tao and Zhao Yunlin had secretly gotten together long before Cheng You found out, but their love was portrayed as supreme.
Cheng You's foolish actions pushed Zhao Yunlin further and further away. After their engagement was broken, Cheng Tao and Zhao Yunlin naturally got together.
This pair became a golden couple admired by everyone.
As a control group, Cheng You's fate didn't stop there.
After Cheng Tao and Zhao Yunlin married, their lives became increasingly prosperous. Zhao Yunlin became wealthy and eventually the richest man in Yongcheng, eventually moving his entire family to the capital, Yancheng.
Cheng You was married off by Cheng Tianhua to a drunkard and a lazy man, suffering greatly. She died before she was thirty.
Even after her death, people would mention her in comparison to Cheng Tao, saying she had a notorious reputation.
Cheng You closed her eyes, crystal tears rolling down the corners of her eyes. She bit her fists tightly, not daring to make a sound.
When she was thirteen, her mother died in an accident.
Less than two years later, her father, Cheng Tianhua, married the widow from the neighboring village and made her call Cheng Tao "sister."
Oh no, back then she wasn't called Cheng Tao, but Yang Tao. She only changed her surname after coming to the Cheng family.
At that time, she had been overjoyed, thinking she had gained two people who truly loved her.
She had called Song Yulian "Second Mom" for three years, but now, thinking back, she felt disgusted.
This mother and daughter were natural actresses, more skilled than movie stars. They had cultivated an image of "good mother" and "good sister" in front of the villagers, snatching away what her mother had left behind, yet pushing her towards ruin.
Soon, Song Yulian entered with the medicine.
Cheng You quickly collected her thoughts and sat up in bed.
"Cheng You, drink your medicine."
With that motherly demeanor, no one would suspect her sincerity.
Cheng You glanced at her and took the bowl, "Thank you, Aunt Lian."
Song Yulian's expression stiffened. "What did you call me?"
"Aunt Lian," Cheng You repeated.
Song Yulian clasped her hands together, her expression somewhat fearful.
"Cheng You, have I done something wrong..." she asked awkwardly.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Cheng Tao followed her in.
Song Yulian lowered her head and wiped her tears. "Cheng You is distant with me. She doesn't call me Mom anymore."
Cheng Tao's expression changed slightly, and she instinctively looked at Cheng You.
She was mainly worried that Cheng You might remember that she had pushed her.
She had regretted it immediately after pushing her, but everyone was talking about Cheng You being eighteen and able to marry Zhao Yunlin.
She had been unwilling and jealous, and couldn't help herself.
"Cheng You, are you still angry with your sister? Your sister apologizes. From now on, whatever you want, I'll give it to you, okay? Don't take your anger out on Mom because of me."
Cheng Tianhua outside impatiently kicked something at his feet, making a loud noise, and walked in cursing.
"What are you all making a fuss about now? When has your sister not doted on you? If you hadn't been playing around this time, you wouldn't have fallen into the river! And being rescued by a man, it's simply shameful!"