Chapter 1: Neglected Studies

I had a second chance at life on the day when the admission results were announced.

My younger sister held my hand, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded, "Sister, you're aware of our family's tight finances. It's just not possible for both of us to attend college at the same time. You have to think about our parents.

"Sister, you've always been there for me, taking care of everything since we were kids. Please, I beg you, do it one more time, okay?"

Mom sat nearby, waving a rolling pin, saying, "There's no discussion about this matter. Lily, allow your sister to attend university. You're the older sister, why are you having a disagreement with your younger sister?”

I sat silently in the chair, my mind filled with memories of my past life. It was the same in my previous life; I scored over two hundred points higher than my sister and could have gone to a prestigious university, but my mom didn't agree, saying the same things as she did today.

"You're the older sister, you should act like one. Aren’t you ashamed of always competing with your sister?”

So, with my dad's constant persuasion and my mom's ultimatum, in the end, I ultimately ended up working at a factory to earn money to support my sister's education.

Before she left, my mom assisted her in packing her bags and repeatedly reassured her not to stress about finances once she started school, encouraging her to focus on her studies, and more.

Suppressing my own feelings of envy, I said, "Beatrice, you're the only one in our family attending college. This is a precious opportunity; you must cherish it."

My sister sat on the side, not lifting her head, playing with the phone our parents bought for her during the summer vacation. She casually replied, "I know, you're so naggy."

It wasn't until I fell ill later on that I found out she was busy replying to messages from her online boyfriend at the time.

She was in such a hurry to go to Houston, not because she wanted to attend college, but because she wanted to be with this man.

This man was ten years older than her and had no legitimate occupation.

However, at the time, I was unaware of all this, thinking I was being too naggy, and that was why I had upset Beatrice.

After Beatrice went to Houston, I decided to work in Fort West instead, diverging from the factory job my parents had planned for me. I thought that after Beatrice graduated from college, I would break away from the family and pursue my dream of obtaining a bachelor's degree as an adult student.

Beatrice often called me, requesting financial assistance, explaining that the expenses in the city were high, and the amount I sent her wasn't sufficient. I suggested the notion of taking on a part-time job, as I was aware that many college students did so to cover their expenses.

Beatrice exploded in anger, saying, "You want me to work and study at the same time? Lily, I'm going to tell our parents that you're unwilling to provide me with financial support! If I have to spend all my time working, why would I need your help?”

She hung up the phone in fury, and shortly after, my parents called.

Naturally, my mother scolded me severely, telling me to find another part-time job and send more money to my sister every month. I often thought that if I persevered for a few more years, she would graduate from college.

However, just two years later, I received a call from her school. The counselor told me that Beatrice was on the verge of being expelled from school because she had failed multiple subjects and didn't attend makeup exams.

I was shocked and immediately tried calling Beatrice, but she didn't answer for a long time. Finally, I managed to reach her, and she sounded very distressed. She explained that her major courses were extremely difficult, and many students had failed. She hadn't taken makeup exams because her roommates had locked her inside their dormitory, and she couldn't get out. Now, her roommates had kicked her out and she had nowhere to go.

She begged me not to tell our parents about her dropping out of school. I couldn't bear to let them know either. Panicked, I took a leave from work and sent her all the money I could, asking her to find a place to stay and wait for me.

However, when I arrived in Houston, I discovered that everything was a lie.

Beatrice wasn't a victim of bullying; in reality, she was the bully. She constantly called me for money, neglected her studies, and ultimately, there was only one reason for her dropping out of school.

She had started a romantic relationship.

She was in a relationship with that man, who was a decade older than her and had no proper job.

The truth infuriated me to my core.

Faced with my questioning, Beatrice seemed even more aggrieved than I was.

She said, "Have you ever been in love? What right do you have to judge me? None of you ever loved me, only he made me feel loved."

We got into a heated argument.

"Our parents forced me to give up the opportunity to go to college for your sake. Isn't that love? I worked tirelessly, taking on two jobs to earn money to put you through school. Isn't that an expression of love?"

Beatrice sneered, "It was your decision to give up going to college, what does it have to do with me? You’re willing to support my education because you believe I can get a good job to help you in the future. Don't pretend otherwise."

Beatrice mentioned that, since I seemed so concerned about funding her education, her decision to drop out was advantageous because she wouldn't require my financial help anymore, and she could act as if she didn't have a sister like me.

She actually followed through with it.

Later, when I became sick and had to be hospitalized, she came to visit me once, but it was solely to steal the money I had saved to pay hospital bills. She didn't visit me again even after I passed away.