The Silly Fake Heiress - Chapter 2

“You were always Mom and Dad’s daughter. All of this should have been yours in the first place.”

She stared at me for a long time, her gaze unfathomable.

“Mom and Dad raised you well.”

“That’s because Mom and Dad—ah, no, I mean Uncle and Auntie—are wonderful people.”

I corrected myself sensibly.

Su Wangui pressed her lips together and began putting on her coat.

“All right. I’m leaving.”

“What? You aren’t staying the night?”

“The driver is waiting.”

Su Wangui refused.

I was disappointed. “I wanted to treat you to a late-night snack.”

My stomach chose that moment to growl twice.

Su Wangui looked at the pitch-black kitchen, which obviously hadn’t seen a spark of flame, and then at my pale lips, visible even in the dim light.

She asked, “Su Man, are you inviting me to eat, or asking me to cook for you?”

My eyes lit up at once. I selectively answered the part I liked.

“Could you cook for me? Thank you!”

Su Wangui said flatly, “No.”

“But Sis, I’m hungry.”

I hurriedly hugged her arm and called her “Sis” sweetly over and over.

Sweet as sugar.

“…”

Su Wangui closed her eyes, then expressionlessly removed the coat she’d just put on.

“Go gather some firewood.”

“And don’t act spoiled with me again.”

After celebrating, I asked curiously, “Sis, do you hate girls who act spoiled?”

“…Mm.”

Her reply was vague.

That night, Su Wangui cooked dinner for me.

It wasn’t as refined as the food in the city, but it smelled so good I nearly swallowed my tongue. I ate two cornbread buns, leaving my stomach round and full.

Su Wangui washed the dishes and went to put on her coat.

!

I shot to my feet and tugged pitifully at the hem.

“Sis, are you leaving?”

“Mm.”

“Then what about me?”

“Do you want to come back to the Su house with me?”

Su Wangui cast me a sidelong glance.

Afraid she’d think I was clinging to my old life, I hurriedly shook my head. “That’s not what I mean.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“I… I want you to stay here with me for a few nights, until I get used to the place. Would you?”

“…”

“Please.”

I quickly pushed up my sleeve.

“Look, Sis. While I was waiting for you tonight, some bug in the cave bit me. It really hurts.”

Su Wangui stared at the fresh red welts on my soft, pale wrist.

When she still didn’t agree, I gritted my teeth, threw myself into her arms, and hugged her waist.

“I’m honestly terrified by myself. Stay with me, please. Girls have to help each other.”

Su Wangui was about to refuse again.

But just as the words reached her lips, several people passed outside.

Their voices had the oily, swaggering tone of the village hooligans.

Su Wangui frowned slightly, as though something had occurred to her.

She looked down at me and hesitated.

“Fine. I’ll stay two days while you adjust.”

The moment she agreed, I happily nuzzled against her twice, then looked up at her with shining eyes.

“Thank you, Sis.”

“Why don’t we bathe together tonight? I’ll scrub your back!”

Su Wangui paused.

Then she refused.

She mercilessly peeled me off her.

“No.”

“Why? We’re both girls. Are you shy?”

“It isn’t convenient.”

“What’s inconvenient when we’re both girls?”

“It’s still inconvenient between girls.”

“Why?”

“No reason. Ask again and you can sleep alone. And I told you not to act spoiled with me.”

What an aloof, icy beauty.

I thought of those painfully shy girls who wore clothes even in a public bathhouse and decided I understood.

I didn’t pursue the subject.

“All right.”

“We’ll bathe separately. I’ll heat the water first.”

Su Wangui settled the matter decisively.

She turned to light the stove connected to the heated bed. I watched her tall back and pouted.

Still, all the fear I’d felt upon arriving in this strange place vanished.

Su Wangui and I weren’t related by blood.

But in a way, I really did want her to be my big sister.

She made me feel so safe.

I shook my head and went to make up the bed in the adjoining cave room.

Su Wangui had slept here before.

It was spotless, and the quilts had been aired until they were soft and fluffy.

But the moment I shook one open, a huge bug crawled out.

My face turned white with fright.

I didn’t scream.

Su Wangui was cold on the outside but softhearted underneath.

That didn’t mean I—the cuckoo who had occupied her nest and stolen eighteen years of happiness from her—could keep troubling her forever.

Anything I could do myself, I had to learn as quickly as possible.

Silently trapping the bug beneath a cup in the corner, I soon finished making the bed.

When Su Wangui entered, I was reaching behind myself to undo my clothes.

The Su family had spoiled me for eighteen years, and I’d never done a household chore in my life.

My skin was as soft as a marshmallow—one dusted with sugar, the kind that left your whole mouth sticky after one bite.

I couldn’t have looked more out of place in the shabby cave dwelling.

Su Wangui paused, then whipped around. She hurried to free the bug under the cup and tossed it outside.

With her back to me, she said, “The water’s ready. There’s a little washroom I put together inside this cave. Go bathe there. I’ll bring you a bucket of hot water.”

“Wait, Sis!”

“What is it?”

I turned my head. Sweat beaded my forehead as I said awkwardly, “Um, Sis… somehow my hair has gotten tangled around my bra hook. I can’t see it, I can’t get the bra off, and I can’t untangle it. Could you help me?”

“…”

Su Wangui let out a long breath.

She pressed her lips together, came up behind me, and said in a low voice, “Move your hands. I’ll do it.”