Chapter 2

I went to the city’s best cosmetic surgery hospital.

Registration. Consultation. Signature. Payment. Operating room.

The doctor asked which procedure I wanted. I pointed to my eyes.

“Double-eyelid surgery. Make the creases as obvious as possible.”

The doctor nodded without further questions.

The operation was quick, over in a little more than an hour.

I put on the oversized sunglasses I was given, kept all the medical records and surgical photographs, and left.

It was almost evening when I got home.

My brother-in-law’s parents were still there. Food covered the living-room table, and everyone was eating.

My sister looked over as I entered.

“Oh, you’re back.” Her voice was odd. “Sunglasses too? Feeling hard done by?”

Her husband lifted his wineglass and sneered.

“What’s with the mysterious act? You only lost a job. Is it that serious? Your sister might make you famous, racing under your name. You should thank her.”

Everyone laughed.

Mom pulled my arm.

“Come and toast his parents, Xiaoyue. Put this morning behind us.”

I stood still.

She tugged again and lowered her voice.

“Don’t make us a laughingstock. Be good.”

I took a deep breath and went to the table.

His father offered me a glass. I accepted.

“Raising two children isn’t easy for your sister. Be understanding. We’re family. There’s no need for all this tension.”

I nodded.

“I understand.”

Then I drained the glass.

His mother finally smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s right. Nothing matters more than family harmony.”

I set down the glass and returned to my room.

Once the door closed, I leaned against it and shut my eyes.

I knew my sister would cause a catastrophe soon.

3

For the next two weeks, the house was strangely peaceful.

My sister and her husband still argued, but they stopped hitting each other.

I stayed home every day. The dressings came off, and my eyelids healed well.

In the mirror, I hardly recognized myself.

I bought several pairs of large sunglasses and wore them constantly.

My family assumed I was depressed about my job. Nobody asked much.

That night, I had just lain down when a violent crash came from the living room.

My heart tightened. I got up at once.

Opening the door, I saw my sister stumble in, covered in blood.

She was trembling, her face white.

“Mom! Dad! I… I killed someone with the car!”

Mom rushed out. Seeing her, she nearly collapsed.

“What are you saying, Xiaoxue?”

My sister sobbed.

“I’d been drinking. On the way home, I hit a car. Three people inside. They… they all died. I was scared, so I ran…”

Dad came rushing out, his face ashen.

Her husband emerged from the bedroom and froze.

“What? You killed three people?”

“I didn’t mean to! I really didn’t!”

Mom held her and cried too.

Dad paced the living room, sweat on his forehead.

“What do we do? What do we do?”

I stood calmly in my doorway and watched.

I knew my papers would be in the car.

The police would be here soon.

Sure enough, my brother-in-law suddenly turned toward me.

He strode over and clamped a hand on my shoulder.

“Lin Xiaoyue, your sister’s in trouble. You have to help.”

I looked at him without speaking.

He lowered his voice, but the threat was unmistakable.

“You don’t even have a job now. Your life’s worth nothing. If she goes to prison, what happens to the children? Go to the traffic police and turn yourself in. Now.”

Instead of frightening me, his words left me strangely calm.

Of course. They still wanted me to take the blame.

Mom came over and seized my hand.

“Please, Xiaoyue. Help your sister.” Tears ran down her face. “It’ll only be a few years in prison. I’ll sell everything to get you out. But if your sister goes, those children will be orphans. Our family will be ruined.”

“Xiaoyue…” Dad said. “Do you want to drive this whole family to its death?”

Just then, sirens sounded outside.

They drew closer and stopped below our building.

Dad’s expression changed.

“The police!”

My brother-in-law shoved me.

“Go. Open the door. Say you hit them.”

Mom pulled my sister toward the bedroom.

“Quick, hide.”

They bundled her under the bed and shut the bedroom door.

My brother-in-law gripped my arm and pushed me toward the entrance.

“Remember. You hit them. You were driving.”

A knock.

“Open up. Police!”

Dad took a deep breath and opened the door.

Three officers stood outside. Their leader looked stern.

“Who is Lin Xiaoyue?”

Behind me, Mom pinched my waist and whispered:

“Say it’s you.”

I stood in the doorway, meeting the officer’s eyes.

He held up an ID card bearing my photograph.

“You’re Lin Xiaoyue?”

I placed a hand on the rim of my sunglasses.

Mom pinched again, harder this time.

“Deny it, and I’ll kill myself right in front of you,” she threatened under her breath.

I drew a deep breath.