Volume One Chapter 5: Walking Straight Into the Trap

Su Ningxia felt an unshakable calm within her, not even the faintest ripple disturbing her heart. She no longer hid under the covers to cry when wronged as she once had. So, it turns out that when you stop caring, you stop getting hurt. Especially now, since she was leaving soon and would never return. Whatever happened to this household after she was gone had nothing to do with her, not even a penny’s worth.

Thinking this way, her heart grew all the more open and free.

“I didn’t bully Tingxue,” she said, her lips curving slightly. “She was just too moved, that’s all.” Then she added, almost to herself, “Clearly, she’s quite sensitive…”

Su Tingxue caught the implication in her words, and her expression shifted.

“Yes, Xiaoxue only cried because she felt guilty that Summer was giving her her job, and Xiu’er said a few things,” Fu Zhilin, ever the straightforward man, tried to mediate, oblivious to the undercurrents. He simply took Ningxia’s explanation at face value.

“Exactly. But Xiaoxue really does seem to cry easily…” Third Uncle Su blurted out his thoughts as always. If Summer hadn’t pointed it out, he wouldn’t have noticed it before.

Su Tingxue was furious. She gripped her clothing tightly, worried they’d catch on to her act, and dared not complain about what had happened at the military camp. She wiped her tears and feigned obedience.

“Mom, I’ve always felt sorry towards my sister. I couldn’t hold back just now... It’s not her fault.”

Seeing her own daughter so understanding, Mother Su was both touched and pained.

“Child, you always think of others. Yet you’re the one who’s suffered the most. You should be the one others consider.”

Then she turned to Ningxia. “You two are sisters; you must get along. We’re a family. Don’t act as if you’re bitter enemies every day. Especially you, Ningxia. It’s because your father, your brothers, and I spoiled you that you always have to compete with others.”

In the end, it always came down to blaming Su Ningxia.

There was never a word of apology.

But that was the way it had always been.

When it came to Ningxia’s grievances, the family always raised them high, only to set them down lightly. She was clearly the one wronged, yet everyone fussed over comforting Tingxue.

Su Ningxia smiled. “Compete? This job, as far as I recall, I earned it myself. Why would I need to compete? Only those who are incapable and envious would beg for someone else’s job.”

With that, she strode into her room without another word to the gathering in the yard.

Wasting even one extra breath on people like them was simply lowering her own intelligence!

The next morning, Su Ningxia packed up, preparing to head to the radio station.

She had passed the civil service exam last year. Though she hadn’t worked long, her position was enviable, and the teachers all liked her. The family had always been proud of her for this.

Today would probably be her last day at the station.

“Big Sister.”

Su Tingxue entered her room.

She wore an orange plaid dress that day, her hair loose, her eyebrows and lips carefully painted, giving her a refined and energetic look. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought she was the one starting work today.

Ningxia glanced at her, then looked away.

“I want to go to the radio station with you today. Since I’ll be starting soon, I should get used to the place,” Tingxue said, displeased by Ningxia’s indifference. But then she thought Ningxia was sulking and spoke with a trace of pride.

“When you start, there’ll be someone to guide you. There’s no need to get used to it in advance,” Ningxia replied, pushing open the door to leave.

The sound of high heels clattered behind her. “Big Sister, just take me along, won’t you? The job will be mine anyway—does it matter if I get used to it earlier or later?”

“You really want to go?” Ningxia turned back.

Tingxue nodded with a smile.

“Alright then. Let’s go.”

—

Once they arrived at the station, Tingxue looked around, eyes wide, taking it all in.

No wonder it was a government post. No wonder it was for arts graduates! Look at the way these people dressed, their style, their bearing. So different from the women in the factories.

And soon, all of this would be part of her world.

When Ningxia reached her desk, her colleagues were shocked to hear she was giving her job to her sister.

“What? Ningxia, you’re so capable—how can you just quit like that?”

“Exactly. The director thinks highly of you, too.”

Ningxia gave Tingxue a meaningful glance and smiled. “My sister is even more capable than I am. If she joins us, she’ll do an even better job.”

“I believe if she conducts herself well, everyone will like her.”

She emphasized the words “conducts herself well.”

Tingxue’s eyes lit up. She was determined to make a good impression, to show the leaders that she was not inferior to Ningxia—in fact, she would far surpass her.

Just then, the equipment manager stepped in. “Anyone available? The director needs someone to test the new equipment.”

“I am!” Tingxue quickly replied. “All the other ladies are busy. I’m free.”

The colleague assumed she was a new intern and nodded. “Alright, come with me.”

Tingxue followed, elated.

“Wait, Ningxia, those are the director’s new devices—really expensive. Are you sure she can handle it?” a colleague asked.

Ningxia’s lips curled. “I wouldn’t know. But since she volunteered, I assume she can.”

With that, she set down her things. “I’m going to the restroom.”

Passing the adjoining equipment room, she saw Tingxue standing there, clearly at a loss, and smiled.

“Sister, the mixer needs to be kept away from the speakers, or the microphone will screech.”

Tingxue’s expression shifted. “I know. I was just about to move it.”

Ningxia gave her a knowing smile and walked away.

Not long after, an angry shout rang out.

“What do you think you’re doing? Do you even know how to test equipment? Do you have any idea how expensive these are?”

Everyone in the office rushed to the equipment room door. Ningxia joined them, and through the crowd, she saw Tingxue being scolded mercilessly by the technician.

Brand-new equipment was strewn all over the floor.

“I—I didn’t mean to! I didn’t know they were all connected. I just thought the position was awkward and tried to move one, that’s all, and then everything fell…” Tingxue’s shoulders shook as she sobbed.

She’d thought it would be simple—just read the manual. Besides, hadn’t Ningxia said to keep things apart? How was she to know all these wires were connected?

“What happened here?” The director arrived with a group, and upon seeing the scattered equipment, his heart ached.

“Who did this? Who?”

The technician, still fuming, pointed at Tingxue. “Her!”

The director glared at Tingxue, his voice icy with anger. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t touch anything! Do you have any idea how expensive this is? I haven’t even used them myself, and you’ve already ruined them!”

“I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to…”

“Not on purpose? Then you did it deliberately? How unlucky! Someone, throw her out!”

Tingxue wept uncontrollably. As the technicians dragged her away, she caught sight of Ningxia in the crowd.

“Su Ningxia, you did this on purpose. You wanted to see me make a fool of myself!”