Let's Do Some Questions - Chapter 81

A week before the Winter Camp began, the itinerary had already been sent to Song Man and Chu Fengqiu’s emails. When Song Man received the email, she felt it was time to inform her family.

Song Man wasn’t worried about her family disagreeing, because her parents wouldn’t possibly disagree. Just saying she was going to relax would be enough of a reason, let alone going with Chu Fengqiu.

But Song Man didn’t expect that when she brought it up at the dinner table, her family wouldn’t agree so quickly.

“Manman, how long will this Winter Camp be?”

It was Xu Qinglang who asked, and Song Zici and Song Qinglan’s expressions showed the same question.

“Twenty-seven days.”

“When are you leaving?”

“In a week.”

“Then you won’t be able to celebrate your birthday at home?”

Song Man’s birthday was January 17th. It was currently December 16th. In another week, it would be December 23rd, and twenty-seven days after that would be January 19th, missing it exactly.

“It’s just a birthday, it doesn’t matter if I don’t celebrate it at home, right?”

Of course, this birthday was very significant, marking her upcoming adulthood, which meant… cough cough cough.

“This isn’t just any birthday, turning eighteen is a very meaningful coming-of-age. Can’t you not go, or come back early?” Song Qinglan frowned, discussing with Song Man.

“Then I’ll come back one day early.” Song Man figured since she had to celebrate her birthday anyway, where she celebrated wasn’t particularly important, what mattered was who was with her.

“Two days early,” Song Qinglan said, leaving no room for refusal. The Winter Camp location was in Norway, which had a six-hour time difference with China, so it was better to have ample time.

Song Man had originally agreed to come back early, but hearing Song Qinglan’s tone annoyed her.

“Then I won’t come back early. It’s just a birthday, I can celebrate it anywhere. A phone call from you is the same, and I don’t need to have some big dinner party. You know I hate those things the most.” Song Man put down her chopsticks, her expression a little cold.

“Manman, don’t be angry. Your sister just wants to give you a proper birthday celebration, especially since it’s your eighteenth.” Xu Qinglang saw the tension and quickly smoothed things over. He was more inclined towards Song Qinglan’s side and also felt it wouldn’t hurt for Song Man to come back two days early if she was going away to have fun.

“Anyway, after my birthday, I’ll be eighteen every day. We can have a meal together after I come back. It doesn’t matter if it’s a little earlier or later.”

“But…” Song Qinglan wanted to continue, but Song Zici raised a hand to stop her.

“Manman is right. We’re a family, there’s no need to focus too much on unnecessary formalities. As long as Manman is happy, that’s what matters.” Song Zici’s face was full of doting affection. Since his wife said so, Xu Qinglang had no objections and nodded along.

“In that case, Manman, come to my study later. I’ll give you your birthday gift in advance.” Song Qinglan suppressed the anger on her face and the disappointment in her heart. There were outsiders at the table, and she didn’t want to argue with Song Man in front of others, lest Song Man feel embarrassed in front of her friend and become even more provoked, leading her to firmly decide not to change her mind.

Seeing Song Qinglan like this, Song Man didn’t need to stay angry. She nodded, and the atmosphere slowly eased.

Song Man thought it would be best to get Song Qinglan’s gift early, deal with it early, and get it over with. So, as soon as Song Qinglan left the table, she followed her to the study.

Song Qinglan locked the door after Song Man entered and sat at her desk. On the desk was freshly ground coffee that a maid had brought in a minute ago. She took a sip and opened a page on her computer.

“Didn’t you say you were giving me a gift?” Song Man looked at Song Qinglan, who seemed ready to work, and glanced around.

“I still want to talk to you. Why can’t you come back two days early from the Winter Camp? Is staying there more important than celebrating your birthday with me?”

“You lied to me?” Song Man was so annoyed. Why was Song Qinglan always saying one thing and doing another? Didn’t she just agree with Mom and Dad that they could have dinner together later?

“I just don’t understand…”

“I don’t think it’s necessary. Do you understand now?” Song Man interrupted Song Qinglan and looked into her eyes.

She watched Song Qinglan’s expression turn cold, and a strange sense of guilt suddenly welled up in her heart, only to be immediately dispelled. What was she guilty about? That’s just how it was. It was just a birthday; as long as the feeling was there, any day would do. Besides, the Winter Camp wasn’t run by their family; it didn’t feel right to just come and go as she pleased.

“Not necessary?” Song Qinglan took a deep breath. “You think celebrating your eighteenth birthday with me isn’t necessary, is that it?”

“Do you even still see me as your sister?” Song Qinglan’s expression was strained, on the verge of fury and disappointment. She had never missed any important moment in this child’s life, whether it was her birth, full moon celebration, first birthday, every subsequent birthday, New Year’s, even parent-teacher conferences she took time off specifically to attend. Now, on such an important coming-of-age day, Song Man told her it wasn’t necessary.

“It’s whether you see me as your sister, isn’t it?” Song Man always got a little heated when she heard talk of sisters, inevitably remembering that rainy night and Song Qinglan’s hypocrisy. If she hadn’t kept her wits about her and known what the real trigger point was, she might have blurted out that Song Qinglan wasn’t her real sister. Thankfully, Song Man controlled herself, knowing that if she said that, it would truly detonate a bomb. But it seemed the words she did say weren’t much better.

Song Man was really annoyed. Why did she have to think about whether she would hurt Song Qinglan while saying these things? Who was hurting whom anyway!

“I don’t see you as my sister? Say that again?” Song Qinglan’s voice trembled slightly, and she stood up from her chair.

“If I didn’t see you as my sister, I would have left long ago, finding it annoying to even look at you.”

“Since you don’t think it’s necessary or important, fine, so be it. You can leave. I’ll put the gift in your room that day. Do as you please.”

“Now, get out.” Song Qinglan sat back down, no longer looking at Song Man.

Song Man scratched her head. Song Qinglan was the one who lied to her, and now she was angry at Song Man? Hmph, who wouldn’t get angry!

Song Man turned and left, slamming the door shut. Song Qinglan’s study was on the third floor, with good soundproofing, so Song Man wasn’t worried about anyone hearing their conversation. She stomped down the stairs and returned to her room, closing the door.

So annoying, this big liar. Maybe saying she found it annoying to even look at her was the real truth. She clearly disliked her a lot, being nice to her with ulterior motives. She was clearly the bad one, and yet she was angry at Song Man!

Song Man was so angry she wanted to complain about Song Qinglan a hundred and eighty times to someone. She knew that if she wanted to talk, Chu Fengqiu would definitely listen and comfort her, but Song Man didn’t want to talk to Chu Fengqiu right now. Because this matter was an internal family conflict, there was no need to drag Chu Fengqiu into it. She could handle it herself.

Could she really handle it? Song Man didn’t know. This matter was completely outside of any of their control.

Song Man couldn’t hold back from wanting to pour out her troubles, but she didn’t want to find someone too familiar, nor did she want to find a complete stranger. At this moment, she thought of her silly online friends.

【A Man】: Zhuazhua, are you there!

【Zhuazhua】: Yes, Sis, what’s up?

【A Man】: I really want to complain about something right now, I can’t hold it in

【Zhuazhua】: I’ve got my melon seeds and little stool ready

【A Man】: So, I have a friend

【Zhuazhua】: Making up a friend?

Song Man clenched her fist. Screw “making up a friend,” even though that’s exactly what she was doing.

【A Man】: guna, it’s my friend, and she has an older sister

【Zhuazhua】: And her sister stole her boyfriend?

【A Man】: This netizen, please don’t be so dramatic, thank you

【A Man】: Her sister is her half-sister, but her sister raised her. Her sister wants to control her, to make her useless. Do you think this sister is especially bad?

Song Man slightly altered the “half-sister” part and explained the situation.

【Zhuazhua】: Make her useless?? For a girl? Is there a throne to inherit in the family?

To be honest, there’s a mine in the family.

【A Man】: That’s not important, the point is this sister is really going too far, right? On the surface, they have deep sisterly affection, but secretly she wants to control her sister, to keep her from flying out of her grasp

【Zhuazhua】: That’s pretty painful. How is that different from a gilded cage or imprisonment? If my personal freedom was restricted like that, I’d definitely fight with her

【A Man】: Well, my friend’s pain is more psychological. Her sister often gives her money, tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands are common. She also buys her anything she wants, clothes are haute couture, her wardrobe is updated every season, and in the summer, she even lets her skip studying to go skiing in Switzerland…

【A Man】: Anyway, it’s that kind of doting “killing with kindness” to make her useless. She didn’t want to go to school when she was little, and if she caught a cold, her sister would let her take half a month off. If she did something wrong, she was never allowed to be scolded. She just wants her to achieve nothing, play all day, and then control her life. It’s probably like, as long as she’s obedient, she can support her for life

【Zhuazhua】: ???

【Zhuazhua】: Where can I get a sister like that? Does the country issue them?

【Zhuazhua】: Holy crap, isn’t that the life of being kept by a rich woman in my dreams? And with this kind of sister, you don’t even have to contribute your body or flatter her! Introduce me to your friend’s sister, I’m willing to be made useless! Sister, I can do it!

【A Man】: Only in your dreams

【A Man】: No, is that why I came to you! Look at the long-term harm, okay!

【Zhuazhua】: True, if she’s raised like that, she’ll definitely turn into an arrogant and overbearing spoiled brat, an uneducated good-for-nothing.

Thank you, your great-uncle. Dad, I’m nowhere near being an uneducated good-for-nothing. As for arrogant and overbearing, well, maybe just a little bit.

【Zhuazhua】: It’s fine in the short term, but if she messes up and her sister doesn’t protect her, or if her sister gets tired of her later and kicks her aside, won’t she have nowhere to cry?

【Zhuazhua】: Thinking about it that way, it’s quite scary, like chronic poison. Tell your friend to plan for herself early. People still have to rely on themselves.

【A Man】: That’s what I think too. After all, relying on others won’t give you true security.

Song Qinglan couldn’t trust her, just as she couldn’t trust Song Qinglan.

What deep sisterly affection.