Chapter 51: Family

 To call Miyeon surprised by NingNing's call would be quite an understatement. Ever since Miyeon had been sent to the UK when she was 13 years old, she hadn't had any contact with her younger sister who was 5 years her junior. After she had been adopted in a Korean orphanage, Miyeon had scarcely spent a full year with her new parents Qing Anzhi and Lee Rong before they had gotten pregnant with NingNing. Soon after her sister's birth, it quickly became evident that her parents' had no intention of raising their kids with equal affection. It was a fact they preferred their own child NingNing to the other child they had picked up in another country. 

When Miyeon was 10 years old, she had overheard her adoptive parents discuss plans of returning her to the orphanage. However, the institution had refused to accept the case as the Lees had initially been insistent on adopting Miyeon and was of good financial standing to support both children. Plus, it had nearly been 5 years since the adoption. The orphanage director believed it would cause the child tremendous psychological and emotional trauma if she was returned to the system after living as family all this time. 

Eventually, Lee Rong decided that it's best to keep Miyeon around since she studied hard and knew her place, i.e. she didn't covet her sister's things. In this way, the Lee Family could be known in high society for their generosity, for kindly raising an orphan. That orphan repaid the favor by doing well in school and helping to take care of her little sister. This went on for several years until the incident that occured when Miyeon was 13. 

Since they only spent their childhood together, NingNing and Miyeon were not close. Furthermore, Miyeon's position in the Lee household was more of a glorified au pair than a daughter. So NingNing had never truly considered her as an older sister. Most of the time, Miyeon was referred to as 'Oi' or 'Yah' instead of her name. Being the only child of a menopausal mother; NingNing was excessively spoiled as a child. She grew up wanting for nothing unlike Miyeon who was subsequently abandoned after being shipped to another country. So if Miyeon was being truthful, she actually felt very little fondness for NingNing. Perhaps, the only reason Miyeon clings to the idea that the Lees are her family was the fact that there was a very small measurement of time that she felt genuine affection from Qing Anzhi. 

Qing Anzhi had wanted a child of her own for so long and after trying unsuccessfully for nearly a decade, she was able to persuade her husband to adopt from overseas. Lee Rong was actually against the idea of adoption, believing that the business and family legacy should only be inherited by one's blood kin. However, as the years passed, Qing Anzhi's mood had become increasingly erratic and a debilitating depression had nearly overcome her. She was no longer able to function normally and do simple tasks such as cooking and cleaning. Therefore, feeling that there was no other recourse, Lee Rong eventually agreed to consider adopting. After they had arrived at Angel House Orphanage, Qing Anzhi had adamantly insisted that she had fallen in love at first sight with the child; it had to be Miyeon. So the pair had filled out the paperwork on the spot to take Miyeon to C Country. In only a week starting from the initial meeting, the discussion with the director and finally paperwork finalization, 4 year old Miyeon was already on a plane to her new home. 

During their first year together, Qing Anzhi had spent the majority of her waking hours with Miyeon. Since Miyeon had been very young then, she couldn't recall specific memories with her adoptive mother, just that she had felt warm and safe when she just arrived in C Country. But the good times didn't last, after Qing Anzhi found out she was pregnant, it seemed as if her personality changed overnight. She suddenly had no time for Miyeon, leaving the child to the care of a housemaid. After the birth of NingNing, the preferential treatment became even more obvious and Miyeon was consequently excluded from most family interactions. Even mealtimes were spent with the housemaid instead of with Miyeon's adoptive parents. Therefore, it didn't take long for Miyeon to get used to this change and she quickly became resigned to the new family dynamic. NingNing always came first and Miyeon will forever be an afterthought. 

At first Miyeon was saddened and upset by the turn of events but after a while she had become completely jaded. The only thing left was a sense of obligation; Miyeon felt the need to repay her adoptive parents for taking her out of the institution and putting her through prep school.

Recalling her past experiences with NingNing, Miyeon was understandably perplexed as to why her little sister would be calling after having no contact for nearly 11 years. 

"Hello?" (Miyeon)

"Hey, Let's meet! When are you free?!" (NingNing)

"Hi, NingNing. Hmm, I'm free all week except Wednesday." (Miyeon)

"Then let's meet tomorrow! 2pm at Big Mug in District 1." (NingNing)

"Uhmm..Let me se—" (Miyeon)

"See you then!" (NingNing)

**click** Lee NingNing had already hung up the phone.

'She hasn't changed at all,' thought Miyeon with a rueful smile.