CRUEL SISTER

"Miss, you seem pretty weak to carry the guitar. Do you want me to help you out?"

Meixiu had to stop walking before she looked back at the salesman who is standing behind her. She admits to herself that she is feeling weak right now. Inside her, a pair of muscles keeps twitching out of her control, giving her a kind of pain that breaks through her face. How she wishes, she can fully ignore the pain and disguise as if she isn't feeling anything.

She forced her lips to arch a smile as she look towards the salesman, trying to tell him that she is alright. The man smiled back and Meixiu collected her strength to make a step again. She suddenly paused after feeling her knees are trembling, hitting each other as she steps forward. "No, not now.", she said to herself but she ended falling into someone's arms.

"Meixiu.", she heard a woman calling her name.

"How did someone know me here? This isn't my place.", she kept the wonder to herself.

Because the woman tried to catch her, the things the woman bought fell and Meixiu saw some baby stuffs like some baby clothes and socks scattered on the floor. And as she looks at the woman, she saw that it was Suyin who actually got her. "Why is she buying such stuffs?", she thought.

"Madam, let me fix your belongings.", the salesman offered the both of them some help.

"She's my sister, I'll drive her home. Can you help me picking up my things and I'll bring my sister to my car?"

"Yes Madam. Come back after a minute."

Suyin pulled her up and crossed Meixiu's arm over her shoulder. She is curious about what Meixiu is doing in a music store, carrying a guitar on her back. "Is she going to make music with Chaoxiang now?", she thought.

"What's with you buying some baby clothes?", Meixiu asked after she dumped her in her car.

"I am giving it to a friend."

Suyun lied but she was able to convince Meixiu for she doesn't flinch or stutter with her fabrication. She immediately closed the passenger seat, her head's in a spin thinking about she could dispose her weak sister who's sitting in her car right now. Then she cheerfully went back and get both the guitar Meixiu bought and the things she also bought at a mall nearby.

"Why do I feel so weak? Now I owe her something.", she said to herself.

Meixiu is disappointed about her body failed her. Is it because she has been skipping meals recently? She knows she is not strictly observing her diet but she's ignoring the consequences of doing so.

"Meixiu, this guitar... Is it a gift for Chaoxiang?"

Suyin asked right after she stepped on the driver's seat. Meixiu chuckled with the fact that she is so fragile when it comes to her husband. She can still remember how she almost gave him up last night. So now, what is she doing? Buying him something he loves to make amends?

"It is indeed for him."

"How much does it cost?"

"$2000."

"Really?"

Suyin remembered she borrowed almost the same exact amount of money to Chaoxiang a couple of hours ago. Right after giving her some money, Suyin rushed to the mall for she is so excited to buy some clothes for her baby even prior to knowing the child's gender.

"If only I've known you have such amount, I could've borrowed from you than Chaoxiang."

"What do you mean? You borrowed money from Chaoxiang?"

"I did. Why? Did that offend you?"

Meixiu fell silent with her question. She can still remember Suyin confessing she kissed Chaoxiang after his concert. And now, they are meeting each other again. "Is Chaoxiang purposely making me insecure?", Meixiu thought.

"Are you aware that I was the main guest of Chaoxiang's sold out concert two days ago? Wouldn't it be nice if you were there, singing along with the crowd while I was being represented onstage?"

Meixiu can't find a way to answer her questions. Her heart feels out of shape, as if it is deflating with all the triggering scenes she witnessed. She was indeed there, she was there to witness how Chaoxiang is still affectionate for Suyin. Anyone who knows her title will laugh because Chaoxiang never opened up about him getting married but he proudly introduced his ex. It is indeed an insult for her.

Also, it is an overwhelming feeling for her. No matter if Liwei really had some feelings for her before or not, he treated her gently and even put her on a pedestal. The same goes with her relationship with Jianguo. They never had any third party issues before. He only wants her attention and he'll get so triumphant after knowing Meixiu approves him.

She never imagined she could be in a competition with someone just to win a man's heart. All of the men who adored and admired her before loved her with all of their heart, or maybe she expected that's what really happened before. And she never expected she could be in a competition with her own sister just to win the heart of the most famous musician to ever rise from their place who wrecks and tops the charts with his every single song.

"Now get out.", Suyin's words got her startled.

"You said you are bringing me home?"

Meixiu protested after seeing she's is not at home nor she is near the village. It's a place she knows she isn't familiar with, a place of terror, horror and fear.

"I lied."

Suyin laughed and opened the car for her. Meixiu's eyes are teary as Suyin threw the guitar she bought in her direction. She is a complete stranger in this place. Suyin immediately went back to her car and drove off. How can she go home now?