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Misaligned Chords
墨書 Inktalez
"Cui Yongjuan, don't mind her. If she wants to play the victim, let her."
Having regained some strength, I headed straight for the kitchen.
By the time I was released, the piano competition had already ended.
Ma Zhiqiang was waiting for me at the door.
Cui Yongjuan was with him.
Both of them looked at me with disdain as they saw my disheveled appearance.
Cui Yongjuan pinched her nose and said, "Sister, you really don't take care of yourself. Even if you're arguing with Brother Zhiqiang, there's no need to torture yourself like this."
She spoke words of concern, but her eyes flashed with contempt.
Ma Zhiqiang looked at me coldly and said, "Clean yourself up; tonight is Cui Yongjuan's celebration party."
I hadn't eaten anything for three days.
When they released me from the small dark room, I could barely stand up.
Ma Zhiqiang looked down at me from above, his tone indifferent: "Cui Yongmei, don't make me say it a second time."
I had no strength to resist and struggled to get up from the floor.
The feeling of hunger was unbearable, and I instinctively walked toward the restaurant in my memory.
Sandwiches were laid out on the table.
After days without food or water, I was starving and couldn't care about anything else; I lunged forward and began to eat ravenously.
Behind me, I heard Cui Yongjuan's surprised voice: "Oh my God, sister, how long has it been since you last ate?"
With my mouth full of food, I couldn't respond to her.
Ma Zhiqiang let out a cold laugh:
Cui Yongjuan hid in Ma Zhiqiang's arms in fear: "Brother Zhiqiang, my sister looks so scary; she won't eat me, will she?"
Ma Zhiqiang gently patted her back and reassured her: "Don't be afraid; she's just pretending to be pitiful. If she acts pitiful enough, maybe I'll soften up."
"Ha, how childish."
I picked up the drink on the table and twisted the bottle cap with all my might, but after a long struggle, it wouldn't budge at all. My index finger, already swollen and red from an injury, throbbed painfully as I rubbed it against the cap. Suddenly, Ma Zhiqiang walked over and slammed his hand down on the back of mine. He used so much force that I nearly fractured my fingers. Blood oozed from the wound on my index finger, and the pain made me tear up.
Ma Zhiqiang looked at me with disgust: "Cui Yongmei, who are you trying to fool? Do you think this will make me change my mind?"
"I'll tell you, it's impossible!"
"Your hypocritical and malicious face makes me sick just to look at!"
I shook my head while crying, "It's not me, it's not me..."
He grabbed my hand and held it under the faucet to rinse it off. The cold water provided some relief. But then he took a towel soaked in cold water and repeatedly wiped my wound. The pain made me scream out loud.
Ma Zhiqiang coldly said, "Stop pretending; I won't believe you."
"Cui Yongmei, I've seen tricks like yours since I was eight."
I watched as he wiped away the skin, exposing the bone of my index finger. I knew I would never be able to play the piano again in my life.
Five days ago, Ma Zhiqiang suddenly demanded that I withdraw from the competition. I was shocked: "Why? I've been preparing for three months. This piece is my original composition; every note is something I've poured my heart and soul into—it's my essence."
"No."
Ma Zhiqiang looked at me indifferently: "Cui Yongmei, this isn't a request for your opinion; it's a notification."
I was confused: "On what basis?"
"Cui Yongjuan is coming back; don't you know?"
All my thoughts came to a halt in that moment.
This name, I hadn't heard it in three years.
Cui Yongjuan, my half-sister, my father's illegitimate daughter.
Three years ago, she caused my mother's death.
To escape responsibility, she and her mother fled abroad.
I wanted revenge, but I could no longer find any information about the two of them.
My father even helped them hide from me, saying that life and death are fated and wealth is determined by heaven.
It's been three years; I've hated Cui Yongjuan for three years.
Yet this name came from the lips of my boyfriend, with whom I was about to discuss marriage.
"Do you know Cui Yongjuan?"
Ma Zhiqiang's expression was calm: "It doesn't matter."
"What matters is that you can't participate in the piano competition."
He walked over and gently wrapped his arms around my waist.
In a low voice, he said: "Yongmei, you know that Cui Yongjuan is also a victim."
"That competition is really important to her. Can you not compete against her?"
"After all, you are her sister; just give way to her a bit."
I felt as if something had struck my head, and in an instant, I was dizzy.
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