Chapter 2

My dad touched my little head and laughed heartily:

"My daughter is blessed. When your godfather comes back, we'll enjoy great fortune."

I thought Dad was playing with me. Seeing him laugh, I giggled along.

That afternoon, my parents registered my name as Olivia.

At my hundred-day celebration, Dad held me and teased:

"Little Olivia, little Olivia, choose one."

In front of me were various ceremony items—a little abacus, a brush, books, Mom's gold ring...

I giggled and kept clutching the little crystal necklace godfather gave me, refusing to let go.

Dad had no choice. Holding me, he tapped my little nose.

"You just love your godfather, don't you?"

But he said this very quietly, so no one else could hear.

After the choosing ceremony, friends and relatives attending the hundred-day celebration began giving gifts.

Others gave small presents or dolls to amuse me.

When Second Uncle arrived, he wore an ill-fitting suit with a thin gold chain around his neck. My cousin Mia wore a princess dress, holding her head high like a proud swan.

My dad looked at Second Uncle with some hostility.

Second Uncle pretended not to notice. Having made a little money, he was no different from a nouveau riche.

Second Uncle clutched a briefcase, pulling out a small stack of money and handing it to my dad.

"This is just a little something to celebrate my niece. After all, I owe my current success entirely to my little niece. So I wish my niece great wealth and prosperity, peace and smooth fortune."

Those eight words of blessing—Second Uncle emphasized each syllable heavily, his expression of petty triumph utterly punchable.

But the note godfather left gave my dad tremendous confidence.

Dad shot back without hesitation:

"Of course! My daughter is blessed. She'll definitely have great wealth and prosperity, peace and smooth fortune in this life. Thank you for your blessing."

But having already tasted success, Second Uncle just thought Dad was being stubborn. He smiled indifferently and left with Mia.

"This place is a bit shabby. Don't bother inviting me next time."

Second Uncle's voice reached everyone's ears without restraint, making some people look embarrassed.

Dad just pretended not to hear, warmly greeting friends and relatives to eat and drink well, all smiles.

From that day on, Second Uncle's family got better and better, as if truly fulfilling godfather's words.

Second Uncle won quite a bit of money buying lottery tickets. Though he never won first prize, all those small prizes added up enough to allow his originally poor family to achieve a major turnaround.

Later, Second Uncle's house was demolished for development, and every project he invested in became explosively popular without exception.

Our family remained lukewarm, not much different from before.

Until I skipped grades and entered seventh grade, Mia—only three years older than me—had become a school bully thanks to Second Uncle's success.

Because I was good at school, at family gatherings Mia and I—close in age—were always compared. One had average family circumstances but excellent grades; the other had great family circumstances but a brain that wouldn't open up.

Gossipy relatives would always say that even though Second Uncle's family had money, if the child wasn't good it was useless—maybe Olivia would get into an Ivy League school and lead the whole family to prosperity?

This caused Second Uncle's family, who had looked down on us, to develop other thoughts.

On the first day of school, Mia wore her uniform loose and sloppy, with earrings and heavy makeup, looking disdainful.

Several similarly dressed female students followed behind her.

They surrounded me and pressed me to the ground.

Mia crossed her arms, stepped on my shoulder with one foot, and leaned down close to me.

"Well, well, if it isn't my academically excellent little cousin who skipped grades to my territory?"

Mia finished speaking and laughed to herself, her laughter unrestrained. Her little followers laughed along.

Others who saw this scene were briefed by those who knew the situation, their gazes falling on me—some sympathetic, some enjoying the show.

Mia enjoyed the attention. After all, her dad had become someone with status and influence in South City these past two years, and most people didn't want to offend her.

So when Mia stepped on my shoulder and said, "This person has a grudge against me. Whoever befriends her will..."

All threats remained unspoken, but combined with Mia's standard mean-girl image, everyone dispersed.

Mia looked at all this with satisfaction, but seeing my completely unmoved expression, she found it boring.

I brushed the dust off my shoulder and watched Mia's retreating back.

"It's fine. Everything will end soon."