My sister gave up studying to work in a factory, all for a man. In my past life, I became a billionaire because of that very man. She wanted to copy me, but ended up getting sold for marriage money instead. She never anticipated that this life, we’d have a little brother. “Our family is poor. We can only afford to send one of you to college. You two draw lots to decide.” Dad held two wooden sticks, his face etched with what looked like pain. “Whoever draws the shorter stick gets to continue their studies. Lily, you’re the younger sister, you go first!” This familiar scene hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been reborn! My gaze locked onto the wooden sticks, fragments of memories flashing through my mind. The terror as my sister pushed me down, the agonizing pain when I hit the ground. But my thoughts quickly snapped back to the moment of decision in my previous life. Last time, I chose the stick on the right. From that day on, my schooling ended. Yet, my grades were far better than Blair’s. I had even been accepted into the city’s top high school, known for its incredible college acceptance rates. Blair’s grades? Even if she pushed herself to the limit in high school, she’d be lucky to get into a mid-level university. Given our family’s poverty, letting me continue my education was clearly the most beneficial path for everyone. But my parents, for some reason, chose to decide with a draw. Because they favored Blair! I’d always known it, so even getting the chance to draw felt like a small victory. Since childhood, they’d buy Blair new clothes, but never me. Every time, they’d say, “Blair’s clothes are too small for her, but they’re perfect for you. Buying you new clothes would just be a waste of money.” As the second child, and a girl at that, I had always been on the receiving end of their coldness. Blair was their first, the fruit of their love, so they loved her. As for me? Grandma had wanted a grandson, so they risked financial strain to have a second child. But in the end, they got me, another girl. My birth cost the family thousands of dollars in unexpected expenses! Grandma despised me, and that resentment extended to Mom too. So, after I was born, Mom had a really tough recovery period. She couldn’t hate Grandma, or Dad. She could only resent me. She felt it was all my fault. In those days, a second child was a significant financial burden, and a third even more so. They couldn’t afford to try for a third child, hoping for a son! So, they believed I had blocked their path to having a son. They saw me as bad luck. Mom wanted to name me “Superfluous.” Grandma said to name me “Short-Lived,” hoping I’d die young. If I died, they could have another child, and it would still be considered their second, avoiding the even higher costs of a third. In the end, Dad was afraid the villagers would laugh, so my name became something mundane, signifying my insignificant existence.
My sister’s name was Blair, because they hoped her future would be bright and successful, with every road leading to prosperity. In my past life, after middle school, I followed other villagers to a clothing factory. At fifteen, most legitimate factories wouldn’t hire me, and the pay was pitiful. I often worked night shifts, at least 12 hours a day. Most of my meager monthly wages had to be sent home for Blair’s schooling. That first month at the factory, I didn’t even have money to buy a blanket. My parents had only paid for my bus fare, nothing else. Thankfully, the southern summer was scorching, and I barely made it until my first paycheck. My life only started to improve when I began dating the factory owner’s son. Later, riding the e-commerce boom, the factory made tens of millions, and I became a wealthy woman. Blair, though she eventually got into a mid-level university, found that as life improved and more people graduated, her degree wasn’t as valuable. The moment Blair got into college was the most glorious in her past life. After graduation, she discovered that finding a job was hard, and the pay wasn’t good. Later, Blair married her college boyfriend, Mark. They both worked in his hometown’s small town, earning a combined total of just over $5,000 a month. Money problems poisoned their marriage, and their conflicts grew. Meanwhile, every time I came home, I drove a luxury car, carrying bags full of expensive gifts. Blair’s heart twisted with resentment. After Mark cheated on her, she finally snapped, blaming everything on me. 2 Blair’s face was contorted with rage as she pushed me. “How dare you be so rich! You, who never even went to college, how dare you live a more glamorous life than me? Just die!” In my panic, I instinctively pulled her down with me. We both fell off the cliff. My thoughts snapped back to the present. My eyes were fixed on the left wooden stick. Last life, I chose the right stick and missed out on school. This life, I’m choosing the left! This time, I’ll be the one who gets to go to school! Suppressing my excitement, I quickly pulled out the left stick, a thrill surging through me. “Dad! My stick is short…” My words died in my throat as Dad opened his hand. But the result, once again, defied my expectations… The stick in Dad’s hand was visibly shorter than mine. His voice was just as regretful as last time. “Lily, it seems your luck isn’t good. You picked the long one. The chance to study will have to go to your sister. From now on, work hard and earn money for your sister’s tuition! When Blair makes something of herself, she can help you out.” How was this possible?! I snatched both sticks, disbelief flooding me. Last life, I chose the right one, and it was long. This life, I chose the left one, and it was *still* long. Staring at the two sticks for several long minutes, everything finally clicked into place. Anger and betrayal surged through my chest! No wonder they insisted I go first this time. They had already made their choice. No matter what I picked, Blair was destined to be the one to go to school! Because they could snap off the longer stick at any time! Just like they were snapping my wings, keeping me forever trapped in their grasp. They had fabricated this charade of a fair choice, forcing me to swallow my resentment, to work and pay for Blair’s education. They would drink my blood while mocking my bad luck. In my past life, no matter how hard I worked, I never blamed them for not letting me go to school. Because *I* had chosen that stick. I didn’t blame my fate; I just worked harder. But now… I saw Mom visibly relax after Dad announced the result. They exchanged a quick, knowing glance, their eyes gleaming with the triumph of a successful scheme. I was just too young and naive in my past life to see it. Suddenly, nothing else seemed to matter. Fine. If I can’t go to school, I can’t go to school. With my past life’s experience, making money this time around will be easy. But before I could even fully process it, Blair rushed forward, frantic.
“No! Let Lily go to school! *I’ll* go to work!” Blair’s eyes shone with uncontrollable joy and excitement. She clutched Dad’s arm so tightly his shirt nearly ripped. “Don’t be ridiculous!” Mom snapped at Blair, her brows furrowed in displeasure, shooting her sister meaningful glances. “What future do you have if you don’t study? You’ll just end up working in a factory, earning meager wages, and never amount to anything!” I gave a bitter laugh. So, Mom knew all along. But last life, when I was chosen to go to the factory, all they said was: “Lily, your sister needs to study hard. It’s so much better for you to be out earning money!” Blair looked at Mom, disagreeing, her gaze sweeping over me, a calculating glint in her eyes. “Mom, studying isn’t that useful anymore. There are so many college graduates now; their degrees aren’t worth much. It’s better to go out and work early, then marry a rich man. A woman’s ultimate success depends on who she marries! If I go to work, with my looks, who knows? Maybe I’ll end up with the boss’s son! Then I’ll be the boss’s wife!” The moment Blair said this, I knew she had been reborn too. But her words sounded nothing like a teenage girl. Dad’s brows knitted together in a frown. “You’re too young. What do you know?” Mom continued to persuade her: “Blair, you shouldn’t say such things. There’s a big difference between having a degree and not. With a degree, you can marry someone from the city, and your in-laws will look up to you.” The more she spoke, the more sarcastic I felt. “Mom! By the time I finish college, I’ll be older. Rich men prefer younger women!” Blair retorted anxiously. Mom seemed to find some truth in what she said, but she still thought Blair was too impulsive. “Are you really decided? You don’t want to go?” “Yes!” Blair’s tone was firm. She walked over to me, a smirk playing on her lips. “Alright, if you don’t want to study, then you two sisters can go work in the factory together. At least you’ll have company!” Mom declared. “What?!” I couldn’t sit still anymore! When Blair was studying, I couldn’t. Now she wasn’t studying, and I *still* couldn’t. No matter how you sliced it, they just didn’t want to spend any more money on me. I was about to argue, but Blair cut me off and solved the problem herself. She said, with feigned sincerity: “Mom, Lily still needs to go to school. Our family needs to produce at least one college student, otherwise, the villagers will laugh at us!” At Blair’s suggestion, Mom and Dad finally agreed to let me continue my education. However, her situation was completely different from mine in the past life. Last life, when I left home, they said: “Don’t cause trouble out there. Be patient with everything, don’t waste money, and transfer your wages back as soon as you get them.” But for Blair, Mom and Dad gave her thousands of dollars, terrified she’d be uncomfortable away from home. “Take this money. Buy anything you need, don’t skimp on yourself. Don’t worry about home. Spend your own money on whatever you want!” Then they turned to me: “Your sister gave up her chance to study for you. When you get into college, you must never forget your sister. She is your benefactor!” I remained silent. I had already given up on these biased parents. This life, I wouldn’t spend another dime on them! “Alright, alright, I get it!” Blair said impatiently. The next day, Blair left for the factory in the southern city with some other villagers. As she was leaving, she suddenly leaned in and whispered to me: “This life, it’s my turn to be the rich lady!” I pretended not to understand, lowering my gaze and fawning over her: “Oh, Sister, I’m sure you’ll be a rich lady.” Blair saw no unusual reaction on my face, snorted dismissively, and left. But in less than three months, Blair came running back.
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