The year I was scraping by, I overheard my roommate, Chloe, talking about the wealthy girl from the department next door, Shawn, who was sick. Quietly, I went for a kidney match. The moment the results came out, Shawn’s second brother, Liam, found me. He had me sign a contract and quickly arranged for my hospitalization. Just then, floating comments suddenly flashed before my eyes: “Sweetie, don’t sign! He’s your brother.” “Your biological one.” “Liam, you’ll regret this. The sister you’ve been looking for all this time is about to be sent to the operating table by your own hand.” I ignored them. Because I knew the man in front of me already knew the truth. He just chose to abandon me. Six days after the surgery. As the on-screen comments buzzed with the most heated discussions, I quietly checked myself out of the hospital. The dense stream of comments eagerly anticipated my return home as the true heiress, ready to unleash hell on the Vance family. “The legendary scene is coming! Our sweet Aria is finally going to have her moment!” “Big brother knows the truth now, oh yeah!” “Get ready for the groveling, this is going to be epic!” “After today, the female lead will be everyone’s favorite, finally time to get back at the family!” “Aria, make sure you really make them pay, don’t forgive them too easily.” I couldn’t help but shake my head. I was about to disappoint them. I chose to walk away just as the story was about to reach its climax. That so-called “group favorite” life? I didn’t want it.
The first time I met Liam, it was near the hospital. After hearing that my kidney was a match for his sister, he contacted me immediately, inviting me to meet. Once we confirmed the details, he handed me a contract along with a face mask: “It’d be better if you wear this outside.” I took the mask, saying nothing. I glanced at the penalty clause in the contract – a hefty sum. After I put on the mask, he looked at my eyes. The hand holding the pen paused for a moment before he decisively signed his name. Suddenly, the floating comments flashed rapidly: “Sweetie, don’t sign! He’s your brother.” “Your biological one.” “Liam, you’ll regret this. The sister you’ve been looking for all this time is about to be sent to the operating table by your own hand.” “I just re-read it. Did Liam already suspect Aria’s identity at this point?” “Definitely! With the mask on, she looks so much like their mom around the eyes. I refuse to believe he didn’t notice.” “I even suspect he knew, which is why he told her to wear the mask, so he could observe her better.” “He’s a smooth operator with a hidden agenda. Right now, he’s doing whatever it takes for Shawn. But once Aria’s identity is confirmed, he’ll frantically try to make it up to her and be a ‘good’ brother.” I remained expressionless, signed the contract, and handed it to Liam. I had to admit, Liam was efficient. He arranged my hospitalization quickly, and it was a private room. I didn’t have to worry about anything; all I had to do was sign the consent form for the surgery. During my stay, besides doctors and nurses, I saw Liam the most. But between us, there was nothing to say. After all, we were just strangers. He, however, didn’t seem to think so. He kept strolling into my hospital room. I numbly looked at him, visiting for who-knows-how-many times in two days, then at the lunch he brought. I was genuinely curious: “Are you that free?” Liam smiled and nodded: “Try it. Our chef at home specifically made it. I hope it suits your taste.” “You need to rest up well during this period.” I gave a slight tug at the corner of my mouth: “Thanks, but you don’t have to bring me food. I just ordered takeout.” At my words, Liam’s expression stiffened abruptly. He quickly recovered, his voice deep and drawn out: “Takeout isn’t healthy. Nothing beats our chef’s carefully prepared soup, don’t you think, Arie?” That nickname suddenly reminded me of Jade. She always liked to call me Arie, too. “When your takeout arrives, you can just try both, see which tastes better. I have a lot of confidence in our chef’s skills.” Just as Liam was about to say more, someone knocked on the door. Shawn poked her head in: “Brother, I knew you’d sneak off here again.” Shawn, wearing a hospital gown, walked in, a bright smile on her face as she spoke to me: “Hi there, are you the one who’s going to donate a kidney to me? Thank you, Ms. Aria. Can I call you that?” My gaze rested on her. She was clearly well-cared for: “Whatever.” Liam immediately steadied Shawn: “Why are you down here? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?” Shawn stuck out her tongue: “Not at all! I just wanted to see my lifesaver.” “And the surgery is soon, Brother. I’m a little scared.” Liam stroked her head: “Brother promises you nothing will go wrong. You’ll wake up and the surgery will be over.” “I trust you, Brother.” Shawn’s eyes scanned my room before she spoke, a hint of hesitation in her voice: “Brother, why didn’t you arrange for Ms. Aria to be on our floor? This room isn’t very big. Is she comfortable here?” Before Liam could answer, the comments suddenly flared up: “That sounds a little off, saying you’re scared in front of the donor.” “Such a green tea vibe! Oh, so *your* room is better, huh?” “Come on, guys, don’t be so malicious! She just asked casually, she’s just worried about the female lead.” “Malicious? Can’t you see the words ‘green tea’ written all over that? She’s clearly showing off how much better her room is, right in front of the female lead.” “Why isn’t Second Brother answering?” “He can’t answer. If she was on the same floor, other Vance family members might run into the female lead. The room he arranged must have been deliberate.” “Waiting for Second Brother to start groveling to win her back.” The next second, Shawn’s phone rang: “Mom? I came out to find Brother. Okay, I’ll head back with Brother now.” As Shawn left, she politely smiled at me: “Ms. Aria, Mom’s calling me. Brother and I are going back to our room now. I’ll come see you again when I have time.” A gust of wind blew outside the room, conveniently seeing them off.
As for the lunch Liam brought, it sat untouched. I sat by the bed, looking out at the view from the window. Actually, I had heard about Shawn’s kidney failure from my roommate, Chloe. The day before, I’d dragged myself back to the dorm after a part-time job, and overheard Chloe saying: “Did you hear? Shawn, that heiress from the department next door, apparently has kidney failure.” “Really?” “Totally. I even heard a rumor that her family is looking for a kidney donor. If they find a match, money won’t be an issue.” “Wait, shouldn’t a family match be better?” “Wealthy families like theirs might be different. Who’d willingly donate a kidney?” My roommate, Chloe, spread her five fingers: “I heard, if you match, it’s at least this much.” “Whoa, five million?” “Yep.” “Still, I wouldn’t do it. Losing a kidney, who knows what effect that’ll have on your body.” “The chances of a stranger matching are tiny. We probably won’t match, don’t even think about it.” “Enough about that, how were your interviews? I’m completely stressed out.” I, who was just about to go wash up, paused. I lowered my eyes. Five million. If I could match, it would be enough for Jade’s medical bills. I privately contacted someone and quietly went to get tested. After a successful match, Liam hastily arranged to meet me, hoping I would be admitted to the hospital as quickly as possible. When the comments told me not to sign the contract, what they didn’t know was that earlier, when I went to get hot water, I’d accidentally overheard Chloe’s phone call: “Mr. Vance, I’ve already told Aria. That company interview…” “No interview needed. You can start working directly.” “Okay, thank you, Mr. Vance.” I didn’t know who “Mr. Vance” was at first, until I met Liam. The man’s voice on Chloe’s phone was identical to his. That’s when I realized that the person who wanted to leak the information to me had always been Liam. He couldn’t just stand by and watch his beloved sister lie in a hospital bed. In his heart, no one was more important than Shawn. And I? I was desperate for money. Jade’s exorbitant medical bills were something I couldn’t earn enough of, no matter how many part-time jobs I took. So he knew I would actively seek out the match. He understood human nature. And he had calculated it perfectly.
So, when I first started seeing the floating comments, I didn’t react much. After all, what did blood relation matter? His calculations against me had begun even before I met him. From the comments flashing across the air, I also pieced together the truth of what happened years ago. When I was three months old, my mother and father had an argument. In a fit of anger, my mother took me and drove away. After two hours on the road, she was too exhausted and fell asleep after pulling the car over. When she woke up, I was gone. From then on, she often fell into her own emotions, unable to pull herself out. Six months after I went missing, my aunt gave birth to a daughter but passed away from massive hemorrhage. After discussion, that child was adopted by my parents and took my mother’s surname. That child became my mother’s lifeline. And my two brothers regarded her as their own sister. As for me, I was passed around by human traffickers and sold to another place. Jade, like me, was a trafficked child. The difference was, I was a baby and didn’t remember anything. Jade was four, with memories of her parents, but she could never find her family. After Jade fell ill, she was always worried I’d be alone in the future. She dragged me to the police station to register a missing person report and provide a blood sample for DNA registration. Actually, before my match results with Shawn came out, I had received news from the police station about the DNA matching for finding relatives. I thought Liam must have also received the news; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so anxious. After seeing me, he immediately arranged for my hospitalization. Most importantly, I didn’t believe that if other Vance family members knew about this, they would choose to let me stand by idly. I, on the contrary, felt that the possibility of them guilt-tripping me was much higher. After all, the child they’d raised for over twenty years and the child they’d lost for over twenty years—their feelings for the two definitely wouldn’t be the same. Which one was more important? Did it even need to be said?
Actually, during my hospitalization, Liam had arranged a caregiver for me. Then he quickly replaced her. Because Liam accidentally overheard her complaining on the phone: “People really can’t be compared. This little girl in this room is having a huge kidney donation surgery, and no one’s here with her. She’s all alone.” “I’ve only seen one person visit her these past few days. The employer and she don’t even seem close. I wonder what their relationship is.” “But this girl’s room is quite nice, what a shame.” Liam immediately called to replace the caregiver and then left in a hurry. Half an hour after he left, someone else found me. Meredith, or rather, Liam and Shawn’s mother. The new caregiver followed behind her. Gentle yet decisive – that was my first impression of Ms. Meredith. Comments quietly appeared: “It’s Mom!” “She’ll recognize our sweet Aria, right?” “Ms. Meredith looks so elegant.” “Even if she doesn’t recognize her, Aria must be different to her, right?” Meredith’s voice was gentle: “Aria, hello. I’m Liam Vance’s mother. I’ve switched caregivers for you.” “I came to ask if you’re donating voluntarily? My son might be a little too concerned about his sister; I’m afraid he might do something foolish.” I shook my head: “You’re overthinking it. I’m doing this voluntarily. Mr. Vance and I signed a contract.” Her gaze fell on my eyes, and she seemed lost in thought for a moment. Snapping back to reality, she glanced around the room: “Are you staying here alone?” “Yes.” Her voice was slightly hesitant: “Do your family know?” I curved my lips: “My consent is all that matters.” I imagined if Jade knew I was having surgery, she’d immediately rush to the hospital, drag me out by my ear, and scold me relentlessly. In her eyes, nothing was more important than my health. But in my eyes, her survival was more important than anything. Silence spread. Meredith said nothing more. Until Shawn appeared in my room: “Mom, are you here to see Ms. Aria too?” Meredith quickly went to steady her: “Shawn, why are you here? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?” Shawn shook her head: “No, Mom, don’t worry.” “I just came to see Ms. Aria, in case she’s nervous.” Shawn looked at me: “Ms. Aria, will you be scared during the surgery? Actually, just thinking about the surgery time approaching, I’m a little scared too.” Meredith comforted her: “Don’t worry, everything will go smoothly.” Just as Meredith turned to comfort me, I shrugged, my voice calm: “I’m not scared.” Just thinking about the five million after the surgery filled me with motivation. As for fear, it hadn’t even crossed my mind. Shawn’s voice carried a smile: “Ms. Aria is much braver than me. I should learn from you.” Shawn couldn’t help but lean on Meredith’s shoulder: “Mom, will you dislike me for being timid? I’m not as brave as Ms. Aria.” Meredith stroked her head: “No, in Mom’s eyes, you’re already very brave.” This scene of mother and daughter, Shawn and Meredith, always felt incredibly familiar to me. Comments quietly floated by: “Such a familiar scene! Last time it was Second Brother, this time it’s Ms. Meredith.” “Shawn is really loved by the Vance family.” “I’ve noticed, the Vance family likes to visit our sweet Aria in groups.” “Right, right.” “I wonder if it’s intentional or unintentional.” Before Meredith and Shawn left, they left the caregiver behind. I could only say that the person Meredith sent was extremely perceptive and took care of everything. I didn’t have to worry about a thing.
The day before the surgery, Jade called me. Jade’s voice on the phone was exceptionally excited: “Arie, the police might have found your biological parents!” Jade rattled on about many things, finally asking if I wanted to meet them. I knew Jade always wanted to make sure I was settled. Before I could answer, Liam suddenly burst into my room, his voice anxious: “Can the surgery time be changed to tonight?” I instinctively covered my phone, afraid Jade would hear something. I hadn’t seen Liam this anxious in a long time. Jade on the other end of the phone didn’t get my answer, but vaguely heard other voices. She paused before speaking: “Arie, are you busy? Call me back when you’re done and have thought it over carefully. If you want to meet them, I’ll come with you.” I nodded: “Okay, Jade. Take care of yourself. Rest well these days, and I’ll be home soon.” After I hung up, I looked up at Liam and slowly said: “Yes, that’s fine.” The comments again danced before me: “No, don’t!” “My heart aches for Aria. Suddenly, Liam doesn’t deserve to be a brother.” “Why the rush? Is Shawn your only sister?” “It’s just one step away! If Aria and Jade agreed to meet tomorrow, why move the surgery up?” “I’m betting a bag of chips, Liam definitely knows the truth.” “Probably because someone in the Vance family found out about Aria. Second Brother is panicking.” “Their precious daughter found a kidney donor, the Vance parents must be thrilled.” “I wonder how they’ll feel when they find out the donor is their own biological daughter, and their son personally sent his sister to the operating table.” “Didn’t Ms. Meredith feel something was off? She already saw Aria.” Liam was stunned when I agreed, then, as if by a strange impulse, he asked: “Why did you agree so readily?” I blinked: “One day earlier or one day later, it makes no difference to me.” Hearing my words, Liam’s eyes darkened: “Then remember to fast during this time.” The comments flooded in: “There IS a difference, of course there is!” “If it was one day later, I don’t believe the Vance parents, knowing the truth, would still let you have this surgery.” “Big brother, please find out the truth soon. I can’t stand Aria being wronged anymore.” “I just think it’s separate issues. The female lead isn’t losing anything from this surgery; she gets five million. And she’s doing it voluntarily. Why do you guys think she’s being so wronged?” “When she’s found and taken back, the others won’t not compensate her.” “Why do you think the newly found daughter would be more important than the daughter they raised for twenty years? Shawn is clearly more important in the Vance family’s eyes right now.” “If the female lead were taken back under these circumstances, the likelihood of them guilt-tripping her into donating would be even higher, wouldn’t it?” I skimmed the comments, my gaze landing on the last two sentences. I couldn’t help but smile; they were thinking exactly what I was. Liam quickly discussed the surgery time with the doctor. Before I was wheeled into the operating room, I saw a familiar figure by another gurney. It was Liam. The others around him must have been the Vance family. As we passed them, my eyes met with one person: Meredith. I didn’t have time to make out her expression. Once in the operating room, I quickly lost consciousness. When I woke up again, it was around three in the morning. I was in the intensive care unit. Before the surgery, I had already called Jade, telling her I wouldn’t be able to meet her for a few days due to something I needed to take care of.
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