When I first arrived at my new home, I was at a loss and hid in my room, afraid to interact with my new family, even avoiding meeting my mother.

My father had a heavy workload every day and sometimes attended art and cultural exchange seminars. Despite being busy, he always made time to accompany my mother in the mornings or afternoons.

In this regard, that man was far inferior to him.

Since I can remember, he hasn't been around, leaving me and my mother to go to faraway England. But my mother always believed in him, believed that he would come back.

But that wait lasted for five years, a whole five years!

The last news my mother received was that he had caught the attention of a wealthy aristocratic family's daughter. They often played tennis and went mountain climbing together, and finally, they got married!

He didn't know how much it hurt my mother to hear this. In the end, my grandmother also kicked my mother and me out of the house.

I don't want my mother's memories to be filled with sadness, but my father's heartlessness dealt her an immensely heavy blow!

On the day we left home, the sky was cloudy, and it rained heavily!

My mother and I didn't ask for anything as we said goodbye to my father. I still vaguely remember the wet corners of her eyes as she left.

She couldn't believe the reality... That man had turned all his promises into empty words!

The brown coat also turned black under the downpour...

This reminded her of her university days when she was the campus belle, while my father was just a useless poor boy.

There were so many outstanding boys around my mother every day, which made my father feel helpless.

My father would often secretly watch my mother, and my mother pretended to not know, but in her heart, she was well aware because she liked my father very much!

In my childhood, my mother would often tell me that my father's hardworking and determined appearance was the most charming.

Whenever that happened, my mother would face life with the most radiant and beautiful expression.

Even though they were separated by the ends of the earth later on, my mother always missed my father at every moment.

But...

The more I thought about it, the more uncomfortable I felt, and the letter in my hand wrinkled.

"Is it in the envelope meant for me?"

I carefully opened the envelope and took out the folded piece of paper inside. Many difficult characters on the paper were replaced with illustrations.

"He really is an artist, both the words and the pictures are excellent!"

Underneath the letter, my name was vividly carved.

"He must have put a lot of effort into this letter, right?"

From all of this, the new father seemed to approach everything with great seriousness. Hmmm, my eyes slightly squinted as I thought.

Such a person, my mother would definitely be happier with him than with that irresponsible father, right?

That's it, I have made up my mind!

I believe that every word in this letter is the most genuine and sincere, and I will read it carefully!

The letter reads: To my future daughter, You Xiang.

You Xiang, I know you might have many difficulties adapting to our newly formed family and you may even be a little resentful.

But, I hope we can accept each other and have more tolerance and understanding towards one another.

Because, that's how we become true family, right?

Reading this, I couldn't help but feel a bit strange. Are we really that important to Dad? Can we be accepted so easily even without any blood relation?

At that time, he, who had always been serious, had such a carefree laugh. Did I just overthink everything?

I continued reading...

Starting from last night, I asked Mom about you. From her, I learned that you seem to have a special fondness for the color blue. So, I had this deep and light blue art bedroom specially designed by a home improvement company, hoping that you would like it. The key represents that it can be yours!

After all, you are a girl and you need your own private space. Sometimes, you also need the support of your family!

...Was I being too petty?

Looking at the deep blue and light blue decorations in the room, did they cost a lot of money and effort?

After closing the door, I lay down on the blue bedspread to relax.

"Well, in the end, is it all my fault?"

(Continuing to read the letter)

And there's one more thing – you are not alone in this family! (Surprised in my heart, but then I thought, how could there not be any children in such a big house?)

I have looked through your basic information, and I know that you are half a month older than my son.

You will be going to the same school as him tomorrow, and it will continue like that in the future. Don't worry, he will definitely become a good brother who cares for you. But you also need to treat him well!

There is another younger brother in this family... Thinking about this, I couldn't help but remember what Grandma said.

"A stepfather with boys in the family will abuse them!"

With this thought, I still couldn't find peace in my heart.

This letter is really necessary to read on, but my hand involuntarily stopped, and the cold air made my palms stiff. But this is the most genuine reality.

In the last corner of the letter, there is a message from Dad.

The younger brother will come back at noon. If possible... this is not a forceful request, because that child has always been lonely. So, I have to ask you from somewhere to please come and change him!

At that time, I didn't quite understand, until after noon.

"Hey, I'm going to pick up my son, of course, the siblings should meet each other, right?"

Dad asked Mom, seemingly unsure of what to do, as if getting in touch with me would be a very troublesome thing.

But Mom agreed and said, "Mm, having a sister like Xi might suddenly bring a little brightness to him."

"Well, that's right. I'll go pick up my son from school then!"

Dad left in high spirits, leaving me alone with Mom in the living room on the first floor.

"Hehe, Xi hasn't met me yet, and suddenly he has to accept a new mom. I wonder what expression he will make!"

Really, I silently endured her various praises for the son I hadn't even met yet.

"Dad is so handsome, such a cool guy. So, the son must be a little handsome too, annoying... Shouldn't you just marry Xi? If he..."

"No!"

I quickly rejected Mom's decision made on a whim, it was really absurd!

No one would easily agree to such a hasty decision, right?!

"Yukari?"

"Mom... Uh, I'm sorry, Mom!"

"What's wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry...!"

My mind was in chaos, and amidst the confusion, I abruptly pulled away the hand she reached out to me.

Why... why do I have to forcibly accept this reality?

I just can't understand. Tears rolled down my cheeks like broken beads.

"I don't understand! What is Mom thinking? I'm just a child, and children are supposed to listen to their parents, but why should I listen to you?!"

The soft spot that had accumulated in my heart for many years was pierced in that moment and burst out.

"Liking men only brings sadness, so why do I still like them?!"

I said many hurtful things to Mom, but I only knew how to hide, because I really am just a child!

So... I ran away again, absorbed in my own thoughts.

From that day on, until my dad returned, I locked myself alone in my room and refused to come out.

Although I don't like my biological father, and even hate him, I don't want him to abandon my mom like this!

"Sob... Dad, Dad... you're not good at all, men and such... they're all trash! They're worms!"

I collapsed on the bed and continued to resent that man in my mind. It's all his fault... it's all his fault!

He brought this already unhappy family to rock bottom. Coupled with the fact that my mom is a delicate woman, it made our originally cold family even worse!

He left just the two of us, me and my mom, alone and without support, but...

Why does Mom still believe their sweet words?!

(A sound of opening the door is heard downstairs)

"I'm home!"

When Dad came back, there was another small figure beside him, a little boy who couldn't meet my mom's eyes. But Dad urged him.

"Xi, call Mom!"

"Mom... Mom..."

Only under Dad's command did he timidly call out "Mom".

Looking at his eyes filled with fear, I guess he must have the same thoughts as me, right?

From that day on, no matter how hard Mom and Dad tried to get us to interact and communicate.

We went on vacation to the seaside and had picnics in the mountains, but we remained aloof, unable to accept each other.

I never looked my little brother in the eye, that's right, he always deliberately avoided me until I graduated from junior high school. He even woke up before me every morning.

"Ah, this child..."

Dad always shook his head and sighed at his son, because this approach clearly wasn't working.

And Juxi's situation kept deteriorating. My friends also said that my little brother was a very annoying otaku, and although I tried to defend him, they not only didn't understand me but also gradually distanced themselves from me.

This situation continued until the first year of high school without any improvement.

It was when we just started high school, and by then, his hair was almost as long as mine.

Actually, my little brother didn't plan on going to high school. He locked himself in his room all day, watching some kind of videos. I was curious about it.

One day, after being freed from club activities, I came home drenched in sweat.

"You've worked hard, Youxiang... Have some hot water."

Mom saw me return home early and brought me a big glass of water with a smile on her face.

"Thanks, Mom!"

"Um, well... there's something I want to tell you, it was suggested by your dad."

She seemed a bit nervous before saying it, as if I might object.

"Oh, go ahead. I'm listening, as long as it's what you want, mom."

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and neck with a towel while agreeing with her.

"Really? That's great... So, your dad and I think that we are getting in the way of your growth in this house, so..."