My Family Will Regret Leaving Me Behind

“The top of the class, and the top of the grade—Elara Vance!”

I wasn’t particularly overjoyed; in fact, it was somewhat expected.

Since I was young, I had always excelled academically, maintaining a top-ten spot in my grade even through high school.

I knew the gaokao (the college entrance exam) was the only chance to change my fate.

It was my only lifeline to escape this family.

When I returned home, I could hear my father and Yara loudly scolding Kael, who was staring up at the ceiling, completely indifferent.

They knew it was the day the mock exam results would be announced, so they had brought Kael back on their motorcycle while I had to walk home by myself.

“You, with a perfect score of 750, and you only got a little over 300? Are you trying to drive your mother mad?”

“You’ve been studying all night, and this is the result? Is this how you study?”

I knew all too well that Kael had been sneaking around, claiming to study, but really just playing video games in his room.

When my father saw me approaching, he looked up.

“I hear you did well this time, first in your grade, right?”

I nodded, expecting him to praise me, but instead, I heard Yara’s sharp curses.

“Elara, you shameless little thing, don’t you wish for Kael to do well?”

I froze, confused as to what this had to do with me.

“You tell me, Kael lives and eats with you—why does your score end up so high? You must be refusing to help him!”

I trembled with anger.

My parents had gone so far as to hire a private tutor in the county to tutor Kael one-on-one, while I had never received a single lesson from anyone throughout elementary school to high school, and was often the one helping with farm work and household chores.

As for teaching him, I had tried, but the moment I started explaining a problem, Kael would get impatient and resort to hitting me. I still had a bruise on my right thigh from it.

“You’re a girl. Why does your score need to be so good? You’re just a worthless burden!”

I clenched my teeth, fighting to keep my tears from falling.

“Get out! Go cook! I don’t want to see you right now!”

Yara was livid, while my father silently sat in the corner, smoking, not saying a word.

I wiped the corner of my eye and quietly went to the kitchen.

At dinner, Yara suddenly turned into a doting mother, heaping meat into Kael’s bowl.

“Kael, eat more. You’re at the stage where you’re growing.”

“I’ve been too harsh with you lately, but don’t take it to heart. You still have over half a year. I believe in you, you can do it!”

Halfway through the meal, Yara suddenly turned to me, and a bad feeling washed over me.

“Elara, you need to ask for leave tomorrow. You’re not going to school for the next few days.”

I put down my bowl, confused. “Huh? Why?”

Yara sighed impatiently.

“There’s no need for so many questions. I said take a leave, so take it! The autumn harvest is coming, and your dad and I can’t handle it alone.”

I felt a rush of unfairness.

“Then why doesn’t Kael have to help with the harvest?”

Yara smirked. “Can you even compare to Kael? He’s in his final year of high school, his studies come first.”

Her words hit me like a slap.

I’m in my final year too! Does that mean my studies don’t matter?!

The gaokao was my only hope of escaping them. I couldn’t let my one chance be taken away like this.

“But I’m also in my final year! This is the most important time for me too. Please, can I just go to school?”

By the end, my voice had softened as I pleaded with them, hoping they might show some mercy.

Yara slammed the table, glaring at me with wide eyes. “Can’t you understand when I’m speaking to you?!”