"Here, Susan, today's breakfast is braised pork rice, sweet and sour pork, and fried ice cream. It's important to have a good breakfast."
He then placed a plate of boiled vegetables in front of his daughter. "Make do with this."
Emma looked longingly at my plate, her mouth watering. "Dad, I want the braised pork rice too."
My stepfather scowled at her. "Don't be foolish. You and Susan are not the same."
Indeed, we weren't the same.
The breakfast he made for his daughter was carefully balanced and nutritious.
Although my dish looked delicious, it was all about excessive oil content.
I immediately saw through his little scheme.
He was hoping I'd fail the initial medical exam by feeding me into high blood pressure and cholesterol.
"Let's switch. I'm getting tired of eating this every day."
Emma happily took my plate, ignoring her father's glare, and dug in with relish.
As she stuffed her mouth, barely pausing to wipe the grease from her lips, she asked, "Did you say you eat this every day?"
I raised my voice deliberately. "Yeah, Uncle Jeremy's cooking is amazing. He makes me a four-course meal with soup every day. Hasn't he ever cooked for you?"
Emma's hand paused mid-air, and she lowered her gaze without a word.
Of course, he hadn't.
Ever since my mom remarried, my stepfather had been busy currying favor with her, only visiting Emma back in the village once a year.
He was heartless enough to play the long game to catch the big fish.
But Emma didn't have the same cunning and began to feel wronged.
Seizing the opportunity, I twisted the knife further. "This is nothing. You should see the computer, phone, and makeup Uncle Jeremy bought me—they're all the latest models."
My stepfather cleared his throat and quickly urged us to get ready for school.
A few days ago, Emma would have said an enthusiastic goodbye to him, but today she left the house with her head down, not looking back.
One month later.
Just like in my previous life, I passed the initial pilot selection with flying colors.
Emma, however, failed the blood pressure test and was eliminated.
On my way home from school, eager to share the good news with my mom, I was suddenly stopped by someone.
"Hey, you're pretty cute. What's your name?"
I knew this person all too well.
Tobias.
He was the biggest scum in my previous life, the scum among scums.