Chapter 11: The White Lotus

On a quiet afternoon at John's house, Kit had just walked through the door when Mary's stern voice shattered the tranquility. "I heard you skipped class again? At such an excellent school with such good teachers, why do you keep cutting classes? What exactly are you trying to do?"

Kit responded calmly, "Heard? From whom did you hear that?" Her tone carried a clear hint of sarcasm. "Was it my dear sister?"

Sensing Kit's mockery, Mary hurriedly defended Anna, "She was just worried about you. You promised to go home together, but she waited for you at the school gate for a long time." Thinking of the frail and often sickly Anna waiting in the cold, Mary couldn't help but feel distressed and scolded Kit, "How could you be so selfish? At least tell Anna if you need to leave early."

Kit looked at Mary with a face full of affection, but her heart was filled with disgust.

At home, Anna put on a pitiful act, her face pale and eyes brimming with tears, which only softened Mary's heart further. Mary stepped forward, gently touching Anna's forehead with concern, "How are you feeling now? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Anna shook her head, her voice weak, "No, Mom. I just feel a bit cold. I'll be fine if I wear more clothes." She deliberately lowered her voice to appear even more pitiful, which only deepened Mary's discontent with Kit.

Kit stood quietly on the side, a cold light in her eyes. She clearly saw through Anna's little tricks but also understood that in Mary's eyes, any explanation from her would be deemed invalid.

"I'm going upstairs," Kit said flatly, turning to head up the stairs.

Mary watched Kit's back and sighed deeply before turning to Anna with concern, "Anna, rest well and don't think too much."

Anna nodded lightly, but a glint of cunning flashed in her eyes. She knew her performance had been successful once again, making her the center of attention at home for the night. Meanwhile, Kit, the sister she always envied, had once again become the household's scapegoat.

Back in her room, Kit lay on her bed, her eyes tiredly fixed on the message that had popped up on her phone, feeling even more burdened.

"Sis, someone wants you to treat the old master of the Gu family. The offer is fifty million. Will you take it?"

She thought for a moment, her fingers swiftly sliding across the screen.

"Decline."

Kit got up, walked to her desk, and picked up a blank sheet of paper, beginning to doodle on it aimlessly. Whenever she was in a bad mood, she sought solace in drawing, transforming her complex emotions into lines and colors on the paper.

Drawing allowed her to temporarily forget the family disputes and unhappiness, immersing herself in her artistic world. With the final stroke, she put down her pen and gazed at the gradually brightening sky outside, feeling a touch of tranquility.

The morning light streamed through the window, illuminating her artwork. She sighed softly, stood up, and walked to the bathroom. After a shower, she changed into her school uniform, looking refreshed.

When she went downstairs, Flo was busy preparing breakfast. Seeing Kit up so early, Flo was surprised.

Kit ignored Flo's surprise, silently picked up her breakfast from the table, and left the house alone for school.

At 8:30 AM, Mary hadn't seen Kit come downstairs and was getting annoyed. "Flo, go call Kit down. This behavior is unacceptable. It's almost nine o'clock."

Anna seized the opportunity to speak, her voice feigning concern, "Maybe she slept late last night. I heard music from her room while I was doing my homework. She might be tired and still asleep."

Flo responded, "Second Miss, actually, Miss Kit left the house at six this morning."

This unexpected news left Mary momentarily stunned, feeling a mix of emotions, while Anna's face darkened with frustration. She hadn't expected Kit to leave so early, completely disrupting her plans. Anna vowed to be more cautious next time.