The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm golden glow across the room. The light danced softly on the polished floorboards, slipping across the pale beige walls like whispers of warmth. Jing stirred beneath her cream-colored duvet, the brightness nudging her gently from slumber. She stretched her slender arms overhead, a quiet yawn escaping her lips. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet touched the cool wood with a small shiver.
She stood slowly, her movements graceful yet tentative, as if something in the air warned her to be careful. Her chestnut-brown hair spilled down her back in gentle waves, catching flecks of sunlight that made it shimmer like burnished copper. She tucked a loose strand behind her ear, revealing striking blue eyes — wide, expressive, and alert. Her skin, smooth and glowing with a natural radiance, contrasted sharply with the dread tightening in her chest. Though she had a slim, delicate figure, she carried herself with a subtle confidence born from years of being overshadowed — but never broken.
Everything seemed normal .....another day, another routine. Yet as she stepped toward the mirror to begin her morning ritual, a ripple of unease flickered through her. It started as a whisper in the back of her mind, a tickle of uncertainty that quickly grew into a tight knot in her stomach.
Her sister, Ling, was supposed to marry a man with a dark and powerful reputation Yinguang Lei, a man who inspired fear and silence in every room he entered. Jing had always felt a strange chill in his presence, an unspoken warning her instincts never let her ignore.
As she descended the staircase, her soft silk robe trailing behind her, she saw her parents pacing with restless energy, rifling through rooms. Their movements were sharp and uncoordinated, panic barely masked by hurried searches. No calls to the police, no neighbors notified..... just tension, as if they were searching for something they already expected not to find, what exactly were they hiding ?
"Mum, we need to call someone... or maybe something," Jing said anxiously, her fingers trembling slightly as she gripped the stair rail.
"Don't call anyone," Mrs. Xinyi Jian replied, voice brittle yet forcedly calm. She was seated on the velvet couch, her hands pressing into the soft fabric rhythmically, like she was anchoring herself. "She's a grown woman. I believe she'll be back soon. So worry not"she added,
But worry filled every corner of Jing's mind. Hours passed, and the pressure in the house thickened like smoke. The wedding was tomorrow, and there was still no sign of Ling.
"Where is my sister?" she whispered to herself. "Where is Ling? Don't tell me she ran away... or something worse." Her voice quivered as she clutched her phone. She tried again — straight to voicemail.
"They're not even doing anything. Just... sitting like she never existed," she muttered, blue eyes burning with frustration.
"I don't even like her that much, but this... this is different. Her absence is starting to feel like a disaster."
Determined, she tiptoed toward the front door, hoping to leave unnoticed and search on her own. But her mother's voice thundered behind her.
"Stop!"
Jing froze, the knob in her hand, her body suddenly ice.
"Mum, I need to find Ling!"she turned trying to explain further,
"Why?! What if you don't find her? You'll ruin everything .....our only chance at wealth! I won't let you do that!" Mrs. Jian stormed toward her, her once-calm expression replaced with desperation.
Jing's heart pounded as she stepped back, wide-eyed. "What do you mean? We have to find her! What if she's in danger? I won't....."
"You'll replace her," a deep voice cut in from behind.
Mr. Jian entered the room, his face disturbingly calm, his lips curled into a malicious grin.
"No. I won't. I can't!" Jing cried, her voice sharp with disbelief. Tears pooled in her luminous eyes, blurring her vision as her thoughts spiraled.
"The police are already investigating," Mr. Jian said coldly. "And if they find out you were involved in Mrs. Wang Yulan's death... well, you know what happens then"he made a sharp smirk toward her,
"You're blackmailing me?" she gasped. "Why are you this heartless? I made a mistake... but this?"she said with confident, but the oceans in her eyes explain a lot than her words,
Without another word, her parents moved with silent purpose. Her protests were ignored, her voice drowned out by the rustling of silk and wedding preparations.
Mrs. Jian tossed a weathered leather diary onto the table in front of her. "Take this. It's Ling's. Study it. Tomorrow is your wedding. Finally, you'll make a life for yourself."
The door shut with a loud clack, the lock turning on the other side. Jing was trapped.
She stared down at the diary, trembling. Her reflection in the mirror showed a woman she barely recognized . Long brown hair, tousled and unkempt, framed a face that looked like Ling's, but the soul behind those striking blue eyes was entirely her own , now she needed to learn every detail of her sister which felt like a nightmare to her.
Jing's heart began to pound asking for the beat to follow, either marry her missing sister's finance or spend years behind bars ....or even worst.
As the day wore on, servants arrived, brushing and curling her hair, applying soft layers of makeup to mold her into Ling's image since Ling was slightly larger than her. Her slim frame was fitted into an intricate gown , a masterpiece of white silk and gold embroidery, beautiful but unbearably heavy beinga bit loose for her. She felt as if she were being dressed for a funeral, not a celebration.
She was becoming her sister.
And yet, in the mirror, a flicker of resistance gleamed in her eyes. She couldn't stop this, not yet. But maybe... maybe she could find a way out before it was too late.
As the evening light faded, she whispered in the shadows of the night , alone...sitted on her bed covered with a red floral sheet, "I don't think I can replace her. How will I live with a demon like Yinguang Lei? I hate him so much, how would I even live with this guilt all my live, I really can't."
Then came the scream inside her head:
"WHERE IS SHE?"
The question echoed louder than ever, unanswered and unforgiving.