Sister is the only relative I have in this world.

In that year of the ice disaster, my parents were buried under the collapsed snow shed.

Sister and I knelt together in front of the mourning hall, bowing again and again.

"Well-intentioned" relatives fought over adopting us.

Sister tightly held onto the passbook left by our parents, stubbornly avoiding their reaching hands.

"I can take care of my sister."

Seeing her reluctance, someone immediately chimed in:

"Oh, how will you two orphaned girls survive?

"Don't end up starving and resorting to the wrong path. Our parents are watching from below. It would be disgraceful."

"You're pretty. Maybe you've already found a man and become his lover..."

Sister coldly stared at their faces and spoke word by word:

"Who gave you the right to spread rumors about me and my sister and point fingers at us?

"Even if I have to scavenge or beg, I will raise my sister and support her through university!"

I hid behind her, tightly holding her hand.

Sister's back was slender, but always held upright.

She worked tirelessly to earn money, paying for my tuition and meals.

In my senior year of high school, she quit her job to accompany me, taking care of all the household chores and meals.

I didn't want her to sacrifice herself for me.

But she always smiled and patted my head.

"Ranran, didn't you say you want to get into a university in Beijing and take me to climb the Great Wall, eat roast duck, and stroll through the hutongs?

"Put all your efforts into your studies and strive for excellence.

"Once you get accepted, we'll show our parents the acceptance letter and let them know that the daughters of the Su family are outstanding."

I once ate cafeteria porridge for three months.

Just to buy a necklace that my sister really liked.

The brand was expensive, so I could only afford a knockoff version.

When I handed the necklace to my sister, she scolded me in distress and then hugged me tightly, tears streaming down her face.

In the shabby rented room, sister sat on a small stool.

I stood behind her, carefully placing the necklace around her neck.

In the mirror, sister looked fair and beautiful, with the water-blue necklace, resembling a little star from a movie.

Sister smiled happily, wearing the necklace I gave her.

Whenever she worked at the KTV, she would proudly show it off to her colleagues.

"This is the necklace my sister gave me. Isn't it beautiful?

"She said that when she gets into university, she will take me to climb the Great Wall and eat roast duck.

"Having a sister, I'm really lucky."

...

One day before Zhou Ninger returned to the country, I entered her former bedroom.

Approaching the dressing table, I opened a drawer, and on the velvet cloth inside lay several precious necklaces.

One of them had an exquisite design.

The water-blue diamond resembled a teardrop, entwined by silver threads.

I was very familiar with it.

Five years ago, sister was discovered in a restroom stall at the KTV.

She was stiff, already devoid of breath.

Her dress torn to shreds, covered in large bruises and contusions.

Hanging in front of her chest was an identical necklace.