Chapter 2

2

Just like last time, the Chiangs and the Petersons were both eyeing Summer.

She could stand there, and look like a freakin' ray of sunshine. I mean, who wouldn't want that?

Two families wanting the same kid meant someone had to lose out.

Last time, the director stepped in and pushed Summer on the Chiangs, then suggested the Petersons take me since I looked vaguely like Summer.

The Petersons went along with it.

This time, same standoff.

But before the director could pull her usual strings, I marched right up to the Chiangs. "Pick me," I said. "I can be whatever you want me to be."

The Chiangs were stunned.

Meanwhile, Summer sprinted over to the Petersons, beaming, "Thank you for choosing me!"

The Petersons happily took her in.

So, this time, Summer went to the Petersons.

And I, Jiang Zhao Zhao... or as they'll now call me, Jane Smith, went to the Chiangs.

The Chiangs were a family of three, now four with me.

Arthur Chiang was the dad, Olivia Chiang was the mom, and David Chiang was the older brother.

They were all busy working, so the house was usually as silent as a tomb. We only saw each other at dinner.

Which was fine by me. I enjoyed the daytime silence.

That meant I could spend the day reading comic books undisturbed.

And when the maid asked, "Jane, would you like [blah blah blah] for lunch?" I could just nod and be done with it.

As for the maid muttering, "She never says anything," I just pretended I couldn't hear her.

Dinner was a different story.

Even when Arthur passed me food, it felt like an order. "Eat the fish."

I immediately took the bowl, and said in the same serious tone, "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

The dinner table fell dead silent.

Even David, who usually acted like I was invisible, glanced at me.

Olivia chimed in, "You don't have to be so formal at home."

But when she said it, she sounded cold as ice.

I nodded. "Okay, ma'am."

Olivia sighed. She looked at David. "Starting today, you'll be teaching Jane some manners."

David rolled up his sleeves, with a dark glint in his eyes.

The next day, Summer came over to visit.

She jumped out of the car, waving at the driver's seat, "Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!"

"Bye!" A cheerful voice came from the driver's seat.

Yeah, Summer definitely picked the right family.

The first thing she asked me was, "How's it going at the Chiangs'?"

Before I could answer, she sighed. "Nevermind. I already know the answer to that."

But she gave me more of the backstory on the Chiangs.

Turns out, the reason they went to the orphanage was because their daughter died in an accident.

So, they wanted to adopt a girl about the same age to fill the void.