I am a jinx who can see the countdown to my family's death. Because both my grandpa and dad died on the day I blurted out their death times. My three older sisters unanimously believed that my curse killed them, and they detested me. My mom also died due to complications during childbirth, leaving behind a younger brother who received all the love and adoration from my sisters. My sisters said my brother was a little lucky star, and since his birth, everything in the family had been smooth sailing. But Mom died giving birth to him. I lived in a cramped attic, gnawing on leftover bread, barely surviving until eighteen. Looking into the mirror, I saw my own countdown. I wasn't sad; instead, I felt relieved. I'm finally going to die! Before dying, I only prayed to have one last meal with my sisters. But my sister glared at me coldly, warning me not to use such tactics to attract attention. I am a jinx; how could I be worthy of standing in front of my lucky star brother! 1 Since I was little, I could see a countdown hovering over people's heads. When I first saw the numbers over my grandpa's head, I told my parents. They just laughed, thinking it was childish nonsense, and didn't take it seriously. A day later, when I saw Grandpa again, he was lying on the bed covered with a white cloth. Many people were crying sadly, but I didn't understand what they were doing. Later, I saw a countdown on my dad's head too. When I told him, Dad's smile stiffened for a moment before returning to normal. That night, I didn't see Dad come back from work. I only heard the urgent ringing of the telephone. After answering the call, Mom's face turned deadly pale. Her belly was already very big. She ran too hurriedly and fell on the steps at the entrance. Right at that moment, I saw the familiar 24-hour countdown appear over her head. That day, my brother was born, and Mom died from massive hemorrhaging despite rescue efforts. I stood outside the hospital room, looking bewildered. My third sister, Chloe, pushed me to the ground, calling me a monster, saying I cursed them. Saying I killed Dad and Mom. My palms scraped hard against the cold floor, oozing tiny beads of blood. It hurt so much I wanted to cry, but looking around, no one came near me. Their eyes were filled with fear and disgust. I didn't dare make a sound. I could only bite my lip, climb up from the ground myself, pat my little pants, and comfort myself in my heart. I curled up into a ball in the corner, listening to the continuous crying outside the door, hugging my knees and sobbing softly. "Dad, Mom..." I slowly fell asleep like this. When I opened my eyes again, the place was empty. They all left. Why didn't anyone call me? Did they not want me anymore? I stood up in a panic, but because I had squatted for too long, my legs were numb, and I fell straight to the floor. In the quiet corridor, only the flickering fluorescent lights accompanied me. My body hurt, and I couldn't hold back anymore, crying out loud. From that day on, everything changed. 2 My three sisters treated my brother extremely well, but avoided me like the plague. Seeing them like this, the servants in the house also started to treat me perfunctorily, judging people based on their status. As a child, I often fell asleep hungry, but I still managed to survive on leftovers until I was eighteen. Chloe always said bad people live longer; otherwise, why was I still alive? Nestled in the small attic, I also wondered if I couldn't die because I was too bad. Thinking of this, I crawled out of bed, shuffling my slippers to the bathroom to wash up. My hair was withered and yellow, my cheeks gaunt. No one would guess this was the eldest son of the Jiang family. But I didn't care about these things because I saw the countdown over my own head. Through the mirror, a bright red countdown stood impressively above my head. Finally, this day has come. I wanted to laugh, but only slightly hooked the corners of my mouth, looking at myself in the mirror, lost in thought. I have no friends, and the people I interact with usually are pitifully few. How should I spend this last day? After thinking for a long time, I slowly tidied myself up and came down from the cramped attic I had always lived in. The attic was really too small, so small that fitting a bed for an adult like me was a struggle. I was still using a twin-sized bed meant for dorm students. Fortunately, being thin and weak, I could barely sleep curled up on it. As for my original room, it had long been turned into a toy room for my brother after he was born. More than once, I peered through the small window of the attic, watching my sisters play with the boy on the lawn. He was innocent and cute, laughing carefree. Every time I saw it, I mimicked his smile, as if I could peek into a sliver of the same happiness. But my smile was ugly, I knew. I looked in a broken small mirror, and indeed, as my sisters said, I looked hideous. Since then, I haven't liked smiling. I walked downstairs cautiously, not expecting anyone to be there at this time. Descending the escalator, my ears were filled with my brother Henry's clear laughter. He was really happy. My brother excitedly held a hairpin, volunteering, "Second sister, let me put the hairpin on for you." Second sister, Bella, lowered her head following Henry's force, looking dotingly at her brother clumsily putting a crooked hairpin on her. Henry stepped back two steps to look, a bit distressed. The crooked bun really didn't look good. He asked his sister to redo it. The woman looked in the small mirror and didn't take it down. Instead, she smiled and rubbed his head. "No need, our Henry put a hairpin on for his sister for the first time. You did great." "Let's go, Second Sister will take you to school today." Hearing this, Henry happily took her hand. My heart felt sour, remembering myself as a child. That was the first time I knitted a scarf. I stayed up for days to knit a somewhat crooked scarf. I nervously gave it to Bella, hoping for a word of praise, hoping she would pat my head like before. She didn't take it, her eyes filled with disgust. "Who knows if I'll be cursed taking your stuff." Used to rejection, I gave the scarf to the family dog, hoping to make its bed more comfortable and warm. But the next day, I saw my scarf in the trash can, cut into pieces, unable to be put back together. Ignoring the filth on the trash can, I reached out to pick it up piece by piece, washed it clean, put it in a box, and never took it out again. Thinking of this, I pursed my lips. As they were about to leave, I still wanted to try one more time. Even just once would be fine. "Second Sister, Brother." Seeing me, their expressions were different. Henry's eyes lit up for a moment when he saw me, happily calling me brother. Beside him, Second Sister had a cold face, seemingly wanting to say something but perhaps holding back because of Henry. "Can we have dinner together tonight? Just once is enough." I said it with difficulty, nervously waiting for their response. "Sure!" "No." Two completely opposite voices sounded at the same time. Henry turned to look at Bella and asked in confusion, "Why not?" Yeah, why not? I silently dug my nails into my palm. "Did you forget? We agreed before that you'd accompany Big Sister to the auction tonight." Under Bella's affirming gaze, Henry seemed suddenly enlightened, then looked at me apologetically. "Sorry, brother, I don't have time to have dinner with you today." The boy thought for a moment and smiled again. "How about tomorrow? Let's have dinner together as a family tomorrow." A family? I forced a smile uglier than crying, the bitterness in my heart almost drowning me. I have no tomorrow. But I still agreed to him, watching him leave. Before leaving, Bella glanced at me, her cold gaze like a sharp blade, seeming to slice me inch by inch. "Ethan, don't let me find out you're plotting anything." "If you let Henry get hurt even a little bit, don't blame us for being merciless." "Stay away from him." 3 I watched them drift further away, my previous nervous joy instantly cooling to the extreme, as if falling into an ice cave. Slowly opening my palm, it was already bleeding from my pinching, leaving deep nail marks. Is this my image in her eyes? Like a villain, a murderer. Clearly used to it, my heart still throbbed with pain, and my stomach stung too. I walked to the kitchen to find something to eat. The tidy and clean kitchen had nothing. The refrigerator and cabinets were locked with passwords. Everyone was out, and the servants did this to guard against only me. I looked at half a piece of dry bread left on the island, hesitated, and picked it up. I found two shriveled walnuts in the living room. I kept chewing, but it was tasteless, and these things didn't make me feel full. My stomach still hurt badly. I drank two cups of water fiercely to satisfy my hunger, but felt stomach acid surging up. A servant passed by rolling her eyes. Seeing the bread in my hand, she exclaimed exaggeratedly. "Oh my! Young Master, you aren't eating that, are you? That's leftover from this morning; even Lucky wouldn't eat it." Lucky is the family dog. "It's a pity the Misses and Young Master Henry are busy with serious matters, and we cooked a bit early." "Young Master, if you want to eat something, I can make it now, although it's a bit troublesome." The servant's troubled look made me frown. I refused her with a wooden face, endured the slight stinging in my stomach, and returned to my room. This home couldn't tolerate me, so much so that even the servants treated me sarcastically. The burning pain in my stomach made me almost unable to control my emotions. With trembling hands, I opened the painkiller packet, stuffed pills into my mouth, picked up the cold water beside me, and gulped it down. The physical discomfort seemed to ease a bit. Changing clothes, I washed my face, trying to look spirited. I went to the funeral supply store first. With only one day left, a custom urn was impossible, but fortunately, there were many other styles to choose from. I chose a pattern I liked as my future "home." Holding the urn happily all the way, I felt many puzzled or surprised gazes. I ignored them and went straight to the next destination. Stopping and going, I passed by Third Sister Chloe's school. It was break time, and laughter came from the school from time to time. I looked at them enviously, vibrant teenagers. But I haven't been to school since I was ten. Just as I was thinking of leaving, I looked up and saw Third Sister getting out of a car preparing to enter the school. Thinking it was only the last day, I summoned up courage and jogged towards Chloe. But as I got closer, I saw her frowning and speaking seriously to someone on the phone. Don't know if it was because she saw me, a trace of wariness flashed in her eyes. She said into the phone, "I know." Then she hung up and walked towards me. I wanted to ask her to come home for dinner tonight but was intimidated by her gaze. "Ethan, if you want to stay in this house, hide your little schemes well." "If I find out you did anything to Henry, I will definitely make you wish you were dead." 4 My body stiffened instantly. It was Henry again. I already guessed who called just now, Second Sister Bella. Right, I've been a jinx since I was little; otherwise, how could I curse my family to death. Thinking of Chloe's methods, I couldn't help shivering. When Mom just passed away, no one cared about me. I was finally sent home by a kind doctor lady. Back home, there was no warmth as imagined. I was locked in the small storeroom at home by Chloe for three whole days without anyone asking, no food or drink. This incident remains my childhood shadow until now. On the third day, when I thought I was about to die, Eldest Sister Sophia descended in front of me like a god. She let me out. Although indifferent, over the years, she treated me the best, at least treating me as transparent. I believe what I said this morning has already reached her ears. Seeing me silent for a long time, perhaps thinking I was scared, Chloe leaned close to my ear, her tone airy. "You know, with my means, making a person disappear is still very easy." My pupils shook, and I watched her enter the school stiffly. I walked step by step towards my original destination, my brain almost unable to think anymore. I walked into the photo studio. After knowing I came to take a funeral photo, the receptionist girl's eyes were full of sympathy. She comforted me gently with a few words. The grievance in my heart burst at this moment. It's easy for people to lose control under a caring greeting from a stranger, just like me now. My tears wet her shoulder. She didn't speak, just silently patted my back. Clearly just a stranger, yet giving me infinite warmth. After coming out of the photo studio, I squatted by the roadside, holding the urn and funeral photo prepared for myself, staring into the distance in a daze. I decided to go to the company to find Eldest Sister Sophia. Because I hadn't been to the company, I searched for a long time before finding it, but was stopped by the receptionist. They told me I couldn't enter without an appointment, and the boss was in a meeting and couldn't answer the phone. Unwilling to give up, I dialed that number memorized by heart from my contacts, but no one answered after several calls. I found her social media account through the number. Only the last day left, I wanted Eldest Sister to accompany me, even just for a short meeting. Sending the edited message, I waited anxiously. Two hours passed, still no news. Time was running out. I didn't want to die outside, so I returned home. The servants were out shopping. The whole villa was silent and empty. I started preparing the meal early, hoping for their return. No messages came on the phone, nor any successful friend request notifications. I sat on the chair, quietly staring at the countdown over my head reflected in the mirror in my hand. Only the last three hours left... I wanted them to accompany me through the last day, wanted to know their reactions when I died. Maybe surprise, I thought. No one in this world cares about my life or death. My closest people hate me, detest me. I made a table of dishes. Got splashed by oil on my hand, it hurt, but couldn't cover the excitement in my heart. I realized I wasn't right, excited to the extreme, even my body couldn't stop trembling. Two hours left, I sat on the chair staring dead at the door. Trembling, I picked up the phone and called Sophia. "Big Sister." She answered, but didn't speak. My voice started to tighten, "Can you guys, come accompany me for a meal?" "I'm going to die."
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