As the provincial top scorer, I represented the students at the opening ceremony and thanked my "parents" for supporting me in front of the audience.
My father wrapped an arm around my mother's shoulder with poise and spoke eloquently to the reporters.
"We've always respected Meihan's choices and given her plenty of room to grow..."
My younger brother stood obediently to one side, like a boy who depended on his big sister.
A photo of the scene was posted with the caption, "A Provincial Top Scorer's Happy Family."
The whole school envied my "perfect" family.
But three days later, my roommate sent me a viral post from an online forum.
[Provincial top scorer Qiao Meihan goes off to college and turns her back on her parents!]
The attached photo showed me with a strange couple and a boy.
I forced myself to stay calm. "They're just trying to get attention."
But the truth was, everything in the post was real.
The family at the opening ceremony had been hired with money I'd saved by scrimping and saving.
