"Put the house in Oliver's name." "The car too, in Oliver's name." "As for the remaining cash, Oliver takes 12 million, and you take..." My mom paused, glancing at me. "You're a girl. What do you need so much money for?" I stood in the center of the living room, looking at the A4 paper covered in numbers on the table. Twenty million dollars, and not a single cent for me. My phone buzzed. It was a message from my company's finance department: 【Ms. Hayes, the net profit for this quarter is 17 million. Your dividend has been deposited.】 I flipped my phone face down. "Okay." 01 "Okay?" Mom looked stunned, as if she hadn't expected me to agree so readily. My sister-in-law, Mia, stood up from the sofa, unable to hide the smirk on her face. "Don't worry, Maya. When Oliver makes it big, he definitely won't forget about you." I didn't look at her. I was looking at the family portrait on the wall. Taken three years ago. I was standing on the far edge, my smile incredibly forced. "Maya, don't blame your mom and me." Dad sat on the sofa, lighting a cigarette. "Your brother needs to get married, buy a house, raise a family... You're a girl, eventually you'll marry out and belong to someone else's family." I had heard those words for twenty-eight years. When we were kids, my brother's tuition was paid for, while mine was "borrowed." Only later did I find out that the "borrowed" money was what I had earned myself working summer jobs. "Dad, I get it." I bent down and grabbed my suitcase handle. "I'll be heading back then. I have some things to handle at the company." "Heading back?" Mom stood up. "It's the New Year! Where are you going? Leaving without even eating?" "Not hungry." "You child—" "Mom." I cut her off, my voice flat. "The twenty million is completely divided. What's the point of me staying? Waiting for you to throw me a two-hundred-dollar pity envelope for the holidays?" The living room fell silent for two seconds. Mia let out a snort of laughter. "Maya, the way you talk, it's as if Mom and Dad mistreated you. Growing up, everything you ate, wore, and used—didn't Mom and Dad provide it?" I turned to look at her. Today, she was wearing a pastel yellow puffer jacket. The fur trim on the cuffs was real fox fur, and a delicate gold necklace peeked out from her collar. Last year, when she first married into the family, she was wearing a thirty-dollar coat from a street vendor. I didn't say a word, just pulled my suitcase toward the door. "Stop right there!" Mom rushed over and blocked the doorway. "Maya Hayes, you explain yourself right now! How did I mistreat you? You got 200 dollars a month for living expenses! Did other families' daughters get that? When you went to college, we sold everything we had to pay for your education..." "Mom." I looked at her. "During my four years of college, you gave me a total of $4,800." "The rest of my living expenses, tuition, and housing—I earned it all myself." Mom froze. "You... what nonsense are you talking about?" "September 2014, when I started my freshman year, you gave me $2,000." "February 2015, for the New Year, you gave me $500." "August 2015, at the end of summer break, you gave me $800." "February 2016, for the New Year, you gave me $500." "Summer of 2016, you didn't give me a single cent." "In 2017, you gave me $1,000. You said it was my New Year's red envelope, but that was my own red envelope money to begin with." My voice was calm, like I was reading a receipt. "A total of $4,800. Divided by four years, that's $1,200 a year. Divided by twelve months, that's $100 a month." No one in the living room spoke. My brother, Oliver, looked up from his phone, frowning at me: "Sis, why are you keeping track of this?" "I have a good memory." I pulled the door open. "Those four years, your living allowance was $2,000 a month. Tuition and housing were paid separately." "Same parents, same house." "You got $2,000 a month. I got $100." The door slammed shut. 02 I dragged my suitcase to the neighborhood entrance and hailed a cab. My phone buzzed again. It was my company's Operations Director: 【Ms. Hayes, the annual contract with TikTok is finalized. The $3 million advance has been wired. We just need your signature.】 I replied: 【I'll be back at the office tomorrow to handle it.】 Outside the car window, the streets of my hometown rolled backward. I knew this city too well. To the east was my elementary school. The playground used to be dirt; it turned into a mud pit whenever it rained. To the west was the first boba shop I ever worked at. Eight dollars an hour. I worked there for three summers. To the north was the private middle school my brother attended. Tuition was thirty thousand a year. I never went to that school. I went to a regular public school on the outskirts of town. It was a forty-minute bike ride away. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "Miss, not staying home for the holidays?" "Yeah." "Young people should really spend more time with their parents." I didn't respond. "My daughter works out of town too. Only comes back for two or three days a year. Her mom cries every time she leaves..." "Sir, we're at the station." I paid the fare and got out. The high-speed rail station was packed with people rushing home for the New Year. A mother and daughter brushed past me. The daughter, probably in her early twenties, was holding her mom's arm. "Mom, don't worry. I've already booked everything. We're going to Miami on the third day of the New Year." "Isn't that too expensive?" "It's not. I have money." I stood there, watching them walk away. Inside the waiting hall, I found a quiet corner and sat down. I opened my phone and pulled up a specific note. It held a ledger of expenses, recorded line by line, from the time I was 18 until now. 【September 2014 — Tuition $6,800. Mom gave $2,000. Shortfall $4,800, paid by me.】 【October 2014 — Living expenses. Mom gave $0. I earned $1,200 from a part-time job.】 【December 2014 — Winter. Needed a winter coat. Mom said wait until the New Year. Bought a clearance one for $89 with my own money.】 ... Line after line, dense and detailed. Ten years. I had kept this ledger for ten years. Not because I hold a grudge. But because I was terrified of forgetting. Terrified that one day, I would actually believe the things they said. —"We never mistreated you." —"You're a girl. What do you need so much money for?" —"Your brother has to carry this family in the future." Terrified that one day, I would start believing this was all normal. Terrified that one day, I would turn into someone like them. My train started boarding. I stood up, grabbed my bag, and joined the long line. My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a WeChat message from Mom: 【Maya, come back. Mom will make your favorite braised pork.】 I stared at the screen for two seconds. Didn't reply. And shoved my phone back into my pocket. 03 On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, I returned to the city where I worked. The company was on holiday, but the finance department still had staff on duty. I went to the office, signed the paperwork, and then went back to my own apartment. 1,900 square feet, floor-to-ceiling windows, with a view of the entire city skyline at night. This was the third property I had bought. The first was a small place in the suburbs right after I graduated college; I saved the down payment by working odd jobs. The second was downtown, bought after the company turned its first profit, as a reward to myself. This one, I bought last year. I stood by the window, looking at the millions of lights outside. My phone rang. A video call from my mom. I hit reject. A few seconds later, voice messages started pouring in. 【Maya, why aren't you answering your phone?】 【Mom knows I was a bit harsh this afternoon, but I'm doing it for your own good.】 【You're a girl. Having too much money isn't a good thing; it just attracts thieves.】 【Your brother is different. He has to provide for his family...】 I tossed the phone onto the sofa, went into the kitchen, and cooked myself a bowl of noodles. After eating, I took a shower and lay in bed. The ceiling was very white, very clean. No damp mildew spots like in my old home. No sounds of video games blasting from my brother's room next door. No sounds of Mom nagging in the living room while watching TV: "You're a girl..." It was perfectly quiet. Staring at the ceiling, I suddenly remembered something. Last New Year, I transferred $10,000 to Mom, telling her to buy a nice winter coat. She took the money and turned around to buy a Max Mara coat. Price tag: $16,800. The difference was covered by my brother. No, it was covered by my sister-in-law. Mia had just married into the family and was desperately trying to show how filial she was. That coat is still hanging in Mom's closet. She can't bear to wear it. But during the coldest part of last winter, she came to the train station to pick me up wearing a ratty old jacket. "Don't waste money on me. I'm saving the coat to wear at your wedding." I didn't say a word. I didn't know what to say. My phone buzzed again. This time, it was from Oliver. 【Sis, calm down. You know how Mom and Dad are.】 【But we're family. Whatever it is, we can talk it out.】 【It's not too late to come back now. I'll have Mia cook you something good.】 I stared at those lines of text for a long time. Then I replied with one word: 【No.】 04 New Year's Eve. I spent it alone in my apartment. I had prepped some ingredients in the kitchen and made a few simple dishes. Eating alone, watching the New Year's Gala alone, waiting for the midnight fireworks alone. No one put food in my bowl and told me to "eat more." No one nagged me, asking "When are you bringing a boyfriend home?" No one said, "You're a girl..." It was peaceful. Just a little cold. My phone was ringing non-stop. Colleagues sending digital red envelopes in the work chat, clients sending holiday greetings, celebrities we collaborated with sending New Year's videos. The family group chat was going off too. 【Oliver's wife is so virtuous! Look at this feast, it looks delicious!】 【Why didn't Maya come back? That girl, not even coming home for the New Year.】 【Young people, you know. Busy with work.】 【Busy doing what? Making four or five thousand a month, what's there to be busy about?】 【Exactly. Oliver doesn't even need to work anymore, but she, a girl, is out running around every day.】 I read the messages in the chat. Didn't reply. Then, I left the family group. Midnight. Fireworks exploded in the sky. Outside the window, it was bright and lively. I stood by the window and watched for a long time. My phone rang. It was my assistant: 【Happy New Year, Ms. Hayes! The company account just received a final payment. It's the annual collaboration fee from that brand, $3.87 million. Confirmed received.】 I replied: 【Great, thanks for your hard work. Happy New Year.】 I looked out the window again. The fireworks this year seemed a little more beautiful than last year. On New Year's Day, I didn't leave the house. On the second day, Mom called. I didn't answer. On the third day, Dad called. I didn't answer either. On the morning of the fourth day, while I was at the office sorting out some post-holiday work, my phone rang. It was Oliver. I hesitated for a moment, then answered. "Sis, what exactly is your problem?" His tone was aggressive. "What do you mean?" "Mom and Dad called you a dozen times and you didn't answer. You even left the family group chat. What are you trying to pull?" I put down my files. "I'm not trying to pull anything." "Then why aren't you answering the phone?" "I'm busy." "Busy doing what?" His voice grew louder. "You make four or five thousand a month. What do you have to be so busy about? Let me tell you, Maya, stop acting. You're just throwing a tantrum!" I didn't say anything. "Mom and Dad gave the house and the car to me because I have to support a family! I have a wife and kids to take care of! You're single. What do you need so much money for? You're just being selfish!" "Are you done?" "I—" "If you're done, I'm hanging up. I have a contract to sign." I hung up the phone. My fingers were trembling slightly. Deep breath. Another deep breath. It's fine. I've been used to this for a long time. 05 On the fifth day, things changed. Mom sent me a WeChat message: 【Maya, your dad is in the hospital.】 I stared at those words for five seconds. Then replied with one word: 【Oh.】 Mom replied instantly: 【Just an 'Oh'???】 【Your dad's blood pressure spiked to 180 because he was so mad about you, and all you say is 'Oh'???】 【Do you have any conscience at all, Maya Hayes!!!】 I put my phone down and went back to reading my files. Ten minutes later, Oliver called. "Sis, are you really not coming back?" "No." "Dad is in the hospital!" "I know." "You know and you're still not coming back?" "Why would I? I'm not a doctor." The other end was silent for two seconds. Then Oliver's voice changed, carrying a hint of a choke. "Sis, I know Mom and Dad haven't been entirely fair to you over the years, but he's still your dad... Can't you just come back and see him?" I didn't say anything. "Sis, I'm begging you." I took a deep breath. "Fine." Six hours later, I stood outside a hospital room door. I pushed the door open. The room was bustling. Mom was sitting by the bed peeling an apple. Mia was playing on her phone. Oliver was standing by the window taking a call. Dad was lying in bed, his face ruddy, watching TV. He didn't look like someone whose blood pressure had spiked to 180. I walked in. "Dad, how are you feeling?" Dad shot me a look, scoffed, and turned his head away. "So you finally remembered to come back?" Mom put down the paring knife. The expression on her face was complex. A bit of relief, but mostly reproach. "Maya, what took you so long? Your dad has been talking about you non-stop for two days..." "I was busy with work." "Busy, busy, busy. That's all you know. Your brother isn't even as busy as you." Mia looked up from her phone, gave me a glance, and a faint smirk played on her lips. Oliver hung up and walked over. "Sis, it's good you're here. You chat with Mom and Dad for a bit, I have to step out and take a call." He walked out. Only the four of us were left in the room. Mom went back to peeling the apple. Dad still refused to look at me. Mia went back to her phone. The atmosphere was heavy. I stood there for a moment, then found a chair and sat down. Mom handed me the peeled apple. "Eat." I took it and took a bite. Very sweet. It was the same taste I remembered from when I was a kid. 06 Dad was "hospitalized" for three days. By the third day, I realized something was wrong. His blood pressure had returned to normal long ago, but he refused to be discharged. He just lay in bed every day, eating and drinking well, even having Mom go out to buy expensive bird's nest soup. "Get some ginseng too while you're at it." I sat in the corner watching all this, saying nothing. That night, Oliver pulled me to the hospital cafeteria for dinner. "Sis, there's something I need to discuss with you." "What is it?" He picked up some food with his chopsticks, didn't eat it, and put it back down. "It's like this... Dad's hospital stay this time has cost quite a bit..." I looked at him. His eyes were darting around. "You also know, I don't have a job right now, and Mia is pregnant..." I put down my chopsticks. "What are you trying to say?" "Sis, could you... cover the bill for now?" "How much?" "Medical fees, nursing fees, nutritional supplements... altogether... about thirty thousand." Thirty thousand. I let out a small laugh. "It hasn't even been a few days since the twenty million was divided up, and you're already out of money?" Oliver's face instantly flushed red. "Sis, what do you mean by that?" "Nothing." I stood up. "I'm not paying that thirty thousand." "You—" "Go back and tell Mom and Dad that with my $200 a month living allowance, saving until now, I couldn't possibly come up with thirty thousand." I grabbed my coat and started walking out. "Maya Hayes!" Oliver grabbed my arm tightly. "Don't go too far! Who do you think you are? You're just a woman earning a fixed, dead-end salary. What right do you have to act so high and mighty with me?" I looked down at his hand gripping my arm. Then I looked up into his eyes. "Let go." He froze. My voice was perfectly calm, but he must have seen something in my eyes. He let go. I smoothed my sleeve, turned, and walked away. Behind me, his voice chased after me, full of anger and disbelief. "Maya Hayes, don't you regret this!" 07 I didn't go back to the hospital room. I took a cab straight to the high-speed rail station. In the waiting hall, I bought a ticket for the next available train. My phone rang. It was Mom. I answered. "Maya, where did you go? Oliver says you left?" "Yeah." "Why did you leave without saying anything? Your dad isn't even discharged yet!" "He's not sick." The other end was silent for two seconds. "What do you mean?" "Mom, Dad's blood pressure went back to normal ages ago. Who are you guys putting on this show for?" "Maya Hayes! Watch your mouth!" "I'm telling the truth." "You—" "Mom, if you want money, just say it directly. You don't need to put on this act." Total silence on the other end of the line. After a long time, Mom's voice came back, choked with tears. "Maya, how did you become like this? You used to never be like this..." "Yeah, I used to never be like this." I looked out the window. "I used to take my two hundred dollars a month, scrimp and save, and send the rest back to you." "I used to buy a ton of things every time I came home, never willing to spend a dime on myself." "I used to actually believe it when you said, 'You're just a girl.'" "But Mom, that was before." My voice was very calm. "The person I am now doesn't want to endure it anymore." I hung up. The ticket gate opened. I dragged my suitcase and joined the line. My phone rang again behind me, again and again. I didn't answer. Once on the train, I put my phone on silent. The scenery outside blurred as we sped away. I closed my eyes. Countless memories flooded my mind. When we were kids, for Oliver's birthday, the cake was two tiers, colorful candles stuck in the frosting. For my birthday, Mom cooked a bowl of noodles, saying "noodles mean a long life." In middle school, Oliver needed tutoring. Dad spent eight thousand dollars for one-on-one sessions. My grades were the best in my grade. Dad said, "What's the point of a girl reading so many books? You're just going to marry someone anyway." The year of the college entrance exams, I got accepted into a top provincial university. Oliver got into a third-tier college in the province. Dad said, "Maya, you're the older sister. Yield to your brother. Give him your acceptance letter." That was the most absurd thing I have ever heard in my entire life. I didn't yield. I went to my university. But from then on, my family never gave me another cent. "Aren't you so capable? If you're so capable, support yourself." I opened my eyes. Outside the window, it was already dark.
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