After the college entrance exams, my niece’s diary went viral. It was titled: The Pain of Living Under Another’s Roof. Right at the start of senior year, my niece moved into our house. To make her feel less awkward about being a guest, I occasionally let her help out with some light, manageable chores. When graduation rolled around, she and my daughter both got accepted into Harvard. The local news stations were practically fighting each other to interview me, asking for my secret to raising two brilliant scholars. Just as I was happily sharing my parenting tips on camera… My niece pulled out a diary. The contents? The Pain of Living Under Another’s Roof. My niece became an overnight internet sensation, a symbol of resilience. Meanwhile, I was doxxed, dragged through the mud, and relentlessly cyberbullied by a furious mob of netizens. "Auntie, my parents sent you money for my living expenses every single month. Why did I have to live like a terrified mouse in your house? You deserve everything that’s happening to you." In the end, because of a "slip of the tongue" where she revealed my location, a group of "righteous" vigilantes cornered me by the river. I was pushed in and drowned. When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn. I was right back to the moment my husband’s brother dropped my niece off at our house. Heh. The pain of living under another’s roof, huh? In this life, you’re going to experience exactly what it means to actually live under someone else’s roof. 1 "Sis, we’re counting on you. I mean, since Chloe is going to the same high school as Mia for senior year, taking care of one kid is the same as taking care of two, right? I’ll wire her living expenses to your card every month. Thanks for stepping up." I stared at the familiar text message from my brother-in-law on my phone, and then at the bank notification that had just popped up: $100.00 deposit received. I had finally confirmed it. I was reborn. Looking at that $100, I couldn't help but laugh. They really had it all figured out. Because my daughter, Mia, was entering her crucial senior year, and I had a flexible freelance job, I had rented an apartment right next to the high school so she wouldn't have a long commute. When my husband’s brother and his wife found out, they used the excuse of "having to go out of state for work" to dump their daughter, Chloe, at my place. Then, they claimed they would send me $100 a month for her "living expenses." I knew damn well that $100 wouldn't even cover a teenager's groceries for the month. Let alone all the extra expenses a high school girl has. But I had watched this kid grow up since she was a baby. How could I possibly say no? And just like that, my niece, Chloe, moved into my house. I was so worried she would feel like a burden. I told her that her parents were sending me money for her expenses every month, but I intentionally never told her exactly how much they were sending. I just wanted her to treat this place like her own home. Whatever I bought for my daughter, I bought the exact same thing for her. From small things like stationery and pens, To big things like pocket money and expensive SAT prep courses. I never once made her feel like she was getting less than my biological daughter. In the beginning, she proactively offered to do chores, but I always refused. Later, I worried that rejecting her help would make her feel useless and hurt her pride, so I agreed to let her do some light chores that didn't take up too much of her study time. When both girls eventually got into Harvard, I was beyond thrilled. I thought all my exhausting effort and care had finally paid off. I never imagined it was all just my own wishful thinking. I had raised an absolute snake in the grass. Thinking about how I was cyberbullied by the entire internet and ultimately murdered in my past life... This time, I absolutely would not let my bleeding heart get the better of me. 2 "Auntie, what did my dad say to you?" Chloe craned her neck, leaning right into my personal space. She was trying so hard to see my text history with her dad. In my past life, I was terrified that knowing her deadbeat parents only sent $100 would crush her, so I immediately locked my phone screen to hide the messages. But because of that, she assumed I was trying to hide how much money her parents were sending. She convinced herself I was embezzling thousands of dollars from her parents to spend on myself and my daughter. After the massive fallout following graduation... I only found out the truth from my daughter. Chloe used to call her parents constantly, crying about how terribly she was being treated at my house. Her parents, in turn, would furiously curse me out behind my back. They told Chloe that they were sending me "so much money for living expenses," yet I was still treating their precious daughter horribly. Of course, they conveniently never mentioned that their so-called "living expenses" amounted to a pathetic $100. After cursing me out, they would tell Chloe that living in someone else’s house was just like that, and tell her to just endure it until graduation. Remembering all this, I didn't lock my screen this time. I shoved the phone right in her face so she could see exactly what kind of people her parents were. "Look. Your parents dumped you at my house, but they only sent $100. That doesn't even cover a fraction of the rent for one person." It was true. $100 wouldn't even cover the utility bill. Because this was a premium apartment in a top-tier school district, the rent was almost $4,000 a month. If we split it per person, her share of the rent alone should have been over $1,300. But she had lived here for free for a whole year, completely oblivious, and in the end, she had zero gratitude. Next, I started laying it on thick. "The rent in this school district is insane, you know? It's almost $4,000 a month. I don't know what your parents are thinking, sending $100. That won't even cover your groceries for two weeks." She was just a teenager, after all. Hearing this, her face instantly turned beet red. "Auntie, I don't eat that much." My daughter, Mia, stood behind me and subtly tugged on my sleeve, signaling that maybe I was being a bit too harsh. I patted Mia's hand, turned back to Chloe, and continued: "Regardless, I'm your aunt. I won't ask you for the rent money. Every month, you just eat what we eat. But as for anything else, you shouldn't expect it." "I understand, Auntie." Watching my niece lower her head looking so pitiful, honestly, my heart softened for a second. But wasn't it exactly this pathetic, innocent act that completely fooled me in my past life? It's true what they say: experience is a better teacher than character. Even if she ended up getting into the best college in the country, it couldn't change the rotten, entitled nature deep in her bones. 3 School started. And very quickly, the first major event that turned me into a massive sucker in my past life occurred. Whether it was my past life or this one, I still couldn't wrap my head around it. As parents, how could you not even pay your own child's tuition? Were they seriously expecting someone else to just cover it? In my past life, I had paid my daughter's tuition online via the school portal. I had absolutely no idea that my niece's tuition hadn't been paid. It wasn't until Chloe's homeroom teacher called me into the school that I found out. That's right—my brother-in-law and his wife had simply listed my contact information as the primary guardian on her school forms. When I rushed to the school that day, I saw my niece standing in the faculty office with her head bowed. Even though it was entirely her parents' fault, she looked like she had committed some massive crime. My heart broke for her. I immediately pulled out my card and paid her tuition on the spot. Then, I told her to go back to class and focus on her studies. "Auntie, why didn't Mia's homeroom teacher call you in?" Seeing my niece looking so pitiful... How could I possibly tell her, "I already paid Mia's tuition ages ago. Who would have guessed your deadbeat parents just completely abandoned you?" Terrified that she would grow to hate her parents, I suppressed my fury toward my brother-in-law and patiently explained: "It's my fault, sweetheart. I paid Mia's tuition a while ago. Your parents just sent me the money for yours yesterday, and with all the chaos of the first week of school, it completely slipped my mind!" And how did she repay me? In her viral, public diary, she wrote this exact entry: My parents clearly transferred my tuition and living expenses to my aunt ages ago, but she refused to pay the school. It wasn't until I was publicly humiliated in front of the entire class and the teacher called her in that she reluctantly paid the tuition she should have paid before the semester even started. This tiny incident became a scar I could never forget during my entire senior year. When the second phone call from my niece's homeroom teacher ended. My phone screen flashed with another missed call notification. I finally, with feigned exasperation, picked it up. "Hello, is this Chloe's guardian?" "Is something wrong?" "Yes, there's a situation. I need you to come down to the school immediately." "I understand." Even though I still inevitably had to make a trip to the school. This time, I wasn't in a panic. I took my time getting ready, making sure I looked put-together. Then, I stopped by a nice bakery and bought my daughter's favorite strawberry shortcake, and ordered a premium boba tea. Senior year is stressful. Having her favorite dessert would definitely help her relax. In my past life, because I was financially supporting two teenagers... And because I had a strict rule that whatever I bought, I had to buy two of... Combined with rent, utilities, and expensive tutoring, my husband and I were under immense financial pressure. So, I rarely bought them unnecessary treats or luxury items. But this time, I absolutely would not treat my niece as an equal. Which meant I no longer had to skimp on treating my own daughter. 4 Taking my sweet time, by the time I strolled into my niece's homeroom teacher's office, it had been an hour and a half. As soon as I stepped through the door, my niece and her teacher both stared at me. I casually set the cake and boba on a nearby shelf before walking over. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Davis. I'm running a bit late. Is there a problem?" Perhaps because I took so long to arrive, the teacher was clearly losing patience. Even though he tried to remain professional, his tone was noticeably sharp. "Yes, there's a problem. Classes have officially started, but the school hasn't received Chloe's tuition payment. I assume you were just busy with work and forgot?" "What?!" I covered my mouth with both hands, looking absolutely shocked. My dramatic gasp caused the other teachers in the office to turn their heads and look at us. "Chloe hasn't paid her tuition?" "Yes, it's really not good for the student when the guardians are this negligent." "Mr. Davis, I honestly had no idea! Before she moved here, her parents told her to just show up at my door, and then the two of them skipped town for work. Then they sent me a $100 Venmo and said it was for her 'living expenses.' They didn't send a single cent for anything else! I had absolutely no idea about the tuition." "Oh, and by the way, Mr. Davis, I am not Chloe's legal guardian. I'm just her aunt. My daughter is in your AP class." This high school sorted students into classes based on their standardized test scores. My daughter, whom I had raised and nurtured since birth, scored in the top ten in the entire city on her entrance exams. Naturally, she was placed in the top-tier AP class. Her grades had consistently remained at the top, never dropping once all the way into senior year. Chloe, on the other hand, wasn't terrible, but she was in the standard-level Class 5. Her grades were mediocre at best. In my past life, to help her improve, I spent countless hours helping her climb from Class 5 all the way into the AP class. I even frequently made my own daughter sacrifice her study time to tutor Chloe and explain difficult concepts to her. When the teacher heard that I was just a relative, and not the guardian... And that my own child was one of the top students in his AP class, his tone instantly softened considerably. "Is that so? I saw your contact information listed as the primary guardian on her student profile, so I naturally called you." "I understand, Mr. Davis. I'll call her parents right now." I had just pulled out my phone. Chloe suddenly tugged hard on my sleeve. "Auntie, didn't my mom and dad transfer my tuition to you?" "What kind of nonsense are you talking about, child? You saw the chat history with your dad yesterday. He sent exactly $100. That's not even enough for groceries. Where would I get the money to pay your tuition?" The burning stares from the other teachers in the office were too intense. My niece's face turned completely crimson. "Could... could you please just pay it for me first? When I go home, I'll have my parents pay you back." "Chloe, what are you saying? Tuition for senior year is $12,000. I just paid Mia's tuition, and I paid the rent and utilities. The rent alone is $36,000 for the year. I honestly don't have a single extra cent on me right now. All I have is the $100 your parents sent yesterday. Do you want me to give the teacher that $100?" The teacher watched this unfold and clearly understood what was happening. He adjusted his glasses and said to me: "Why don't you give her parents a call." "Of course, Mr. Davis. I'm dialing right now." I swatted away Chloe's hand, which was desperately clutching my sleeve, and called my brother-in-law on speakerphone. "Hello, Sis." "Hey, did you guys get so busy you forgot to pay Chloe's tuition?" "Huh? Sis, isn't Chloe living at your house right now?" Hearing that, I truly wanted to peel his face off to see how thick his skin was. "Yeah, she is. But look at you two—you dropped her off at my house without even a heads-up. And the rent and utilities? Since I'm her aunt, I didn't even ask you for a dime. But $100 a month for living expenses? What is she supposed to eat on that? I won't even get into that right now. But how could you forget something as crucial as her tuition? I'm sitting in the teacher's office right now. You can explain it to him yourself." The other side clearly didn't expect me to be so blunt and publicly call out the $100 living expenses. It took the teacher saying "Hello, Mr. Evans" three times before he finally reacted. "Oh, hi, Mr. Davis. Um, my wife and I are working out of state right now. We left everything regarding Chloe in her aunt's hands. Could she maybe..." Hearing this, I couldn't help but interject. "Look, even though she's not my biological child, I've watched her grow up. I want to pay her tuition, too. But I just paid Mia's tuition, plus rent and utilities. That's fifty grand gone in a flash. I literally have no money left." "If you guys can't afford it either, maybe you should reach out to some other relatives and see if you can borrow it?" The teacher was also very strict. "Mr. Evans, according to school policy, if the tuition is not paid, the student will have to return home and self-study until the balance is cleared before they can return to classes." "Understood, understood. I'll wire the tuition to her aunt right now. Mr. Davis, could you put Chloe on the phone?" Chloe trembling took the phone from the teacher's hand and cautiously whispered, "Dad." "You worthless brat! All you know how to do is spend my money! I don't even know how much you've cost me since you were born. I'm telling you right now, you better get into a top-tier college, or you'll be a complete disgrace to me and your mother!" After screaming at her, he immediately hung up the phone. And after I received the transferred tuition from my brother-in-law, I didn't waste a single second and immediately transferred it to the teacher. 5 As soon as we walked out of the office doors, Chloe finally couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into tears. "Auntie, I know my parents caused you a lot of trouble by making me stay at your house. I can go live in the dorms, but could you please not treat me like this? Could you please go back to being the nice auntie you used to be?" Looking at her like this, I let out a heavy sigh. "Chloe, it's not that Auntie wants to be this way. You saw it yourself. Your parents didn't give me any money, and our family isn't wealthy either. When you used to come over when you were little, didn't I always buy two of everything, one for you and one for your cousin? And that gold locket you wear around your neck? I bought that for you when you were born. If I had the money, why wouldn't I spend it on you? Am I right? The only people you can blame are your parents, not yourself. Sigh... never mind, just go to class." After a solid dose of guilt-tripping, I sent her off to class. This time, I absolutely wouldn't give her unconditional, unrewarded devotion like I did in my past life. I had to make sure she knew exactly how good I was to her in the past, and that her parents' negligence was the reason she was facing humiliation now. Feeling in a great mood after saving twelve thousand dollars, I headed to the AP class to find my daughter. "Mia, I bought you some treats, and here's a hundred bucks for pocket money. Buy whatever you want on your way home after school." "What about... my cousin?" "Don't worry about your cousin." I thought my daughter would argue with me. But instead, she said, "Mom, actually, I don't really like my cousin." "Hmm?" "Before, she always used to ask me to cover for her and lie for her. Plus, she always takes my stuff without asking. And she even steals money from her parents." I patted my daughter's head, signaling her not to worry about it. I had always thought my niece was just acting like an ungrateful brat because she was a teenager living in someone else's house during a stressful senior year. I didn't realize she was actually rotten to the core. That evening, after we ate dinner at home. My niece proactively offered to wash the dishes. I gave her a lazy, side-long glance, then looked up at the security camera I had installed to prevent any future nonsense. "No need, no need. Auntie will wash them." "Auntie, I really want to help out with some chores. Please let me wash them, otherwise, I won't feel right living here." I nodded, acting hesitant. "Alright. You've always been independent. Go ahead, but make sure you study hard after you're done. Don't fall behind on your coursework." After giving her instructions, I took my daughter out to meet with a private tutor. When I let my daughter commute from home for her senior year, it was partly so she could have a better quality of life. But it was also because commuting meant she didn't have to attend mandatory evening study hall at school, which freed up time for private, one-on-one tutoring. In my past life, considering the immense pressure both girls were under, I enrolled them both in a small group tutoring class. This time, there was no way I was spending my own money to send my niece to tutoring. By saving the money on that second tuition fee, I could afford to hire a high-end, private tutor for my daughter. Targeted, one-on-one tutoring would be much more effective and less stressful for her. When we got back home, my niece hurried out of her room when she heard us. "Auntie, where did you and Mia go?" "Oh, I took Mia to her tutoring session." Chloe lowered her head, looking noticeably disappointed. "Tutoring? I thought Auntie's family was completely broke." I frowned. I had never realized how manipulative she could be before. I knew she was implying: If you have money, why did you refuse to pay my tuition this morning, and why are you only paying for Mia's tutoring and ignoring me? "Chloe, this tutoring was booked during the summer break before you even moved here. The money was paid a long time ago. Do you want to go too?" "Can I, Auntie?" Seeing her eyes shining brightly at me, I knew exactly what she was scheming, but I pretended not to understand. "Me? What does it matter if I agree? The important thing is whether your parents agree! Hand me my phone, I'll call them and ask. If they say yes, I'll send them the tutor's Venmo info. Once they pay, you can start going tomorrow." "Ah, no need, Auntie. Actually, the daily homework takes up a lot of time anyway. I don't need tutoring. I'll just ask Mia to explain whatever she learns to me." "Haha, you're both seniors. Mia is exhausted from school and tutoring. You don't need to bother her. You can just ask your teachers or classmates the next day." "Right, right. I'll go back to studying then." If I hadn't seen the resentment in her eyes and her clenched fists, I really would have thought she was as harmless and innocent as she acted. Sigh. She's just a kid, after all. As long as you stay out of trouble for the rest of your senior year, I won't nickel and dime you over food and basic necessities. But don't expect me to spend another extra dime on you. 6 The next few weeks passed relatively peacefully. Until the weekend, when my husband came home from his work trip and quietly pulled me into our bedroom. "Have you been abusing Chloe?" "What?" "Look at these texts my brother and his wife sent me." I frowned and took his phone. The gist of it was: We only sent her to your house because you're her flesh-and-blood uncle and aunt. If you didn't like her, you shouldn't have agreed to let her stay. You agreed, and now you're treating the two girls differently. I laughed out loud. "What do they mean, 'If I didn't like her, I shouldn't have agreed'? Did I ever agree? The first morning of the semester, I hear a knock on the door, and boom, your precious niece is standing there with a suitcase! They dumped her on us without asking, and now they're playing the victims?" "And let's talk about your wonderful brother. He sent me exactly $100 and expected me to pay her $12,000 tuition! What, does he think I'm a complete idiot?" "Come on, honey, don't be so harsh. You watched Chloe grow up, didn't you?" "Don't give me that bullshit. If you feel so sorry for her, and she wants to go to tutoring, YOU pay for it." "Where would I get that kind of money? You're the one handling the finances." "Exactly! Do you honestly think you make a fortune? Rent, utilities, Mia's tuition, and tutoring—I paid for all of it. That's eighty-seven grand right there! Her own parents are too cheap to spend money on her, and I definitely don't have any extra to throw away." My husband clearly hadn't realized that having a senior commuting from home cost that much. And thankfully, I had never told him how much I actually made from my freelance writing. Otherwise, he'd expect to fund two kids in the best school district in the city on his dead-end salary. In his dreams. "Alright, alright. Providing her with food and a roof over her head is more than generous. The rest is her parents' problem. We shouldn't worry about it." With that, I turned to go wash up. Just in time to see my niece's bedroom door abruptly click shut. She must have heard everything. But I hadn't said anything wrong. If she heard it, she heard it. 7 The midterm exam results came out. My daughter actually jumped from 23rd in her grade to 9th. Looking at her report card, I was thrilled. This was the first time she had ever broken into the top ten! Everyone knows that the higher your rank, the harder it is to move up. Hiring that top-tier private tutor was definitely worth it. Meanwhile, my niece, without the extra tutoring or my daughter's help, saw her grades slip. Combined with the fallout from the tuition incident at the start of the year, rumor had it she had become withdrawn and stopped talking to her teachers and classmates. Her rank dropped from the 200s down to the 400s. Right on cue, my husband's brother called. "Hello." "Tsk." With that attitude? I hung up immediately. He called back a moment later, and I casually answered. "Sis, why did you hang up on me?" "I didn't hear a polite greeting, so I assumed it was a scammer. What do you want?" "Why did my daughter's grades drop so drastically?" "Bro, I think that's a question for your daughter. At the end of the day, she's not focusing on her studies. How is it that halfway through the semester, everyone else is improving, and she's the only one tanking?" "Sis, I'm only speaking to you politely because you're my brother's wife." Hearing that, I hung up on him again. I watched him call three more times before I finally answered. "If you can't speak to me with respect, I won't answer again." "I just want to know how a kid who was consistently ranking in the 200s during her freshman and sophomore years suddenly drops so low after living at your house for half a semester. You need to take responsibility for this." "First of all, the academic difficulty spikes dramatically in senior year. A drop in grades is completely normal. Second, if you really think living at my house is the problem, then let her move back into the school dorms." Honestly, I really hoped she would move back into the dorms. It would make my life so much easier. But I knew for a fact my brother-in-law would never agree. Not only would he have to pay boarding fees, but he'd also have to give her at least $300 a month for food. He was way too cheap for that. "Sis, what are you talking about? I just... I heard Mia's grades have been great. They're cousins, right? You should have Mia help her out more. Also, I heard Mia has a private tutor. Why don't you have the tutor teach both of them? Teaching one is the same as teaching two. You shouldn't play favorites with the girls." "Bro, it's not that I won't allow it. But the hourly rate for private tutoring is completely different for one student versus two. Do you think a top-tier tutor works for free? If you want Chloe to take the classes, I'll send you the tutor's Venmo. You can talk to her yourself. It's about $1,500. Since you and your wife are both working, I'm sure you wouldn't cheap out on your daughter's education." "Sis, I think you're just obsessed with money." This time, before I could hang up, he hung up on me. Heh. I have no idea who he was "hearing" all these rumors from. It's so hard to guess. Clearly, that little brat Chloe had been running her mouth and "complaining" to her parents. 8 The next day. After breakfast, Chloe stood up and bowed deeply. "Auntie, I've been doing the dishes for the past half-semester. But you saw my grades drop. I'm not like Mia; I don't have a private tutor. So I want to dedicate more time to studying. From now on, I won't be doing any more chores." I narrowed my eyes. "That's fantastic, Chloe. I told you before not to do them, but you insisted. Now that you're voluntarily stepping back from chores to focus on your studies, that's absolutely perfect." After both girls left for school, I pulled out my phone and checked her TikTok account, which I had accidentally discovered a few days ago. In my memory of my past life, my niece did eventually become an influencer riding on her viral fame. But it was after graduation, fueled by that diary. In this life, however, my local feed pushed a video from a creator documenting The Pain of Living Under Another's Roof. At first, I wasn't sure it was her. But after scrolling through a few posts, I confirmed it. For example, her entry on the first day of school: Mia and I started school on the same day. My aunt only remembered to pay Mia's tuition, but she didn't pay mine. It wasn't until the teacher called her into the office that she reluctantly paid it. The comments under that post were full of people tearing me to shreds. But there were a couple of logical people asking: Did she not pay because your parents didn't give her the money, or did they give it to her and she just refused to pay? And her response was incredibly vague: I saw my dad transfer money to her the day before. I just wanted to laugh. Day 7 of school: My aunt buys Mia cakes and boba every single day. If only I wasn't just staying at her house, I could eat the cakes my mom buys me too. Actually, my aunt doesn't need to sneak them into Mia's room. She could just eat them openly. I wouldn't be upset. Still a sea of hate comments. "How can an aunt not even give a child a piece of cake?" "Is this really necessary? So much for treating them equally. Didn't you say your parents sent her living expenses? I'm begging you to ask for the money back and live on your own." "Screw her. With a petty attitude like that, I hope her own kid gets treated the same way someday." But there were a couple of dissenting voices: "Hold on, it's her own money. She can buy whatever she wants for her own kid. You make it sound so tragic, but why don't you just go back to your own house then? Why are you staying there making yourself miserable? And saying you 'wouldn't be upset'—then why post about it? Aren't you just trying to get people to cyberbully your aunt?" "I agree with the comment above. Being a relative is hard these days. I'm sure if your parents gave her enough money, she wouldn't treat you like this. If they didn't give her enough, do you expect her to subsidize you out of pocket? Besides, apart from living expenses, did you pay rent? Don't be a freeloader playing the victim." I silently liked those two comments and kept scrolling. Day 30 of school: I'm so jealous that Mia doesn't have to do chores, and she gets private tutoring. I didn't even bother opening the comment section, but the top comment caught my eye. "Girl, I've been following your posts for a while. Your aunt is straight-up abusing you. You need to fight back. Start by refusing to do chores. Tell your parents you refuse to live there anymore. You'd be much better off taking your living expenses and staying in the school dorms." "Exactly! Fight back! If your aunt tries to force you, just dox her! Post her info and address, and we'll get justice for you!" My brow furrowed. In my past life, these "righteous" netizens, blind to the truth, were the ones who killed me. Looks like I needed to keep a close eye on this. If she actually dared to dox my real information, she couldn't blame me for what came next.
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