“What are all of you blocking the door for? Got everything packed? Then send another batch to the new house.”

A deep male voice suddenly rang from behind Xia Fu, cutting off the refusal that was just about to leave her lips. She didn’t need to turn around to know it was her father, Xia Biao.

Xia Biao was truly the head of the family. He’d been a construction worker for years, getting up at dawn and working himself ragged. Built as strong as an ox, his temper was just as big. He’d inherited his mother’s method of “stick education” and never hesitated to carry it on with his own kids. When he got angry, he’d raise his soot-covered foot and kick his children, boy or girl, as if they were stray cats or dogs. And he’d always spit after, annoyed.

“I bust my ass out there, and you live off me, eat off me, and still go to school all nice and easy at home. And you dare to play thief and bully your brother? Get out!”

Xia Fu still remembered that winter day when her father’s thick, muscular arm clamped around her wrist like an unbreakable iron shackle, dragging her out the door.

Could she really refuse? Did a few months of workouts make her strong enough to take her dad down?

She was an adult now—was she still going to end up on the ground from a single kick?

Her father was in his prime, his mountain-like figure bringing back that old childhood fear that loomed over her silently. The second she heard his annoyed question, her body instinctively moved aside to make way for him, afraid that a second of delay would bring disaster.

She muttered, “Dad,” under her breath, then asked, “I just got back from school and brought some gifts for the family. Why are we suddenly moving?”

Unlike Xia Fu, who was tense from head to toe, her younger brother, Changqing, the apple of the family’s eye, was in high spirits. He adjusted the collar of his new coat in the mirror, muttering, “We’re just packing the gifts, aren’t we?” before turning around to answer her slowly.

“Why are you in such a rush, sis? You even carried your stuff down on your own? I forgot to tell you when we parked; we’ve got a new place now. The smell has mostly faded, so we’re starting to move things.”

“Don’t you end up staying in the same room with grandma every time you’re back? Now you’ll have a place for your things.”

In families with restaurant businesses, it was common to buy the floors above the shop to live in, but with the land prices near school areas being high, the Xia family had spent all their savings on the restaurant, squeezing the whole family into an alley in the suburbs.

That had been their home for over a decade. The children grew up, and the business improved, but they didn’t plan on moving. Every penny saved was for Changqing’s future wedding—to buy a little place nearby so they could still be close.

But Changqing hadn’t graduated yet, and they had just paid off a mountain of debt. How could they afford a new apartment?

Did they get scammed again?

With memories of those days struggling with a tight belt fresh in her mind, Xia Fu couldn’t help but ask, “How did we suddenly afford to buy a house?”

“All the money that got scammed before, we got it all back. And there just happened to be some new places near the auto repair city, between the restaurant and your brother’s workplace, so we bought it.”

Talking about his latest investment, Xia Biao’s tone carried a touch of pride.

But as Xia Fu looked at the “new building” in front of her, her brow slowly furrowed.

In county centers like theirs, most buildings were shabby and cramped, and the only advantage was their location. Locals usually chose to “spruce up” their places, repainting the exterior walls and upgrading the utilities.

But this building took a more extreme approach. What used to be a three-story building had, in the span of a semester, suddenly grown to five. The gray-white exterior had a new coat of paint, with signs advertising family lodging, nail salons, and barber shops hanging outside. Their place was on the fourth floor somewhere.

Standing on this “sky-high pavilion,” Xia Fu felt a strong sense of unease.

“Spruce up? Isn’t this an illegal addition? I heard buildings are planned from the start with weight distribution in mind. Just adding floors on top like this— is it safe?”

Xia Biao shot her a glance, then pointed a thick finger at a passerby, raising his voice.

“Safe? What’s unsafe about it? Can’t you see everyone’s living here? They’re all running businesses just fine, so what are you worrying about? Trying to curse us or something?”

“I spent money to give you a new room, and you come out with these unlucky words. Poor families don’t have the luxury to be picky, you know. We’ve already paid—what else can we do? If you’re so worried, then why don’t you build us a new building yourself?”

He pointed to a young woman about to step into the nail salon, who glanced quickly at Xia Fu with a skeptical look that left her speechless, her cheeks heating with embarrassment.

Then, taking the role of the gentle parent, Zhang Mei patted her daughter’s back soothingly and whispered, “This place has a great location, you know, it wasn’t easy to get. Boss Chen had to use some connections to secure it for us. Isn’t that nice? We can live here for a few years, and later it can be your wedding room.” She gently nudged Xia Fu inside.

The new place was twice the size of their previous one, and Xia Fu even got a small, north-facing bedroom. The whole room was decked out in her “favorite” pink, complete with a white vanity table, looking like a cheap plastic dollhouse with her as the doll in her bright pink dress.

Boss Chen, Boss Chen—his name was everywhere, swirling in her mind.

Was there really such a generous businessman in the world?

Or was there something about Changqing that others saw and she didn’t?

Or maybe, after all the hardship, their family’s luck was finally turning?

Standing in this hard-won room, Xia Fu found herself far from feeling relieved.

Unable to stay at home a moment longer, she quickly started digging through her bag. Before coming back, she had carefully selected some scarves, hand creams, and F University bookmarks, little things to give to Teacher Li and the students in need later on.

These were personal gifts, and she hid them under her clothes to avoid having them confiscated by her mother or grandmother as “wasting money on outsiders” and divided among them.

The sound of footsteps suddenly approached, startling Xia Fu. She looked up to see Zhang Mei enter without knocking, tossing a black hair tie onto her lap with a broad smile.

“How is it? Satisfied? Now fix up your hair. Since the whole family’s here, we’re going to the restaurant tonight to thank Boss Chen.”

The plan to visit her former teacher was reluctantly postponed. After a quick text to reschedule, Xia Fu watched her unease take form at the dinner.

“Apologies, apologies. Got caught up in some business, kept the whole family waiting for me.”

The first thing she noticed was a watch inlaid with tiny diamonds, sparkling on a chunky arm, with a faint sheen of sweat around the wrist under a black leather briefcase.

Dressed in a light pink polo shirt, the man pushed open the private room door. Glancing at Xia Fu, he smiled a chubby, Buddha-like smile and said, “Ah, I’m in pink too! Looking at me next to you, I probably look like an old cucumber painted green.”

Unfortunately, that smile didn’t come off as warm but slick and shrewd instead.

“Not at all! It makes you look lively, so much younger! Come, come, please sit.”

More awkward than their matching colors was the seating arrangement. Out of respect for their benefactor, Xia Fu and her brother were seated on either side of Boss Chen.

Sitting there in two shades of pink, Xia Fu felt as though her head weighed a thousand pounds, as though her entire body had shrunk into the wall. But no matter how low she kept her head, the conversation eventually found its way to her.

With a warm gaze, Boss Chen looked over her and asked, “So this is Xia Fu? A top student at F University. Hearing is one thing, but seeing—what a refined young lady! What’s your major?”

Seeing her hesitate, Zhang Mei pinched her arm, encouraging her to speak up.

“Something to do with math, I think. We don’t quite understand it. Oh, Xia Fu, didn’t you win some finance award? Go on, tell Boss Chen about it. He’s a big businessman, an investor—knows way more about this stuff than you’d learn from books!”

Just like that, Xia Fu became the focal point of the table.

It was supposed to be a moment to share her accomplishments at F University, to paint a picture of a bright future. But with an outsider at the table, Xia Fu found it impossible to muster any enthusiasm, as if all her hard work was merely a bargaining chip to raise her dowry. No one seemed to expect her to have any real value on her own.

Boss Chen’s praise made her skin crawl with goosebumps.

“Impressive! To be able to analyze stocks at such a young age! Nowadays, men leave finances to their wives. And with such a smart daughter at home, what a load off your family’s mind! You’ve raised her so well, beautiful and smart—imagine the lucky guy who’ll marry her!”

“Oh, come on, we’re not expecting her to achieve anything big. She’ll graduate, come home, find a nice guy close by who’ll care for her—that’s enough.”

Zhang Mei unwrapped the silverware and handed Xia Fu a wine glass, instructing, “Xia Fu, raise a glass to Boss Chen.”

“A top student from F University toasting me? I’ll have to fill it up then!”

As he uncorked the wine, the strong smell of liquor hit Xia Fu’s face, making her squint, and she said awkwardly, “I can’t… I don’t drink well. Just a sip and I feel dizzy…”

Seeing her resistance, Xia Biao’s face darkened instantly, scolding her.

“Just a little wine! What’s the big deal!”

But Boss Chen chuckled warmly, smoothing things over.

“No worries, the men can have the hard stuff. The young lady can try some red wine instead. This is from my private collection, a friend’s vineyard—a good wine for beauty.”

He looked at Xia Fu with the indulgent expression of a man who didn’t expect her to understand, saying, “Just a half glass. Try it.”

With her parents’ and Chen’s eyes on her, plus the AC’s chill on her skin, Xia Fu felt as if she’d fallen into a dark pit. The wine, red and thick, swirled like blood in her glass. If she didn’t drink, she’d be devoured like a lamb at the table.

Closing her eyes, she sipped down the bitter liquid.

The rejection hadn’t been a polite gesture. Soon, a sickly red flush crept up her neck, and her mental state visibly declined, but this only seemed to make the table livelier.

Every time she mumbled, “I don’t drink well,” they’d wave her off with, “Red wine doesn’t make you drunk, come on, drink up.”

“Good wine, right? You look healthier already. Here, have another.”

Chen’s refilled glass once again hovered in front of her.

This was the third glass now.

Staring at him, Xia Fu made up her mind. She picked up the wine bottle herself, filling her glass. Her brother cheered, “Wow, going big, sis!” She then stood, raising her glass in toast, aiming it up at Chen’s hand.

In an instant, her entire glass spilled all over her, soaking her dress.

The sudden accident left the room in shocked silence, with only her wooden apology breaking the quiet.

“I’m sorry. I had too much to drink.”

With her head down, she silently counted, hoping her father would snap, yell, and end this fake dinner. But instead, all she saw was Chen’s chubby hand, gently wiping the droplets from her hand.

“Oh dear, all my fault, my age catching up with me. Hope I didn’t splash you too much.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the shop, get you a new dress. My treat.”

“No need. It’s just a dress—I’ll wash it when I get home.”

But her mother, always one to jump at a good offer, had already made arrangements for her.

“Hey, when an elder offers, just accept. Tomorrow, take your brother too, make it a day out.”

“I’ll just go wash this off in the restroom,” she murmured.

She rushed out, turning on the faucet to rinse her hands. Chen’s touch felt like a slimy snail’s trail sticking to her skin, making her nauseous. She leaned over the sink, forcing herself to throw up until she felt her soul had returned to her body.

Looking at her pale face in the mirror, for a moment, she wanted to drop everything, grab her phone, and run back to school.

But as she exited the restroom, she spotted her brother, Changqing, leaning against the wall.

Tall and lanky, he blocked her path, asking casually, “You alright? Mom wanted me to help you out if you got too tipsy.”

Xia Fu had no idea how she made it back to the room.

She wrapped a dry towel around her damp dress, listening to them chatter about stocks, the housing market, and oil prices. It was past midnight by the time they got home.

Having ignored her phone all night, she finally unlocked it to find a few missed calls from her boyfriend, Fang Jingcheng.

“Xia Fu? Home yet?”

“What are you doing? Answer me, please—”

Like a wounded animal retreating to its den, Xia Fu nestled under her covers, reading his messages. The icy chill on her face began to fade a little.

She forced herself to stay awake and started to reply.

“Sorry, I was dragged out to a family dinner right after I got back. Couldn’t check my phone. Just got home.”

“Are you still up?”

“Can you video call now? I want to see you.”

As if he’d had his phone right beside him, Fang Jingcheng replied instantly.

“Sure! Give me a sec to fix my hair.”

Living in the new place had one benefit—late at night, Xia Fu could lock her door and have private calls with her boyfriend.

She was the last to wash up, and the others had drunk enough to be deep in sleep, with faint snores drifting from nearby rooms.

Before he could tease her for hiding under her blanket, Fang Jingcheng noticed her face.

“Whoa, your face is so red. You drank at dinner?”

“Mm… There were older guys there, and they made me drink a few glasses of red wine. I tried to spit it out, but it still made me feel dizzy.”

Resting her face on her arm, she grumbled in a low voice.

His smile faded, and he sat up with concern.

“Did you even get to eat tonight? Do you have any hangover medicine at home?”

“Want me to order you some fruit or something sweet?”

She shook her head. “We don’t have that kind of delivery service here… Maybe I’ll feel better after I sleep.”

Fang Jingcheng knew she had stomach issues from all the meals she skipped to save money. Back when they first met, her stomachaches were frequent. Now, seeing her so tired, his brows furrowed.

“Your stomach can’t take this. If it hurts, don’t push through it. Want to tell your mom?”

Tell her mother?

It was her mother, Zhang Mei, who had urged her to drink. Even before she’d bathed, her mother had pointed at the damp dress and told her to wash it immediately. “If you leave wine stains overnight, it’ll be a pain to get out!”

The difference in words between her mother and Fang Jingcheng was striking. Xia Fu couldn’t help but realize—

She should be loved and cherished, not stuck in this fake family dinner, cornered by her parents and an outsider.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and for the life of her, she couldn’t understand why she felt so emotional in front of Fang Jingcheng.

Replacing “I can’t” with “I don’t want to,” she whispered in a shaky voice, “I feel terrible, I just…don’t want to move,” ignoring his silence until he replied, “Let me think, I’ll find a way to help you.”

But Xia Fu already knew the answer. She gazed at his face, catching a glimpse of all those cold, dark nights when her father had pulled her outside for “lessons.”

In the cramped alley, privacy was nonexistent. Sometimes, if she cried too loudly, passing neighbors would stop to ask what was going on.

The flashlights would light up the corner, revealing a hesitant yet kind face.

“Xia Biao, it’s freezing. Why’s your daughter standing outside?”

Xia Biao would wave them off with a smile.

“Ah, no worries. She messed up, so I’m teaching her a lesson. Just showing her the kind of environment I work in.”

As long as it was called “family discipline,” violence became excusable.

“Well… don’t go too hard on her…”

After a sigh and a nod, the light would fade, and her father would come back with more anger, yelling,

“Cry, cry all you want! You think anyone cares that you’re just a brat who needs teaching? Keep crying if you want people to laugh at you.”

After that, Xia Fu rarely cried.

In that home, there was no room for her to be weak. She’d struggled to keep up a front, to prove that she was worth something, that she wasn’t just the kid her parents didn’t like.

When she got into F University, people would say, “Sure, Xia Biao was strict, but hey, look at the result. Xia Fu turned out just fine.” Even her scars became “badges of honor.”

…I wasn’t wrong.

I didn’t do anything wrong.

They’re the ones who treat me badly!

So take me away. Take me away right now.

But if she actually ran away and her furious father showed up at her school and screamed at her, how would she explain it all to Fang Jingcheng? Did she have the strength to bear it if her “good student” image shattered?

Back at home, she knew the reality was far worse than she’d thought. Maybe she shouldn’t have dated Fang Jingcheng. She could have endured anything until graduation, but now, a few kind words from him left her crumbling.

So, maybe she should just bear it. It’s not like there’d be drinking and dinner parties every day, right?

With that glimmer of hope, Xia Fu never pleaded for help. Instead, she murmured, “Being home doesn’t feel good at all. I miss you… I want to go back,” burying her face in her arms.

In the silence, Fang Jingcheng heard her soft sobs.

“Should I ask a teacher to call your parents and get you out of there?”

Xia Fu didn’t answer, but someone else did overhear her faint voice.

Their illegal building had no soundproofing. If she could hear her parents’ snores, her brother Changqing could hear her talking on the phone.

Having downed two rounds of beer with Boss Chen, he was groggy and half-asleep, his bladder pressing on him, so he was getting up frequently.

Squinting at her room door, he wondered.

Xia Fu… still up?

It was strange she’d even worn something like that coat. Did she really have a boyfriend? No way, right?