In an adult’s life, there’s no such thing as a “summer break.” Even if you were out drinking and socializing till late last night, you still have to drag yourself up the next day with a pounding headache to get back to work.

Xia Fu rubbed her aching temples, worried that she might end up slicing her own fingers while chopping vegetables. Her drinking tolerance was terrible, and after chatting with Fang Jingcheng for a short while, she passed out, completely drained.

It didn’t feel like much time had passed, but when she woke up, the call duration showed a whopping two hours. Fang Jingcheng must have kept holding his phone, looking at it for a long time after she’d fallen asleep.

In that silent time, what was he planning?

How does he see her now?

Did he really call the counselor and talk to his family? If things weren’t that bad at home, she didn’t want to blow this up too much…

While waiting for the water to boil, Xia Fu glanced at the record from the early hours of the morning, hesitating and lacking even the courage to send a simple “good morning.”

But surprisingly, Fang Jingcheng, who usually couldn’t get up early, changed his lazy habit and greeted her with energy:

“Good morning! Have you eaten? How are you feeling?”

Xia Fu unconsciously let out a sigh of relief. “Much better. I’m helping out at the shop right now.” She was about to continue when Zhang Mei walked in, holding a vegetable basin, and scolded her as she saw Xia Fu holding her phone:

“All you do is play on that phone! Don’t just stand there! There are customers.”

“The wontons are ready; they just finished cooking.”

Xia Fu casually explained, ladling the floating wontons into a large bowl. Stepping out of the kitchen, she noticed a familiar figure sitting at the table, and her eyelid twitched.

No wonder her mom was so eager to hurry her up; it was a VIP.

Boss Chen was in a clean white short-sleeved shirt today, waving at her with a cheerful smile.

“Why are you working so hard, helping out your parents even during the break? Young people should enjoy their youth.”

Yeah, they’re family, but her brother, who has to work, is sleeping soundly in his room, while the sister who’s hungover has to get up and help.

Thinking about how he invited her for drinks last night made Xia Fu shiver; she regretted not cutting her nails short and throwing a piece into his bowl. She shot Boss Chen a glance and nonchalantly replied:

“I didn’t sleep well after drinking.”

Boss Chen rubbed his fingers without responding, scooping up a wonton, slurping its rich broth, and praising:

“Oh, did little Xia make this? Excellent cooking!”

“Since I’m here, why don’t you come to the store with Changqing? The office is quieter than here, and when I’m done, I can take you shopping.”

Before Xia Fu could think, Zhang Mei answered for her:

“Go on! It’s a good chance to check on your brother at work. He’s clumsy and just gets in the way around here.”

At the same time, the drilling sound from nearby grew louder. The buildings in this area were old, so someone was always renovating, the sound piercing through Xia Fu’s head like a drill.

She couldn’t avoid it, so rather than suffering here, she might as well wake her lazy brother and follow along to see what Boss Chen was plotting.

After washing her hands, she brought the sleepy-eyed Xia Changqing along and got into the SUV.

Her parents hadn’t held back on bragging in the family chat about her brother’s professional new job, and seeing it firsthand, Xia Fu admitted Boss Chen’s 4S shop was quite impressive. It offered everything from repairs to car washes and paint changes, and even a section dedicated to selling car tires. The shop had a good number of employees, too.

On the short walk from the shop entrance to the office area, Xia Fu heard “Hello, Boss Chen” over a dozen times. Boss Chen strutted ahead of her like an emperor surveying his small domain, while hidden behind respectful greetings were countless eyes sizing up the young Xia Fu.

Surprisingly, there were a few sleek new computers on the second floor, their high-end specs looking out of place in a small town. Boss Chen vaguely explained, “We’re expanding into online business.”

Soon, the receptionist led them to the so-called “break room.” Boss Chen opened the door and enthusiastically introduced:

“How’s the environment here? There’s air conditioning, and the WiFi password is eight eights plus my initials. You can grab the pad to watch some videos or whatever. I’ll ask Lili to bring you some fruit.”

Eating snacks in the boss’s office on a workday?

Xia Fu immediately declined, saying, “That’s okay. I’ll just look around.”

Boss Chen casually replied, “No worries, it’s company benefits! Everyone gets snacks and milk tea in the afternoon. Since you’re family, of course you get some, too.” He even invited her to stay for the store meeting, as if it were some kind of finance internship.

Only when an important client called did Xia Fu manage to escape the tug-of-war.

Staying here was better than being home; at least no one controlled her phone use. Enjoying a rare bit of freedom, Xia Fu looked around, observing the lavish room in detail. More than a break room, with its glass coffee table, mahogany desk, and tall blue-and-white porcelain vases, it felt more like the boss’s office.

The white walls were covered with various photos of Boss Chen in all sorts of gatherings, ranging from car enthusiast forums to international electric vehicle expos. During one such trip, he even visited a local “sight,” which Xia Fu vaguely recalled was in a country where certain things were legal. Her gaze drifted to the shiny black leather sofa, catching her attention—it was the very backdrop her brother Xia Changqing used for a photo with a bright pink skirt.

What kind of “elderly care” was this, really?

No respect comes without reason, and no favor is given without purpose.

No matter how much she didn’t want to admit it, the worst suspicions were coming true. The matching outfits at the bar weren’t a coincidence. The magenta skirt was Boss Chen’s doing, and maybe that old-fashioned lipstick from before came from him, too.

Introducing a daughter from a top university to a local businessman?

Why? Did they not know an F University graduate could make a hundred thousand a year? Why rush her into marriage?

She was only a freshman, just recently of age…

Who would treat their daughter like this?

It was too absurd. Right now, questioning Xia Changqing on why he’d hidden the truth would only be an invitation for everyone at the 4S store to revel in her misery.

What now? Confront her parents?

Ask them if they even thought of her as their own flesh and blood, and which was more important, the so-called daughter or a stable future for her brother?

Ignoring the facade of family, the answer was obvious.

The last bit of hope completely dissipated, and Xia Fu stumbled out of the room, gripping the sofa armrest. As she rushed out, the receptionist’s “Miss, your milk tea isn’t here yet,” trailed behind, but her blank mind had one thought only—

Get back to the new house and find her household registration booklet.

In a small town, relationships often meant more than laws or ethics. A few connections and some generous tips, and there’d be cases of girls marrying and becoming mothers at eighteen before even registering their marriages.

With her parents and brother all at work, she had to hurry.

…

Xia Changqing was in high spirits, even if he’d gotten up early. Just yesterday, the boss had picked up his college-aged sister, and this morning they got a special ride to work. Anyone with half a brain could see his bright future.

He’d been washing a car—a simple enough task—while three coworkers surrounded him, helping with tools, offering water, and bantering loudly.

“Brother Xia, wow! Your sister’s even prettier than the photos, and a top student, too. Lili told me the boss asked about popular milk tea brands for young women, so he’s treating everyone to milk tea later! Supposedly, there’s a fruit platter coming, too!”

One of them gave him a thumbs-up and then muttered in frustration, “My sister can’t compare. She ended up with some poor guy and has to ask our parents for milk money.”

“Being noticed is her fortune.”

Xia Changqing smirked, giving his colleague a once-over. Facing a senior in his thirties, his tone was disdainful. “Look at me; we’re just different. Don’t compare us.”

The guy awkwardly scratched his hand. “Right, right, Brother Xia, you’re a true handsome guy. How about a barbecue gathering tonight?”

Xia Changqing just smiled as a younger colleague clapped the other man on the back and laughed, “Hey! Why would he have time for you tonight? He’s singing with Lili. They’re adorable together, you know!”

“Right, sorry, guys. The boss had Lili get some makeup and clothes the other day, right? Lili saw my sister looking pretty and insisted on a set herself. Gotta keep her happy!”

Office romances were always a hot topic, and when the newcomer responded, it sparked a flood of jokes and banter only guys would get.

“Brother Xia? Brother Xia?”

A few greetings interrupted the rowdy group. Xia Changqing finally raised his head, snapping back, “What? Calling my soul?”

The colleague scratched his head awkwardly and explained:

“Uh, it’s not that. Brother Xia, a guy came by looking for you, said he was a friend and wanted to surprise you. I pointed him in the right direction, but he hasn’t come back yet, so I thought I’d check.”

“A friend? Who?” Looking around suspiciously, Xia Changqing asked, “There’s nobody here. We’ve been talking a while.”

Caught up in their conversation, no one noticed the surroundings, and they all looked at each other, unable to make sense of it. Xia Changqing frowned, pressing, “Must be some school kid messing with me on his summer break. Remember what he looked like?”

The other man looked embarrassed and tried to recall, “Tall, looked like he worked out, but he was wearing a cap, so I couldn’t see his face. Oh, he wore a black denim jacket with a pattern like yours, so I thought you guys bought it together.”

The group shared baffled glances, and a quiet coworker finally added:

“I think I saw him earlier, a guy asking about tires? Tall, for sure.”

Same jacket?

That was odd. To impress his girlfriend, he’d looked up the English brand name on his new jacket just last night. Who else in this small town would wear a “generic brand” like that?

Lost for words, Xia Changqing didn’t reply, his expression darkening by the second.

In the scramble to gain face by showing off his girlfriend, things had backfired. In a hurry, the newcomer offered Xia Changqing a bribe in the form of a premium cigarette, apologizing:

“Sorry, my bad, Brother Xia. Have a smoke to cool off!”

The golden cigarette case was exquisitely made, a local luxury brand. Every holiday, the boss would ask Lili to buy a few packs to wrap and gift to clients. No wonder such high-end cigarettes could fool an average worker like him so easily.

Xia Changqing accepted the cigarette without hesitation, took a long drag, and then addressed the group, “Forget it. Let’s take a break and enjoy the milk tea that’s almost here.”

But when he finally dragged the cart of milk tea to the second floor with his girlfriend Lili, he found the guest of honor, Xia Fu, nowhere to be found.

Images of the Botanical Garden photos, a midnight call, and a mystery visitor flashed through his mind. Staring at the empty break room, he furrowed his brows, hastily took a leave of absence, and rushed to the family snack shop.

Seeing her beloved son, Zhang Mei’s face lit up with joy:

“Why are you back? How’s your sister getting along with Boss Chen?”

But Xia Changqing, irritated, muttered:

“How’s it going? He ordered milk tea for her, but by the time it got here, she’d disappeared. How embarrassing for me! What happened? Her phone’s off. Is she back home?”

The fact that her always-compliant daughter had embarrassed her brother at work startled Zhang Mei, who was both alarmed and fearful of the potential fallout:

“She’s not here… I’ll talk to your father. Let’s find her quickly.”

…

Sometimes Xia Fu felt her life’s greatest luck was not being aborted by her mother, who’d hoped for a son. Other times, she felt that living as a daughter was her deepest misfortune.

Heaven certainly didn’t favor her; otherwise, her parents wouldn’t have come back to the shop at that exact moment and caught her rifling through their things.

Hearing footsteps hurrying up the hallway, Xia Fu realized her time was running out. The new home was on the fourth floor, and escaping through the window was out of the question. She desperately stuffed the household registration page she’d found into her pocket.

Her dad, mom, and brother all stood firmly at the master bedroom door, blocking her way out.

Zhang Mei put her hands on her hips, pointing a finger right in her daughter’s face:

“I knew you were up to something, staying out and mingling with strangers instead of sticking to reliable elders. Come clean! Have you met some shady people out there?”

“Your brother overheard you on the phone last night. This new outfit—is that also from this guy?”

Her mom’s words revealed exactly how her plan had fallen apart.

Brother, brother…

Why did he get to ruin her dreams again and again? Even when all she wanted was a place to cry out her feelings?

Xia Changqing, unfazed by his sister’s disbelief, glared back at her and retorted, “You just left, without a word. Do you know how everyone looks at me now? Am I even supposed to keep this job?”

It wasn’t her fault.

They were the ones who’d handed her over like a tradeable item.

How could they still have the audacity to point fingers at her?

Xia Fu clutched the paper in her pocket, tearing off the mask and abandoning her pride.

“Is it really just ‘connections’? Or was it about selling me off to secure a dowry for Changqing? Did you really have to do this?”

The cherished feelings in her heart were reduced to the most basic and material terms. Saying it out loud made Xia Fu feel ridiculous, but at this moment, all she could do was grasp at these arguments like they were her lifeline:

“Yes, I have a boyfriend! And he’s not some shady guy; he’s the second young master of ‘Blue Star Group.’”

“He treats me well, and those gifts yesterday were from him. We study together, compete together, and even talked about internships. There’s no need to marry Boss Chen.”

She thought of his short silver hair, his radiant smile, and his warm hands, determined to defend the “rose” she had. Since her family didn’t believe in her future, brushing off her academics and competitions, maybe a man—a rich boyfriend—would be enough to satisfy them?

But Xia Fu hadn’t anticipated that they’d already dismissed her ability to build her own life, much less believe she deserved anything good.

Zhang Mei, her brows furrowing, sighed in frustration:

“A second young master? You think a playboy from the big city will actually love you and marry you?”

“Yes, S City has plenty of rich kids, but look at yourself. He’s just playing around with a country girl; how can you still defend him?”

Yet, seeing her daughter so unexpectedly defiant, a horrible suspicion crept into her mind:

“…Wait, have you already slept with him?”

She’d gone to great lengths to secure this marriage, boasting that Xia Fu was gentle, shy, a good cook, and an accountant. She’d painted her bookish daughter as the world’s most perfect wife. But if her daughter was caught misbehaving in S City, she’d be seen as nothing but a dirty, vain girl. The difference between these two images was like night and day, and if Boss Chen found out, her brother’s job, the dowry, and even the family’s reputation would be ruined.

Ignoring her husband and son, Zhang Mei rushed forward, shrieking as she grabbed Xia Fu’s clothes, determined to check if her daughter was still a virgin.

Neither her brother nor her father showed any sign of turning away. They watched in silence as if she were nothing more than a chicken waiting to be plucked.

Xia Fu held her arms tightly around herself, struggling. “Let me go!” Her violent resistance convinced Zhang Mei of her daughter’s filthiness. Face red with anger, Zhang Mei yanked at her daughter’s hair and cursed:

“You filthy girl! We paid for your schooling, and you repay us by sleeping around?! You’re only a freshman, and you pull this? Have you no shame? I finally found you a good husband, planned out your whole future! And you’re such a disgrace! How will I ever face anyone again?!”

Painful, humiliating tears welled up in Xia Fu’s eyes, and she screamed her desire:

“I’ve never changed. I’m not a disgrace. I’m an adult now, with my own ideas!” She shoved Zhang Mei to the ground, trembling as she clutched her clothes and the paper hidden beneath.

“I just want to do what I want! I want to study, I want to love! I want to live as a person!”

But this declaration was met with a loud slap from Xia Biao. Since his rebellious daughter wouldn’t listen to her mother, he’d handle this himself.

“No wonder the store just got a call, some teacher saying there was a problem with your grades, asking you to come back to school. Was that a lie too? Looks like you’re getting a bit too bold.”

“What ideas of your own? I’m telling you! You’re our daughter, and whether you’re of age or dead, we’ll control you!”

He raised his foot and kicked his thin daughter to the ground, creating a distance between her and the others.

“No, I belong to myself.”

She whispered this, and before anyone could react, she tore the household registration page into pieces, mixed it with her tears and blood, and swallowed it down.

Registration, registration, registration. A family’s proof held together by a tiny booklet, her page never to be free.

It was something she’d always wanted. Since she could never take it with her, she might as well eat it, let it become part of her body.