Chapter 7
Edward Quan ·
Someone forwarded photographs of my expense records.
The replies urged her to stop favoring her daughter and treating her daughter-in-law like a cash machine.
When Lei came home, he sat on the sofa for a long time.
“Yun, I know I was wrong.”
“About what?”
“I made your willingness to give way into a family rule. I made my mother’s words into your responsibility.”
“What else?”
Looking at the empty room, he spoke softly.
“I shouldn’t have promised eight thousand for you.”
I didn’t forgive him immediately.
Forgiveness wasn’t an eraser that could rub out five years with one apology.
I returned the accounts to the document box and opened a separate account for my daughter’s university budget.
“From now on, we discuss household spending together. Anyone who wants to help someone uses their own money.”
He nodded. Knowing he was in the wrong, he stayed quiet.
My daughter brought two bowls of noodles from the kitchen and set them before us.
“I’ve looked at the university’s work-study program, too. If Xiaoyu can do it, so can I. We can both support ourselves.”
Looking at her, I suddenly smiled.
For five years, I’d feared she would see the family’s difficulties, feared she would think another mouth meant another burden.
But she had grown up.
She understood both kindness and boundaries.
That evening, I put Xiaoyu’s room key in a drawer and closed the door.
There was one fewer person in the house.
For the first time, I felt I could truly breathe.
My daughter pinned her acceptance letter above her desk and turned to me.
“Shall we look at the dormitory this weekend?”
“Of course.”
“Do we need a new desk lamp?”
I nodded.
“A brighter one.”
She linked her arm through mine and smiled.
“From now on, we only need to look after our own lives.”
I watched the lights coming on beyond the window and answered softly.
From today, I would no longer pay for anyone’s tears.
I would live for myself and my daughter.
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