Chapter 6: Confronting My Parents in Anger

As soon as Ruan Mianmian heard her mother's words, anger flared within her.

Brother, brother—always the brother.

The words her mother uttered most often were about her precious son!

Ever since she was little, if her brother wanted new sneakers, she had to wear hand-me-downs from relatives; if he needed tutoring, she had to forgo every school activity that required payment; if he forgot his water bottle or towel when playing basketball, she was the one sent to deliver them...

Decades of pent-up grievance and fury finally burst through the dam of her self-control under Zhao Lijuan’s relentless chant of “your brother.”

“Mom!” Ruan Mianmian cut her off, her voice shrill with emotion.

“Brother! Brother! Is there anyone in your eyes besides your darling son? Was I some freebie they threw in with your phone card or plucked out of the garbage?

All these years, he feasted while I went hungry; he wished for the stars and you’d dare reach for the moon, but me? I had to scavenge plastic bottles and collect scrap cardboard just to buy a single extracurricular book!

Your preference for sons is truly something to behold! So what now? Am I supposed to sell my blood to buy him a house and a wife since I’m unemployed?”

A deathly silence fell over the dinner table, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing.

Zhao Lijuan stared wide-eyed, clutching her chest, as if the sky had collapsed. She pointed a shaking finger at Ruan Mianmian, stammering, unable to form a complete sentence.

For a moment, she looked as if she might faint.

Ruan Jianguo pressed his lips together, his face dark and as long as a donkey’s. He slapped the table, roaring, “Outrageous! Ruan Mianmian, have you grown wings and decided to fly? Who let you speak to your mother like that?”

Utter insubordination!

Ruan Mianmian lifted her chin, her neck rigid, and stared at the man who’d denied her all her life.

“Dad! Do you really think you have the right to criticize me?”

Her voice rose uncontrollably: “I haven’t even started on you yet. You’re just like Mom—you only ever think about how to squeeze money out of me!

In your eyes, I’m worthless, while Ruan Jinbao is the family’s prized heir, your sole hope for old age! Just wait—watch as your ‘hope’ gnaws you down to the bone!”

She’d tolerated Ruan Jianguo long enough.

She didn’t want these parents—so fixated on sons, so blind to fairness—any longer.

[Congratulations, Host! You’ve successfully confronted your parents! A direct hit to the soul, exposing the rot of feudal traditions. Reward: one Hermès limited edition handbag (elephant gray, gold clasp). It will be delivered to your apartment by courier upon your return. 100 points, 10 extra days of life, and a bonus raffle ticket.]

Hearing the notification, all of Ruan Mianmian’s sadness vanished, replaced by a rush of elation.

Another profitable day!

Coming home hadn’t been a waste.

She’d wanted to confront her parents with these truths for so long, but never found the courage. If not for her survival, she would’ve kept silent as before, enduring until she developed breast nodules from the stress.

But this time, the rewards were huge—points, extra days of life, a Hermès bag, and a raffle ticket.

Though she couldn’t afford designer bags, she certainly knew their worth. That elephant gray Hermès with the gold clasp—being a limited edition, she could probably sell it for several million while still unopened.

Wouldn’t that make her rich?

For a moment, she felt as if she’d struck it rich overnight.

Still, whether she could actually sell it was another matter; better to keep it for now.

“007, why so generous this time? There’s even a bonus reward?”

[Of course! That’s why you should keep earning points—surprises await everywhere. Keep it up, Host!]

Ruan Jianguo was stunned by the barrage of accusations, his face turning the color of pig’s liver.

She watched as his lips trembled, his finger shaking as he pointed at her, and wondered if he’d suffer a stroke the next moment.

If she were accused of driving her father to his grave, would the world spit her to death?

Moments earlier, Ruan Jinbao had been feigning concern for their mother. Now, he darted to their father’s side, patting his back with exaggerated filial concern.

“Are you crazy, Sis? Look how upset you’ve made our parents! How could you accuse me of leeching off the family? That’s so harsh. I haven’t even graduated yet. Once I do and find a job, I’ll definitely contribute and help out!”

Ever the parents’ favorite, Ruan Jinbao switched seamlessly from scolding his sister to donning a dutiful son’s mask for his parents.

“Dad, Mom, don’t worry. When I start working, all my earnings will go to you. I’ll buy you a big house and make sure you live in comfort!”

Zhao Lijuan, finally catching her breath, forced a gratified smile at her son’s words. “Good, good, my son is so considerate.”

Her gaze clung to him as if he were a future tycoon.

Ruan Mianmian snorted. “So considerate, indeed. So considerate that even though he knows our family isn’t wealthy, he splurges without a care—a phone worth over eight thousand, shoes over a thousand.”

“And it’s not just the priciest milk tea—he puts on airs, treating friends to food and drinks just to show off. If you’re so capable, pay for it yourself; stop asking me for money!”

With Ruan Jinbao’s uselessness, he wouldn’t even find a job after graduation!

Buy a mansion for the parents to enjoy? Ha!

They’d be lucky if he didn’t leech off them.

Ruan Jinbao glanced nervously at their parents, then shot her a resentful glare, muttering, “Ruan Mianmian, you promised not to mention this! You’re not keeping your word!”

Zhao Lijuan immediately defended her son. “Jinbao is a boy—what’s wrong with him having nice things?

He needs to make friends, treat them to meals. He’s still a student with no money, so why shouldn’t you, as his sister, help him out?”

Boys need their pride; of course he should have the best, or people would look down on him.

She saw nothing wrong with her son’s behavior.

It was her daughter, instead, who was selfish—if she had money, it should be spent on her brother’s education.

Ruan Mianmian retorted, “Of course it’s wrong. Every month, I give nearly half my salary to the family, and it’s still not enough—I have to cover his unnecessary expenses too. I’m his sister, not his mother. Why should I bear this burden?”

Other parents worry their children won’t have enough to spend; hers worry she won’t give them enough.

And after handing over her wages, there was still a spoiled brother waiting to pester her for more.

Was she an ATM?

Zhao Lijuan snapped, “Because you’re the older sister and he’s the younger brother! You grew up eating this family’s food—you’re part of this family!”

“Well, isn’t that just my luck? If only I’d been born into a rich family—or at least born after Ruan Jinbao—then you wouldn’t have spent all these years bleeding me dry.”

Ruan Jianguo, finally steadying his breath, was so furious at her defiance that his eyes nearly blazed.

He glared at her and shouted, “Bleeding you dry? What do you mean by that? Ruan Mianmian! We gave birth to you, raised you, sent you to college! Was the money we spent on you just blown in by the wind?”

“Now you’re working and earning money, of course you should give back to the family! How is that ‘bleeding you dry’? Eh?!”

Suspicion flickered in his heart. What had gotten into this wretched girl today, to make her so rebellious?