I adjusted my schedule, reduced my hours at the electronics factory, and gradually shifted my focus more towards short videos.

At eight o'clock one day, I left work as usual.

Walking back to He Xiaoman's house, it was the time when the snack stalls were just setting up, with the bustling crowd and the smell of fireworks in the air.

Passing by the bustling grilled squid stall, I casually bought two skewers of grilled squid, planning to improve our meals with He Xiaoman.

Entering the residential area, taking the elevator upstairs.

Standing at her door, I stared blankly at the door that was not closed.

The door was open.

A beam of light seeped out from the crack in the door, winding its way to my feet.

Why wasn't it closed?

I pushed the door open, and in an instant, all my doubts vanished.

Instead of me and He Xiaoman sitting on the sofa, it was my parents sitting there.

He Xiaoman stood with her head down, looking like a child who had done something wrong.

My parents had stern faces, my dad couldn't kick his smoking habit, and without an ashtray, he let the ashes fall to the ground.

Hearing the noise at the door, they noticed it was me who had returned.

Before they could speak, I walked straight up to them and coldly asked, "What are you doing here? Were you invited by someone? You have nothing better to do than follow me here."

My mom's face briefly lit up with a smile when she saw me. She glanced at my dad, who had a dark expression, and then silently started fiddling with her hands.

My dad remained silent. Just as I was about to lose my patience and call the police, he casually tossed the cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it under his foot.

He said, "Zhang Yuanyuan, do you no longer consider this your home? Do you want to sever our father-daughter relationship?"

"Fine, let's settle the score. From childhood to now, you've been living off us. When we add it all up, you owe us fifty thousand."

I widened my eyes, trying to find any hint of joking in his expression.

Unfortunately, there was none. He was dead serious.

I was trembling with anger, fists clenched. He Xiaoman grabbed my arm, opening and closing her mouth, but in the end, she couldn't say anything, just silently pulling me away.

The atmosphere became tense at that moment, but neither side made the first move.

We stood there in that room filled with tension, each searching for the other's weakness to gain the upper hand.

My mom suddenly grabbed my dad's hand, smiling as she said, "Yuanyuan, your dad didn't mean it. He's just upset. He wants you to come back home."

Then she turned and glared fiercely at He Xiaoman, saying, "You shouldn't be friends with people of questionable character. Your parents are very angry. Don't let her lead you astray."

My dad was like a powder keg waiting to explode at the slightest spark. He suddenly stood up and angrily shouted at He Xiaoman, "She's a bad influence, and you're following her down the wrong path!"

"You used to listen to us the most, but she's leading you astray! She never listens to her parents, always wanting to do that nonsense drawing, neglecting her proper duties."

"Do you know why her parents got divorced, why they don't want her? It's because she doesn't listen, and now you're following her!"