A few days later, my parents took a few photos of the bill and sent them to me.

Written on it were all the expenses of my life from childhood to adulthood.

My dad even wrote an explanation after the column titled "rent."

He said, "Since you are not our daughter, you have to pay rent for living in our house, plus water and electricity bills, property management fees, heating fees, totaling fifteen thousand a year."

"You've lived here for eighteen years, so it should be two hundred and seventy thousand."

He even confidently stated that the prices back then were different from now, and one yuan back then could match a hundred yuan now.

Various inexplicable expenses added up, and he actually managed to come up with over four hundred and eighty thousand.

Forty-eight thousand is not a small amount, especially since I didn't really want to give them that much money.

With half a month left before school started, my contract at the electronics factory was signed two days before school began, clearly stating that I would have to pay half a month's salary if I breached the contract.

That was a significant amount, especially since every penny was crucial to me now.

That was also why, despite my short video gaining popularity, I insisted on working at the electronics factory.

At the electronics factory, you had to clock in every day, and if your working hours didn't meet the minimum standard, you wouldn't get paid.

For now, I could only stall my parents and buy time.

If I could hold on for another half a month, if they could give me just another half a month, I could make my escape.

I was afraid my parents would cause trouble for He Xiaoman again, so I made a decisive move to move out of her house and sent a message to my parents.

I told He Xiaoman not to come looking for me, and if my parents caused trouble again, I would call the police.

Perhaps this way, I could protect He Xiaoman.

For this five hundred thousand bill, and to have the confidence to face their questioning and scolding in the future, I started working hard to earn money.

The work at the electronics factory continued non-stop, and I kept doing live broadcasts, doing whatever it took to attract attention.

I went all out, adding chili oil recklessly to my food, trying to maintain my last shred of moral integrity.

Even in the circle of attracting attention for money, I only wanted what I deserved.

As my number of fans grew, with only five days left before school started, my account broke another record, reaching over two million followers.

Along with the surge in fans, my body gradually began to deteriorate.

When I couldn't bear the stomach pain and went to the hospital, I was diagnosed with gastritis and a bit of gastric bleeding.

The doctor recommended intravenous therapy, but I insisted on medication.

When the dark night shrouded me, I knew that dawn would come, bringing the red light on the horizon.

I struggled and crawled in the darkness, only for the sun at dawn.

As I walked down the corridor clutching the prescription, I overheard a conversation between a few gossiping older women.

"Yeah, Er Niu, Yuan Yuan's dad, I heard he's selling his daughter to buy a car and a house for his elder brother's daughter!"

"What do you mean selling her? They're just setting up a blind date, don't talk nonsense. That young man is good, with good family background, and the dowry is over five hundred thousand."

"I remember their daughter's name seems to be Jia Cheng, Cheng Cheng, right? If you ask me, Er Niu is getting more confused as he ages. I used to think he had a problem with his brain, not caring about his own daughter."

...

I tightened my grip on the prescription in my hand.