"It's definitely real! It was a prize from Gu's Group's annual year-end party. A house worth five million! They said I could choose between the house or the cash equivalent. I plan to sort out the paperwork tomorrow and get the house!" Jiang Yan exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement.
"Yan Yan, let's take the five million," her mother urged. "Your sister needs a million to graduate, and your brother hasn't asked me for money, but I assume he'll need around the same. Give them each a million, and we can use the remaining three million to buy a smaller house for us to live in."
Jiang Yan's expression instantly turned cold upon hearing this. Angrily, she retorted, "Mom, forget it! I'm taking the house!"
"You stubborn child, we're a family. Your brother and sister are graduating in six months and will return to the country to earn high salaries, which will benefit us all. We've already invested millions in them, are we going to let this two million ruin it all?" Her mother was becoming frantic, finding her daughter's stance unreasonable.
"Their high salaries have nothing to do with me, Mom. I'm telling you right now, I absolutely will not pay that money. You are their parents, and you have that obligation, but I don't! You should get some sleep. I have something to do and I'm leaving." Jiang Yan finished speaking, returned to her bedroom to get her identification, and planned to finalize the house exchange as soon as possible.
"Jiang Yan, I'm serious! They are your brother and sister, we're family. You can't leave until you agree," her mother blocked her path.
"Fine! I don't want the house anymore! I don't want it! I'm calling Gu's Group right now to tell them I'm giving up the house!" Jiang Yan said, her gaze fixed on her mother.
With a sharp "slap," Jiang Yan's face turned to the side. Her mother, in her anger, struck her younger daughter. "Jiang Yan, are you crazy? Have you lost your mind? To avoid paying tuition for your sister, you're willing to do something that harms everyone, including yourself. How can you be so cold-blooded!"
The slap left Jiang Yan stunned. Ever since the Jiang family's troubles, she had devoted herself entirely to the family, doing everything she could, both within and outside her means. In the end, she was met with her mother's accusations.
She didn't expect gratitude for her efforts, as she was a member of the Jiang family and it was her duty to contribute. However, she never imagined her mother would treat her this way.
"Think whatever you want," Jiang Yan said coldly, quickly sidestepping her mother and leaving.
Her mother, whose brain surgery had affected her reflexes, was too slow to stop her younger daughter. Nevertheless, she continued to shout angrily from behind.
Jiang Yan didn't want to listen and ran down the stairs, foregoing the elevator for fear her mother would follow and say more infuriating things.
Once outside, Jiang Yan left the residential complex. With nowhere to go, she walked aimlessly. Tears began to fall uncontrollably. She was still wearing the dress she'd worn to the banquet, and though she had a down jacket, her legs were freezing, and her hands were numb.
A car stopped in front of her. Jiang Yan looked at the vehicle in surprise. Jin Lan stepped out of the driver's seat and, seeing her disheveled state, pulled her into the car without a word.
As the car drove away, Jin Lan turned the heater up to maximum. Jiang Yan's nearly frozen hands and feet slowly began to warm up.
Suddenly, Jiang Yan couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She felt wronged, so incredibly wronged. No one knew what she had endured during this period, yet her mother had berated and dismissed her without reason, even hitting her. The pain was immense.